silkscreen
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- eps
Does anyone here have any good links to silkscreen tutorials or troubleshooting. I'm making my first screens and nothing seems to be going right. I need help...
- ********0
i have been looking for the same..
after alot of searching.. i just went to the library and got some silk screening books...
- knots0
what are your problems?
anything inparticular?it's really not that hard...
- BonSeff0
i buy my screens here
they are prefabbed aluminum framed 302 mesh screens
and they are less than $30.
+ they dont warp
- eps0
I know it shouldn't be that hard! I have a BFA in design and printmaking but my print teacher wouldn't teach us to silkscreen because she says it's "bastard printmaking". Now I'm trying to do it on my own with no luck.
My problem is the only refernce I have is a 3 page pamphlet that came with my gear. There is no time table for exposure so I'm guessing at that.
Two Problems...
1. When I expose the screen and go to wash it the emulsion keeps washing off. It's not how water or a direct stream. The image just starts to come through and then the emulsion starts coming off in clumps.
2. I put the emulsion on the screen adn leave it to dry overnight, but when I come back it's really uneven and it seems to have created little bubbles on the bottom of the screen.
What is going on!!!
Thanks in advance for the help.
- zabo0
it sounds like you may be putting to thick a coat of emulsion on.
what kind of set up do you have for exposing the screen?
a lot of good people and tips can be found at the gigposters forum.
try searching it for your questions.
- eps0
I'm not sure if this is a possibility, but maybe the sensetizer didn't get mixed in well enough when I mixed the emulsion. The first time I tried it there was at least a partial image, second time worst, tehn nothing.
I did similar exposures for them all so it seems like there is something with the emulshion I'm doing wrong.
What color should the emulsion be when wet? Whar about when dry? How sensitive is it to dim light while coating. Thanks!
- mrdobolina0
It shouldnt be that sensitive to light, indirect dim light that is.
I agree with the other guy, you may be putting it on too thick. What are you using to spread the emulsion? What are you using to expose it?
I know this sounds kindof lame, but dont put it on too thin either, as you will get pinholes.
When I first started printing, I would use speedball photo emulsion and a 150 watt bulb about 2 feet away from the screen surface with some sort of reflector behind the bulb (Pie tin?) After a while I graduated to a photoflood bulb and you can expose them in like 5 or 6 minutes. We also used some industrial photo emulsion rather than speedball hobby shit. BonSeff still does quite a bit of screenprinting, between us we can get this screen burnt.
- eps0
I'm spreading it on with the ink squegee. Is that wrong?
I'm also using the same as when you started. 150 watt bulb two feet away and speedball. How long did you expose at these settings?
I need to buy emulsion today anyway so any suggestion about type? I want to do this right. Thanks a ton guys.
- mrdobolina0
I started off using my squeegee to spread emulsion too, but when you buy some better stuff they will give you a spreader. As far as a brand name goes of photo emulsion I dont know anymore. It has been a while since I printed anything myself.
I would expose it for 45 minutes, how long did you wait when you tried to expose them?
- knots0
i know this sounds really dumb(but i made the mistake in the beginning) but maybe youre washing it off and using the photo emulsion remover, when you should just be using water?
also, did you scrub the screen with detergent before you ever even touched the screen, because you are supposed to,
to wash out any chemicals etc. so maybe that is why it is not adhereing to the screen?
- mrdobolina0
http://www.reuels.com/reuels/pag…
found this for you...
- eps0
You guys are great!
1. I didn't clean the screen first, that probably doesn't help.
2. I did only use water. Luke warm.
3. I exposed for about 30 minutes..so not long enough...
Is there a color change in the emulsion when it's been exposed to light. So if I spread it on and leave it overnight I can see if it has accidentially been exposed.
I'll definately check out that link.
- eps0
If I ever do get this to work how do you reclaim a screen after printing?
Also is there a brand of ink you guys like? I know the stuff I'm using is crap (feels like tempra) what do you use?
Thanks!
- mrdobolina0
If this shit all works out for you, and you are printing t-shirts, look into using plastisol inks. but in order to use them you have to get a dryer, but that print will not bleed after it has been cured. you can get a one-stage flash curing unit for like 2-300 bucks.
- Troyy0
Hey eps, when you've finished with a screen to remove the stencil you need stencil remover - I use the stuff provided by www.selectasine.com (for UK).
Also - Selectasine inks are pretty good aswell, and maybe berol fabriprint too.
I've just started screenprinting and after a few attemps my screens are pretty good... The only problem now is I have trouble printing evenly onto fabric.
When I print, even if i go over it a few times, I can never get a perfect consistent print on a t-shirt... - I think I just need to improve my squegee handling skills and maybe ink to binder consistency.
Printing onto non-fabrics is fine though...
- mrdobolina0
troy, you'll get the hang of it. I have printed well over 10,000 t-shirts by hand (albeit a long time ago). Use even pressure over the entire substrate. also, look into different types of squeegees, with different durometer and shapes on the blade. Makes quite a bit of difference when printing on fabric. good luck and post some pics when you can.
- Troyy0
I have an A3 ulon blade (v section) squeegee - which is apparently good for fabric printing.
I have 60 red t-shirts to practice on anyway...
I printed 6 today with the same design on in an attempt to make at least 1/6 perfect... but each one had some defect- mostly parts of the print not printing properly. But i think i'm getting better.I'll post some photos next week when I get my new digital camera, until then
peace out
- mrdobolina0
cool, looking forward to it.
- Troyy0
mrdobolina - Here are the pics of screenprint experiments and failures:
http://www.sphosting.com/farfar/…
(sorry if they're too big)
I'm still working on perfecting a good quality t-shirt print, so i'll post more pictures of them i've got the process dialled...
- mrdobolina0
troy, nice work. that motorcycle print on the plywood should be really cool when it is done. If theres anything I can do to help, let me know.