According to the Printers' National Environmental Assistance Center, screen printing is considered to be the most versatile type of printing technique there is. In fact, it is a very common technique when you need to transfer a graphic from paper to a piece of clothing or some other fabric. The process involves a mesh screen the pattern is stenciled to that is then placed on the fabric. Finally, a roller pressed paint through the holes of the pattern to transfer the image to the fabric. If you are thinking about using screen printing, it may be beneficial to learn more about it.
History of Screen Printing
Screen printing dates as far back as the Song Dynasty during 960 AD. The earliest form of a process similar to screen printing dates all the way back to prehistoric times when pictures were found on cave walls. During the prehistoric period, stencils were made by hand to create these pictures on the cave walls. Today, screen printing is utilized to create clothing, blankets, posters, and signs.
Various Screen Printing Techniques
As printing has progressed and developed, there have been tons of different techniques created which use stenciled designs. Crude stenciling, for example, involves cutting a pattern out of a non-porous material and pressing it to the medium where the image is intended to go.
Today, screen printing utilizes a technique called photo emulsion. The process requires the use of tracing paper or an acetate with a screen coated in emulsion. Emulsion being a fancy term that means nothing more than two or more liquids (or paints). An ultraviolet light is used to harden the emulsion in place. This form of screen printing is extremely popular because of how detailed and accurate the end results are.
Exploring the Benefits of Screen Printing
The largest benefit to screen printing is the speed and precision of the technique. If you needed to mass produce t-shirts or blankets with graphics, this is the best printing technique to get the job done right. After the print screen is created, you can use it to make hundreds of individual prints on just about any medium.
Screen printing is also an ideal choice because it is very versatile. This just means you are not limited to paper printing. In fact, this technique tends to work better on non-paper mediums. Fabric, wood, metal, and ceramics all make great mediums for screen printing. While fabric and clothing tends to be the most popular medium for this type of printing, it is far from being the only option.
Share8 April 2016
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