On a manual press, the squeegee performs this function. The ink is drawn across the image from front to back. Too high, too low, or an uneven gap will all distort the image, making multiple colors impossible to align. This spacing is known as off contact and is highly critical for the quality of your print. Once your substrate is in place, the screen is lowered and rests slightly above the surface of your substrate. In garment printing, this platen functions much like an ironing board. There may be a mechanism to secure the substrate, or it may be secure using spray glue. The substrate (what you are printing onto) is securely mounted directly below the screen. The equipment is ready, ink is on the screen, and you are prepared to pull your first print. The block out seals open spaces and pinholes so that only the desired design may print. Today’s emulsions are environmentally benign and require only water for processing.Īny areas on the screen where ink can pass through but are not part of the image receive a coating of block out product. Once the screen is exposed, the unexposed areas are washed out, leaving open mesh where your image will print. Again, this process requires highly specialized, costly equipment. This method saves time by eliminating steps and enhancing accuracy. Many busy commercial screen printing companies eliminate the film and use laser technology to create the image digitally. This step is most often done by placing a film positive of your design against the emulsion and exposing it with a high-intensity light source of a specific wavelength.Ī piece of equipment called an exposure frame performs this function.Ī vacuum firmly holds the film against the emulsion, allowing for precise translation of the design on the film to the emulsion on the screen.Īnother method of exposing the design onto the emulsion is Direct to Garment (DTG). Once this emulsion has cured and is ready to accept your design, the next step is to transfer your design to the screen.

It can be accomplished manually, but this is highly sensitive to technique and takes much practice. The coating process requires specialized equipment designed specifically for screen printing.

A light-sensitive emulsion (photopolymer) is applied to the screen once it is properly stretched.

Jing print screen