In traditional screen printing, essential equipment for creating a screen includes degreaser to clean the screen, a frame (typically wooden or aluminum), screen mesh material, a scoop coater for applying emulsion, emulsion for creating the stencil, a light source (usually an exposure unit) for exposing the screen, printed transparency, dark area to work, and a washout area or booth. Additionally, a squeegee for ink application and transparency film for your design are crucial. This setup enables the creation of detailed stencils for transferring designs onto various substrates.
Traditional equipment:
In traditional screen printing, creating a high-quality screen for screen printing is a meticulous process that involves several critical steps, ensuring that the final print is as sharp and vibrant as possible. The journey begins with thoroughly degreasing the screen to eliminate any residues that might interfere with the emulsion application. Next, a suitable emulsion is selected and applied evenly across the screen; this choice is crucial as it needs to match the type of ink you plan to use. After coating, the screen must be dried in a dust-free environment to prevent imperfections.
Once dry, the screen is exposed to a light source. This step requires precision in timing to ensure that the emulsion hardens correctly where light hits it, creating a stencil of your design. Areas shielded by the design on the transparency remain uncured and are washed out to form the negative space through which the ink will pass.
Every detail, from the emulsion thickness to the exposure time, plays a significant role in the outcome of your screen-printed goods. Mastering this process allows for the creation of stunning, professional-grade prints on a variety of substrates, making it a foundational skill for any screen printing enthusiast.
EZScreens come with the emulsion already applied to the mesh. Eliminating a lot of steps and equipment. Then rather than using a traditional exposure unit (which is a vacuum light table) you can use an EZScreenPrint® exposure unit (two simple boards with binders) included in our Screen Printing Kits to expose your screen using the sun as your light source.
