Introduction to Screenprinting.

Screenprinting is a printing technique that applies ink directly onto a desired surface through a screen with areas blocked off by a stencil, this can be achieved through a variety of similar processes. It is a method of printing that has been traced back to China during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE) and continues to be a very popular, widely used technique today in both the fine and commerical art world. This tutorial will demonstrate a time and cost effective alternative to the photo emulsion process of screen printing. This process can be done at home or in the classroom with little to no mess and for under fifteen dollars.

Check out the following links for further instructions, information and ideas!

Screen Printing: Cheap, Dirty and At Home
Wikipedia: Screen-printing
screenulacra
Screen Printing at Home
DIY Fashion - How to Screen Print
Video - DIY Screen Printing T-Shirts At Home

Supplies and Methodology.

Materials:

1. Screen
2. Embroidery Hoop
3. T-Shirt
4. Design
5. Pencil, Paintbrush
6. Ink or Paint
7. Mod Podge



8. Spoon
9. Scissors
10. Tape
11. Large and small piece of cardboard

This process of screenprinting uses materials that can easily be found around the house or purchased inexpensively. The screen we will be using is just an old, gauzy, cloth curtain - the tighter the weave of the material, the finer the results. Look for a tight knit, meshy material such as curtains, fabric or even pantyhose.



The embroidery hoop acts as the frame for small to medium sized images. If you are planning on printing a large image, find an old wooden frame at your local thrift shop to accommodate the size of the design.

Instead of using a printed image, I chose to create a screen based off of my own painting/design. Simple images work best, I suggest choosing a design that is relatively one dimensional and would work well in just one solid color. Virtually any image can be crafted into a screen by using a photo editing program and increasing the contrast of the image so it becomes only black and white. Print the image and use the colors as negative and positive space when creating the screen.


Dependent upon the surface onto which you will be printing, ink or fabric paint will be the medium. Mod Podge may be replaced with white glue as long as it is water resistant.

Once you have gathered all of your materials, make sure your workspace is protected by laying down newspaper or an old sheet. You are now ready to print!

Step One.

Attach screen to embroidery hoop by stretching it across the hoop and tightly securing the screw at top. It is important to even out the tension in the middle by pulling the screen at all sides. Make sure your screen is taut and anchored, trim excess fabric for ease of use.

Step Two.

Position screen face down on your graphic and trace the image directly onto the screen. This is where using a highly contrasted image is important, trace only the black areas to create the stencil.

I found that using a pencil to trace the image was not dark enough on my particular fabric and opted for a light colored, fine-tipped marker instead.

Step Three.

Using the paintbrush, apply Mod Podge to the areas where you do not want the ink to penetrate. This is also considered the positive or white areas of your black and white printed graphic.

Make sure the glue has dried thoroughly as you may have to fill in small areas that were not coated entirely. It is important to ensure all gaps have been filled otherwise you may find ink on your final product in places that were not intended! Before advancing to the next step, now would be a good time to trim the outer edges of your hoop with tape to provide extra stability for your screen when it is in use and to provide security along the edges where glue may not have penetrated.

Step Four.

Slide the large piece of cardboard inside your tee shirt (or under your surface) to make sure no ink seeps through the first layer. This also provides a stable workspace to press down on. Carefully position your screen onto your surface, which should be flat and free of creases or wrinkles.


Using the spoon and/or paintbrush, coat the surface area with paint. The screen printing method relies on an even pressure wiping effect; this is where you drag the paint across the surface with the small piece of cardboard. Apply even pressure and continue to delicately spread the paint in all directions using the "squeegee." Make sure that the paint is distributed evenly without any bubbles or pockets of paint, this will yield an even print.

Step Five.

Carefully lift the screen off of your surface and allow time for your final product to dry. If properly taken care of, screens can survive multiple uses. Be sure to rinse it immediately after each application of ink/paint and let dry. Each brand and type of paint yields different results, it is important to read their directions for best results. My fabric paint recommended letting the project air dry 24 hours and then iron each side before washing.

Because this was my first attempt at screen printing I did a test on an old shirt before applying paint to my final product. As seen on the left, the ink was not evenly distributed and this gave me a better understanding of the amount of pressure and paint to apply. It is important to test your screen before making a final print due to the unknown effect different mediums can have on a given surface. Simultaneously, experimenting with various processes and paints can produce interesting results and even encourage you to try something new!