Easiest Way to Learn Photo-Emulsion Silk Screen Printing

To answer your question on, how do I print a heap of t-shirts and school uniform patches fast? Here’s how I did it.

Like other online screen printing tutorials, the process is almost the same; like in ways on the preparation and on how to screen print except for the strategies and components used. Anyway, I will try to share with you my knowledge on this in the simplest way. I will share with you my ideas from stretching fine-mesh cloth over a wooden frame, preparing your image using image editor and how to use grayscale which is remarkable for printing more than 2 or a complicated-color-text or image design, how to properly set inks and many more.

The overall hint:

Once stretching fine-mesh cloth over a wooden frame is done, just spread a thin layer of photosensitive emulsion on the screen and let it dry using a hair dryer (optional).

Prepare your pattern (a black image on transparent or translucent surface), lay it on the screen, and then expose the screen to light. The light will make the emulsion harden and tie up to the fabric. When the light hit the screen, the emulsion will bind, makes it a solid layer but when the light is blocked the emulsion thaw. When the screen exposed, just spray it with water, the clear area of the screen is where ink will be pressed through the screen during print. Let the screen dry. Once the screen dried up, apply photo hardener. Lastly, just put the screen on your t shirt; by using a squeegee, spread ink on the inside part of the screen, and press the ink through it. Once dried, heat-set the ink and it will be long lasting and washable.

As I’ve said earlier, there are some awesome photo-emulsion screen printing tutorials that are already online, yet there is always room for more, right?

How to Apply Photo-Emulsion on a Fine Mess Silk Screen

Step 1: Gather your materials!

What you need:

1. A Screen

This is the way how to make the frame and to attach the silkscreen.

2. Photo emulsion and sensitizer. I used glue as substitute for expensive emulsion, and a liquid sensitizer.

Don’t worry about this either, I also have a tutorial about how to mix office glue and solid sensitizer for you.

3. Screen printing inks for fabric or textile paint.

Photo: Opaque Iridescent Screen Printing Ink

www.dickblick.com

4. A light table or Direct to Sunlight exposure technique

Miscellaneous useful things:

Masking Tapes 

Office Glue 

Pump up Hand Held Pressure Sprayer 

Pioneer Photo Hardener 

Absorbent Cotton 

Sensitizer 

Empty plastic bottle, old paint brush & old sim card body

rag 

Now we are ready for the next step:

Step 2: Apply it to the Screen