How are screen printing screens made?
Our print technician, Filip, printing an order
Screen printing is a popular printing technique used for producing high-quality prints on a wide range of materials such as textiles, glass, and paper. The process involves using a stencil, known as a screen printing screen, to apply ink to the surface being printed. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at how screen printing screens are made.
Step 1: Preparing the Frame
The first step in making a screen printing screen is to prepare the frame. Typically, the frame is made of wood or aluminum and is coated with a light-sensitive emulsion that will allow for the creation of the stencil. To ensure that the emulsion is evenly coated onto the frame, the frame is placed onto a flat surface and the emulsion is applied using a squeegee.
Step 2: Exposing the Emulsion
Once the emulsion is applied to the frame, the next step is to expose it to light. This is done using a special machine known as a screen printing exposure unit. The exposure unit uses UV lights to expose the emulsion to light. The design to be printed is printed on transparent film, then placed on top of the emulsion-coated frame. Once the light hits the emulsion, it hardens, except where the design was printed, creating the stencil.
Step 3: Washing Out the Stencil
After the emulsion has been exposed to light, the next step is to wash out the stencil. This is done by spraying water onto the frame, which washes away the unexposed emulsion. As a result, the design on the stencil is left behind, allowing ink to pass through onto the surface being printed.
Step 4: Drying the Screen
After the stencil has been washed out, the next step is to dry the screen. This is typically done using a screen printing dryer, which uses hot air to dry the screen quickly and evenly.
Step 5: Quality Control
Before the screen printing screen is ready to be used, it is important to check it for quality. This includes checking that the stencil is clean and free from defects, and that the tension in the frame is consistent. If any issues are found, they will need to be addressed before the screen can be used for printing.
That’s it!
Now that you’re an expert on the screen making process, you’re ready to start your next order with us. We are always open for having our customers visit our workshop and see there orders being printed. Just let us know when you order that you’re interested and we’re happy to have you and your colleagues over!
