Screenprinting - 3 of 3

The unexposed emulsion, covered by the black image, is washed out using a lukewarm water spray. When dry the edges are taped and the screen stored in the dark until needed to avoid the image becoming permanent.

PRINT SET UP

Careful registration of each is especially important when more than one colour print is planned. Once the screen is clamped to the printing table paper guides, the same thickness as the printing paper,   are   taped  down.  

To keep the printing paper in place once it has been set to the guides a vacuum is applied through the table base.

PRINTING

I use acrylic ink because it gives a good flat dense image and heavyweight cartridge paper (220gsm) because it will take multiple layers of ink and remain flat.

A rubber edged squeegee is pulled across the screen pressing the ink through the mesh onto the paper beneath. The vacuum is

released, the screen hinged up and the print removed. Once the first run has been completed subsequent colours can be printed Finally the images are washed from the screens to maintain the limited edition number.