Screen Printing, also known as silkscreen or serigraphy, is a versatile and widely used printing technique that forces ink through a mesh screen onto a substrate. The magic of screen printing lies in the creation of a stencil on the screen. This stencil blocks ink from passing through certain areas, allowing ink to pass only where the design is intended, thus forming the printed image with precision and clarity.
What is a Screen Printing Screen?
At the heart of the screen printing process is the screen itself. This essential tool is composed of a fine mesh fabric meticulously stretched and secured to a robust frame, typically made of metal or wood. Historically, silk was the material of choice for these screens, lending the technique its alternative name, silkscreen printing. However, modern screen printing predominantly utilizes synthetic materials like terylene, prized for their durability and consistency.
Stencil Creation: The Art of Blocking
The stencil is key to defining the final printed image. A variety of materials can be used to create stencils, offering artists flexibility and control. These materials range from simple fabrics and greasy paints applied directly to the screen, to more sophisticated designs created on transparent films. Stencils can be applied in several ways:
- Direct Application: Placing pre-cut stencils directly onto the screen’s surface.
- Painted Stencils: Painting stencil materials directly onto the screen to block areas.
- Photo-Emulsion Transfer: This is the most prevalent contemporary method. It involves transferring a design from a transparency or Mylar film onto a screen coated with a photo-sensitive emulsion.
Designs for photo-emulsion stencils can be created through various methods, including hand-drawing with opaque inks, printing onto transparencies, or cutting from rubylith, a specialized ultraviolet-masking film.
Preparing the Screen with Photo Emulsion
To prepare the screen using the photo-emulsion method, the screen is first coated with a thin, even layer of photo-sensitive emulsion. This is achieved using a scoop coater, a metal trough with a smooth, straight edge designed for precise application.
Once the emulsion is fully dried in a dark room, the design transparency is carefully placed in direct contact against the emulsion-coated screen.
Exposing the Design with UV Light
The screen and transparency are then placed in an exposure unit that emits ultraviolet (UV) light. During exposure, the design on the transparency blocks UV light from reaching the emulsion underneath. The areas of the emulsion exposed to UV light harden, while the areas under the design remain soft.
Washing Out the Stencil
After exposure, the screen is washed with water. The soft, unexposed emulsion, protected by the design on the transparency, washes away, leaving behind open mesh areas that form the stencil of the design. The hardened emulsion surrounding the design remains, creating the printing stencil.
The Screen Printing Process: Inking and Printing
With the stencil prepared, the screen is ready for printing. It’s placed in hinges attached to a board or specialized screen printing table. These tables often feature vacuum surfaces to securely hold paper in place during printing, ensuring precision. A bead of screen printing ink is applied along one edge of the screen. Using a squeegee, the ink is then pulled smoothly and evenly across the screen, covering the design area – this is known as “flooding the screen.”
A sheet of paper or the chosen printing substrate is positioned beneath the screen. With a firm, even stroke, the squeegee is used again to push the ink through the open areas of the stencil onto the substrate below, creating the print. The ink passes through the mesh wherever the stencil is open, directly transferring the design.
Multi-Color Screen Printing and Registration
For designs requiring multiple colors, the screen printing process is repeated for each color layer. Each color requires a separate stencil and screen. A crucial aspect of multi-color screen printing is registration – accurately aligning each color layer to create a cohesive and precise final image. Printmakers employ meticulous registration techniques to ensure each color falls into its correct position, resulting in vibrant and accurately layered screen prints.
Screen printing stands as a dynamic and versatile printmaking technique, utilized by artists and industries alike for its ability to produce bold colors and sharp designs on a wide array of materials. From fine art prints to textiles and commercial products, screen printing’s adaptability and enduring appeal solidify its place as a cornerstone of printmaking.
Liz Zanis (American, born 1980). Memory Sticks, from APS Certificate, 2018. Screenprint and screen. Courtesy of the artist
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Marquee image: Derrick Adams (American, born 1970). Game Changing (detail), 2015. Screenprint, gold leaf, sheet (each): 30 x 22 in. (76.2 x 55.9 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, John B. Turner Fund, 2015 (2015.404.1–.4). © Derrick Adams
