The Secret Art Of Screen Printing
Friday, February 19th, 2010Printing is a process of producing pictures and text, usually using ink, paper and a printing press. Over time, printing technology has improved significantly. Various techniques are available, but screen-printing is used most of the time.
Screen-printing, also referred to as silk screening, is a method that is best for surfaces that are comparatively flat. In this process, fine mesh or a screen is tightly stretched over a rigid frame, with the screen masking areas which will not be printed. In order to make a print, the screen is placed atop the item that is to be printed; then a blob of thick ink is applied. Next the ink is pressed through the screen with the assistance of a squeegee. The ink adheres to the unmasked area, thereby creating the print, and the masked area is shielded from ink incursion. After this, the printed item goes through a heated tunnel that dries the ink so that items can be stacked or put into packages.
When more than one color is involved, the process is repeated, utilizing different screens. So, four screens would be necessary for a four-color print; they can be placed on a rotary press or done by hand, allowing each color to print in its proper place.