One of the best ways to stop pin holes from messing up your shirts is to tape the whole screen up on the botton side around the image with 3" paper tape .. pin holes can pop up at any time .. this will prevent ink from getting on the printed work ... also if you see small pin holes around the emage after you've burned the image you can use finger nail polish to stop up the holes in your screen this works great .. We use Red finger nail polish because it's easler to see .. We don't reclaim our screens we just tare them out, save the frames and put new mesh in .. One more little hint .. Try pushing the screen across the image instead of pulling it .. its less work on the fingers .. use your thumbs to push the squeeage its a more natual feel .. try scooping the ink taking it over the print then push the squeeage across the image the print looks way more cleaner .. one more hint .. White ink is very thick push your squeeage across your print twice .. Once youve printed your image on your shirt dry the print then print it again it makes the print look better on darker items .. I know a lot of people may already know this but i was trying to help the first time people more .. I know it was hard to get help when i first started out ..
Chrisjob
November 24, 2007
Just go to a copy shop and ask them to copy your art onto an overhead transparency. You can also print at home if you have a laser printer and the appropriate sheets.
The problem with this method is, of course, your art can only be 8 1/2 x 11. To get it bigger, you could take your art and screen to a screenprinting shop and ask them to blow it up and expose it for you.
KidDestrukt
November 23, 2007
how do i photocopy onto acetate?
shalanah
September 28, 2007
I've just done a test strip of my first photo emulsion in a long time... i'm having difficulties with the emulsion though. when i hold my finished screen up to the light small holes appear in the hard (suppose to be resist areas) emulsion. i'm not sure if this is due to my squeegee technique or if i used too warm of water to wash. do you have any tips on applying emulsion to the screen? when do you know you have a good coat?
Chrisjob
April 01, 2007
None of the literature I read made the distinction. Mine was blue- 48,000 Kelvin, but I wouldn't go out an buy a blue one if you already have a white one. The high wattage matters most. Cheers.
blisskitty
March 31, 2007
is there a preference between the blue or white photo flood bulb for exposing the screens?
TheHomeWorksCo
March 16, 2007
If you plan to use the screen again, make sure you wash out the screen AS SOON AS YOU ARE DONE WITH IT! I used to do this in school and had no problems getting the emulsion out of my screen (I don't know if the cleaning chemicals were stronger or what) But if I let my screen sit out in the garage for a while with emulsion still on it, that stuff never comes out again.
el_wombato
March 15, 2007
I'm too lazy to type up the steps myself, but this guide should explain how to create a halftone bitmap - just ignore the stuff about multiple screens.
Be aware that the halftone dots have to be fairly large, so don't expect a lot of detail to survive.
badbadivy
March 15, 2007
Wow, Chris. I swear, man, you are constantly posting things I really want to know! Thank you!!
bruno
March 15, 2007
Awesome walk-through. Thanks Chris! Now if I could just find the time to use the screen that has been sitting in my garage for two years...
UpStateSCSilkScreen
One of the best ways to stop pin holes from messing up your shirts is to tape the whole screen up on the botton side around the image with 3" paper tape .. pin holes can pop up at any time .. this will prevent ink from getting on the printed work ... also if you see small pin holes around the emage after you've burned the image you can use finger nail polish to stop up the holes in your screen this works great .. We use Red finger nail polish because it's easler to see .. We don't reclaim our screens we just tare them out, save the frames and put new mesh in .. One more little hint .. Try pushing the screen across the image instead of pulling it .. its less work on the fingers .. use your thumbs to push the squeeage its a more natual feel .. try scooping the ink taking it over the print then push the squeeage across the image the print looks way more cleaner .. one more hint .. White ink is very thick push your squeeage across your print twice .. Once youve printed your image on your shirt dry the print then print it again it makes the print look better on darker items .. I know a lot of people may already know this but i was trying to help the first time people more .. I know it was hard to get help when i first started out ..
Chrisjob
Just go to a copy shop and ask them to copy your art onto an overhead transparency. You can also print at home if you have a laser printer and the appropriate sheets.
The problem with this method is, of course, your art can only be 8 1/2 x 11. To get it bigger, you could take your art and screen to a screenprinting shop and ask them to blow it up and expose it for you.
KidDestrukt
shalanah
Chrisjob
blisskitty
TheHomeWorksCo
el_wombato
I'm too lazy to type up the steps myself, but this guide should explain how to create a halftone bitmap - just ignore the stuff about multiple screens.
Be aware that the halftone dots have to be fairly large, so don't expect a lot of detail to survive.
badbadivy
bruno
Add a Comment!
Log in to leave a comment or Create an account