Introduction to the Screen Print Process

The screen print process is very versatile.  It can be used on a wide range of materials with a wide range of shapes.  T-shirts are by far the most common things that are screen printed.  However, items like DVDs, hats, and wood can also be used.

There are certain pieces of equipment which are vital to the screen print process.  One of the most important is the stencil or screen itself.  The screen will determine the type of design that the printed material ends up having.

The screen itself is comprised of various items itself.  There has to be a fine mesh stretched around a frame.  The frame can be made of various materials, but has to be quite stiff.  The screen also has photosensitive material which helps burn the design onto the printed material.

Ink will need to be placed on the screen.  The screen has holes which the ink is forced to pass through to make the resulting design on the material.  Many commercial ventures use the screen print process because many prints can be made before more ink has to be applied.

There are also various types of inks that can use used for a screen print.  One of the most common is Plastisol.  As its name suggests, it is more of a liquid plastic than an ink.  After being placed on the material, it needs to be exposed to a temperature in excess of 320 degrees Fahrenheit in order to dry and harden.

There are also water-based inks which can be used to make a screen print.  The material will need to be set aside to give the water-based ink time to dry.  This type of ink cannot be left in the screen for too long since it can harden in the screen unlike Plastisol.

Another important piece of equipment crucial to making a screen print is a squeegee.  This helps force the ink through the screen to make the print.  Squeegees can be of different sizes and durometers which will affect the quality and size of the print.

These are the most important pieces of equipment used to make a screen print.  The process is relatively simple.  Create a screen with holes that contains the graphic or design.  You will then need to place ink on the screen and use a squeegee to force the ink onto the underlying material to create the print.  If you use a water-based ink, it will need time to dry.