How To Screen Print: Getting Your Art To Screen

19 Responses to How To Screen Print: Getting Your Art To Screen

1. CatspitProductions

   February 15, 2011 at 4:29 am

   @flondora You are welcome; it is my pleasure to help out. The emulsion should be thickest on the substrate side. That’s why it’s traditionally placed there during exposure. Light tends to not travel completely through the emulsion layer. So it’s best to expose the thickest side directly. But many people expose their screens with the film on the ink well side. I would suggest the traditional method if you can do it. Thanks for watching and commenting!
2. flondora

   February 15, 2011 at 4:51 am

   Great videos, thanks for posting them. Is there a reason why the film is placed on the bottom of the screen? Somewhere I saw about the screen laying on a piece of black fabric and then laying the film in the inkwell of the screen and laying a piece of heavy glass over it. Does it matter? I am just getting ready to do this for the first time and have several films made, and for light got a 500 watt halogen work light, so trying to plan my first setup.
3. AngryDraftsman

   February 15, 2011 at 5:43 am

   where is the best place to buy aluminum frame screens?
4. CatspitProductions

   February 15, 2011 at 5:45 am

   @link6913 You can use any light source that has a high UV output. You can make your own exposure unit with industrial black lamps if you can build a box and switches for it. Thanks for watching and commenting!
5. link6913

   February 15, 2011 at 6:07 am

   Do you need a lightbox or could you use something else?
6. CatspitProductions

   February 15, 2011 at 7:04 am

   Unless your film is wicked opaque, then 30 minutes in the exposure unit will most likely cure all of the emulsion leaving you without a stencil. Just solid cured emulsion. If the film is 100% opaque, then over exposure begins to affect the resolution and bridging characteristics of the emulsion. Thanks for the comment!
7. boogski

   February 15, 2011 at 8:02 am

   What if you leave your screen in longer than usual. Worst case scenerio approx 30mins?
8. CatspitProductions

   February 15, 2011 at 8:53 am

   The videos are not numbered because each one has a self describing title. And more importantly, if you go to the Catspit website, there is an overview article from start to finish and the videos are linked to each appropriate step. It is on the Printing Articles main page. Link is in the side bar and on the channel page. Thanks for watching!
9. rodnisimo

   February 15, 2011 at 9:13 am

   Could you # these videos in sequence?
10. CatspitProductions

    February 15, 2011 at 9:14 am

    Youre welcome. Thanks for watching! It is recommended to work with unexposed emulsions and screens in yellow or red light. Some emulsions are slow enough that subdued light is sufficient. It really depends on the emulsion you are using. But a complete darkroom is not necessary in all cases. But again, it is recommended. My motto is eliminate all variables so working with emulsion in the darkroom is a good idea. You can use any dark space with a red or yellow light.
11. bajaben

    February 15, 2011 at 9:25 am

    Thanks for the video’s, they are very helpful.
    I have one question. A few videos I have seen, they say the emulsion process and burning should be done in a “dark room.” Is that necessary?
12. CatspitProductions

    February 15, 2011 at 9:56 am

    Check out my website for information that supports and supplements the videos.
13. CatspitProductions

    February 15, 2011 at 10:13 am

    The exposure time may be calculated by different methods. When I test a new emulsion I start at a 30 second exposure and adjust from there. Most emulsions are very fast today. The vendor of the emulsion should be able to dial you in to a starting point for their emulsion based on your mesh count and your light source. If your screen gets messed up, the screen itself may be reused but it would have to be reclaimed and re-coated with fresh emulsion.
14. Doddsey

    February 15, 2011 at 10:32 am

    How do you work out the exposure time ? and ioce you take the screen out of the machine, if you discover when washing out that it wasnt long enough and the emulsion comes off can you re-use that screen?
15. LOVEUGML

    February 15, 2011 at 10:53 am

    thanks
16. CatspitProductions

    February 15, 2011 at 11:21 am

    It is a clear inkjet film. You can get it from Integrity Print Supply. They have a channel here on YouTube. You will have to call them to place an order.
17. tocadiscos5

    February 15, 2011 at 11:48 am

    what is the name of the paper u used to create art
18. CatspitProductions

    February 15, 2011 at 12:05 pm

    This one is a bit loud.
19. Tolrias

    February 15, 2011 at 12:55 pm

    That is some loud vacuum table d0_ob

    PS: awesome video :D