Screen Prints

History and principle of screen printing

Screen printing is a printing technique which consists of printing a pattern on a support using a screen formed of meshes. Areas of the screen that match the pattern are made permeable to ink, while other areas are impermeable. The ink is then applied to the screen using a squeegee, and it passes through the permeable areas to print the design on the support.

Screen printing is a technique that has been around for centuries. The first traces of screen printing on paper were discovered in China, where it was used to print fabrics and papers.

In the 20th century, screen printing experienced renewed interest, particularly in the field of Pop Art. Andy Warhol is one of the most famous artists to use screen printing to create his works.

Screen preparation

The screen is a wooden or aluminum frame over which a fine mesh fabric is stretched. Areas of the screen that match the pattern are made permeable to ink, while other areas are impermeable. The method involves coating the screen with a photosensitive emulsion and then exposing it to light. Areas of the screen that are exposed to light harden and become waterproof, areas protected from light become permeable.

Once each screen (one screen per color) is covered with emulsion, a transparent film is placed on it where the pattern (opaque type) of the color to be printed is located, then everything is exposed to UV light. After exposure, the screen is rinsed with clean water to remove the emulsion which has not hardened in the mesh. We then obtain a stencil for a color.

Applying ink

Screen printing ink is applied to the screen using a doctor blade, which presses the ink through the permeable areas of the screen. The ink is then applied to the printing support (paper, textile, etc.) placed below. To print more than one color, you will need to mark each color with the others.