How to Burn Your Own Screens from Home: Screen Print Tutorial

Summary

This video provides a comprehensive guide to screen printing, covering everything from preparing your screen to exposing your design. It walks viewers through selecting the right screen, cleaning and coating it with emulsion, and preparing artwork for printing. Budget-friendly tips are shared for exposure, including using a UV LED unit or makeshift tools. The guide also addresses common beginner mistakes and offers helpful troubleshooting advice. Finally, the video includes a giveaway for a complete screen printing kit, making it a perfect resource for anyone looking to start or improve their screen printing skills.

Takeaways

• 😀 Choose an aluminum screen for screen printing as it lasts longer and is easier to clean than wooden ones.
• 😀 Screen mesh numbers, like 110 or 155, are ideal for beginners, with higher mesh numbers offering finer details.
• 😀 Always degrease the screen to remove dust, dirt, and debris before starting the screen printing process.
• 😀 Use a scoop coater to evenly apply emulsion to the screen, ensuring no bubbles or uneven coating.
• 😀 Allow your screen to dry with the squeegee side facing up to avoid damaging the coating.
• 😀 Keep emulsion away from sunlight during drying, as it is sensitive to UV light.
• 😀 Your artwork should be vectorized to ensure crisp, clear edges when printed on the screen.
• 😀 Add registration marks to your design to help with alignment and centering when printing.
• 😀 Use a dark, controlled environment to expose your screen, avoiding direct sunlight to prevent premature exposure.
• 😀 A UV LED exposure unit is a cost-effective and compact option for beginners to burn designs onto a screen.
• 😀 Common beginner mistakes include not fully drying emulsion, printing a non-dark enough film positive, or over/underexposing the screen.

Q & A

What type of screen is recommended for beginners in screen printing?

Aluminum screens are recommended for beginners as they last longer and are easier to clean compared to wooden ones.

Why is it important to degrease the screen before use?

Degreasing the screen is essential because it removes dust, dirt, and debris, ensuring better adhesion of the emulsion to the screen.

How do you apply emulsion to the screen?

Emulsion is applied using a scoop coater, where you tilt the screen at a 45° angle and swipe the emulsion up the mesh in a smooth, even motion.

What is the recommended mesh number for beginners?

For beginners, a mesh number of 110 or 155 is ideal, as they are more beginner-friendly and easier to work with.

How long should the screen be left to dry after applying emulsion?

The screen should be left to dry for at least an hour or overnight. To speed up the process, you can use a fan.

Why is sunlight harmful to the emulsion during the drying process?

Sunlight is harmful to emulsion because it can prematurely harden the emulsion, ruining the screen and the design.

What are the three main tips for preparing artwork for screen printing?

The three tips are: 1) Ensure the design is vectorized for clear edges, 2) Add registration marks to align the design, and 3) Ensure the film positive is dark and opaque.

Can you use a regular light room to coat the screen with emulsion?

Yes, you can coat the screen in a regular light room, but once it's dried, it must be stored in a dark place to prevent exposure to light, which can ruin the emulsion.

What is a common mistake when using a spray bottle during the exposure process?

A common mistake is using the wrong spray bottle, such as one meant for soap or cleaning, which can interfere with the exposure process and result in poor screen quality.

What are the top three mistakes beginners make when screen printing?

The top three mistakes are: 1) Not fully drying the emulsion, 2) Using a film positive that is not dark enough, and 3) Overexposing or underexposing the screen.