Screen Printing

How to do a Screen Print...

STAGE ONE:

1. FIRST! Fill out a Screen Request Form for the day you need the screen. It can take up to 3 days.
2. Prepare the designs you intend to print by photocopying on to acetate and adjusting the size if need be.
3. Take the prepared exposure screen from the dark cabinet. Place acetate in to the vacuum machine, printed side up. Now place the screen on top, flat side down, and adjust positioning of the design or screen if needed.
4. Pull down the lid, clip the locks down on each side.
5. Press Vacuum,
6. Press Start,
7. Wait until the number gets to 85 and unclip the lid.
8. Now wash the screen thoroughly until the full design is visible, and place in the dryer for about 15 - 20 minutes.

STAGE TWO:

1. Line up screen with material you have chosen to print on, mark it down for future reference.
2. Tape up the edges of the screen to seal them, and divide from any other persons work.
3. It is best to work in pairs so that someone can hold the screen down for you when printing.
4. Line up a layer of prepared binder to print with (This consists of about 3 tablespoons of binder, and a few drops of colour - be sure to use just a small amount of colour as it is very strong.)
5. Pull the Squeegee down over the screen with a fair bit of force, making sure the binder goes through, check the design, remove and excess binder.
6. Place print on to drying rack.

Flock + Foil...

For both flocking and foiling, you will need the silk screen again. Both processes use a heat press, the only real difference is that the foil goes on the top of the paper foil side facing upwards, and the flock goes on top of the paper flock side facing down. Before using the heat press, the silk screen must be used to apply a glue binder mixture on to the paper or what ever you wish to print your flock/ foil on to. This glue takes 20 minutes to dry. The paper is then ready to go in to the heat press, along with the flock/ foil. The print is ready when the heat press sings you a little song!!