How to setup screen printing at home

Following the specification on the photo emulsion bottle, set up a light above your flat black surface. Each emulsion has different times, watts, and distances needed for proper hardening, so be sure to read the bottle before beginning. The lamp should always be feet above the emulsion.

If the emulsion calls for 30 minutes at watts, set up a lamp with a W bulb feet above a table. The screen goes under the light. Place your screen under the light in the exposure area. As you're moving the screen, cover it with a towel so it does not react to incidental light. Place it under the lamp in your station, leaving the towel on for now. Put your stencil backwards on the middle of the screen.

The screen should be emulsion side up. The mesh will be lifted a few inches off the table and resting on the frame. Place your stencil in the middle of the screen with inches of space between the design and the edge of the frame.

You must place your stencil down in reverse to get the right image. Look at your stencil the way you want it, then flip it over before you put it down. Otherwise, you will get a mirror image when you start printing.

If there is a breeze, or your stencil is very light, place a clear piece of glass on top of it to keep it from moving. Do not push, prod, or move your screen, light, or stencil once it is placed and set. Turn on the light for the recommended time. Simply follow the instructions on your emulsion bottle and remove the screen when it is done. When it is done, remove the stencil and set it aside for later. If you smell anything burning during this process, turn off the light immediately. If you prepared the emulsion correctly, you should see the faint outline of your stencil in the emulsion when the design is removed.

Blast off the emulsion with cold water. Take any high-powered water source shower, faucet, hose and wash off the screen, focusing on your image. The water will wash away the unhardened emulsion around your design. You should see the outline of your stencil appear. Keep on spraying until you can see your image well. Line up your screen above the object you're printing on. The mesh should be touching whatever you're printing on, like paper or a shirt.

If you're using a shirt, slide some cardboard between the layers of the shirt to prevent the ink from bleeding through. Squeegee some ink over your design. Put a thin line of ink just above your design. Then drag the squeegee over your design firmly, coating the entire stencil in ink. The harder you press the darker your image will be. Slowly pull off your silkscreen.

Your design will be printed. Repeat with as many shirts as you want, cleaning the screen occasionally. You can use your silkscreen again with another t-shirt if you want, adding more ink as necessary. Simply wipe down the backside after every shirt and reapply ink. If you're using the same print for multiple days in a row, rinse and dry it at the end of each day. You have to be very careful with the mesh and frame since any type of cut can allow the paint to spread and damage the image that you are printing.

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 3. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. You can purchase pre-made screens at many arts and crafts stores, but these vary in price and can be quite pricey.

Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Do not leave ink on the screen to dry. It will render the screen unusable. Helpful 7 Not Helpful 3. Always wear gloves and cover your surface with newspaper or plastic when handling permanent ink. Helpful 8 Not Helpful 6. Do not choose overly detailed images for screen printing. The details might not materialize as you expected.

Helpful 7 Not Helpful 8. You Might Also Like How to. How to. More References 3. Co-authors: Updated: July 7, Categories: Printing Crafts Fabric Printing. Article Summary X To screen print at home, start by coating the mesh screen with a layer of photo emulsion, and letting it dry under a light in a dark space, like a closet. Italiano: Creare in Casa una Stampa Serigrafica.

Bahasa Indonesia: Menyablon di Rumah. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read , times. Your article has helped me to recall the process! Thank you for writing it in such a clear manner and with great detail. More reader stories Hide reader stories. Did this article help you? Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. About This Article Co-authors: Toni George Aug 19, Connie Gonzalez Oct 25, Safer Kerala Jun 3, Chanta Caldwell Jan 11, John Ramey Jun 22, Share yours!

More success stories Hide success stories. Featured Articles How to. Trending Articles How to. New Pages How to. Watch Articles How to. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. These three core items would be great to start your screen printing business. Then, wash out the uncured emulsion with water and let the emulsion fully dry and harden. The screen printing website suggests a soft bristle brush, i prefer my fingers and a sponge brush. All you need is a heat transfer press—and of course some customers.

The best way for me to generate revenue was through screen printing. Try this led uv exposure unit. What was it like starting a screen printing business on the side? In order to start a screen printing business at home, you have to research well in seeking equipment. Here, you are going to need a. So, the basic equipment you get to start with is a printing press, flash cure, and an exposure unit.

Please note that this article is limited to apparel screen printing related equipment. It will also take you about an hour to make a screen, and only a little longer to make more screens. Put the plastic canvas screen behind the film for support, and clean the image. After all the image is cleaned, let it dry.

Find out what do you need to start a screen printing business. For others looking to jump into the craft, amanda has shared. Get the pdf guide when you.