Basic Basic Screen PrintingScreen Printing Procedures for Procedures for
T-ShirtsT-Shirts
GOP_5-2 Screen Printing
Prepare Your Screens and Prepare Your Screens and Run a Run a
Step Wedge Test Step Wedge Test (this will determine your exposure (this will determine your exposure
time)time)
Step 1 - Step 1 - Degrease the Degrease the ScreenScreen Degrease your screen on both sides
(use degrease brush) Rinse with pressure washer Apply micro grit on screen
(use grit brush) to roughenup fibers - DO THIS ONLY1 TIME TO A new SCREENthen RINSE
Dry screen in Drip Drain - No dust!
Wet - Degrease - Micro Grit- Rinse - Dry
Wet - Degrease - Micro Grit- Rinse - Dry
Don’t TouchAfter Cleaning!!
Step 2 - Coat Your ScreenStep 2 - Coat Your Screen(Your Instructor will do this initially - you get it set up)(Your Instructor will do this initially - you get it set up)
Get Emulsion from refrig and stirwith wooden stick only!!
Pour Emulsion into scoop coater (After taking off plastic protective piece)
Tilt Screen and coat flat side ofscreen, first starting at bottomand spreading to top
Coat other side of screen Must be coated evenly and smooth
- no bubbles Dry flat side up in light tight cabinet
in storage room overnight (or preferably screen side down if your cabinet accommodates that)
Do This in Subdued
Light Only!
Must run test for each type of mesh to determine proper exposure time
Tape test strip to flat side of emulsified blank screen
Place screen flat side down onto glass on exposure unit
Use rubylith to cover sections of test strip that you do not want to expose
Cover corner with rope so the blanket won’t seal air inside the frame
Do This in Subdued Light Only!
Step 3 - Step Wedge TestStep 3 - Step Wedge Test
Do This in Subdued
Light Only!
Hold down top of exposure unit / turn on vacuum / expose for 1 min. (turn dial past 2 min. and then back to 1min. to set timer)
Move rubylith down 1 more section and expose 1 min
Repeat until test strip complete
Mark down your test times
Step 4 - Step 4 - Step Wedge TestStep Wedge Test (cont’d)(cont’d)
Note: Clean glass on exposure unit and ifone bulb burns out replace all of them!
Step 5 - Step 5 - Step Wedge TestStep Wedge Test ((cont’d)cont’d)
Your screen stays light sensitive until you wet the emulsion with water
Take off test strip Wet both sides of screen with sprayer With flat side of screen facing you, stand back
and with soft spray wash at top of screen and work your way down
Turn screen around and lightly wash inside of screen
Blot out image area with special towels on both sides (or blow gently blow dry with pressured air)
Put in sunshine to dry or in front of a fan Write down your test results and post
Note: Note: Most eMost equipment uipment manufacturers either sell manufacturers either sell an exposure calculator or an exposure calculator or include it with the include it with the purchase of an exposure purchase of an exposure unit. One exposure with unit. One exposure with the calculator can reveal the calculator can reveal the best exposure after the best exposure after examining the image.examining the image.
Now You’re Ready to Now You’re Ready to Create Your Own Create Your Own Piece of Art Work!Piece of Art Work!
Step 1 - Step 1 - Design yourDesign your oneone color art work color art work Document size is maximum 8.25” x
10.75” Design art work using one color (black
area will be where the ink goes through the screen)
Make sure you put registration marks outside artwork so you can line up on screen with T-square
Print out a proof on plainpaper first to check your artwork
Print out your final art workon a special paper calledvellum on the Xantepostscript printer
Step 2 - Step 2 - Coat your screenCoat your screen
Open pink Emulsion and stirwith wooden stick only!!
Pour Emulsion into metal tray(take off plastic protective piece)
Tilt Screen and coat flat side ofscreen first starting at bottomand spreading to top
Coat other side of screen Must be coated evenly and smooth
- no bubbles Dry flat side down in light tight cabinet
in storage room overnight
Do This in Subdued Light Only!
Step 3 - Step 3 - Attach positiveAttach positive Attach the positive
(your art work printed on the vellum) to the flat side of the coated screen backwards with scotch tape
Use a T-square to make sure it’s straight and centered within the frame
Do This in Subdued Light Only!
Hint: Put a mark with apermanent marker on eachsection of the frame to indicatethe center point
Do This in Subdued Light Only!
Place screen flat side down onto glass on exposure unit
Cover corner with rope so the blanket won’t seal air inside the frame(can expose 2 screens at a time -drape rope over both)
Hold down top of exposure unit / turn on vacuum / set exposure time (turn dial past 2 min. and then back to 1min. to set timer)
Step 4 - Step 4 - ExposeExpose
Step 5 - Step 5 - Wash your screenWash your screen
Your screen stays light sensitive until you wet the emulsion with water
Wet both sides of screenwith soft spray
With flat side of screen facing you, stand back and with soft spray wash at top of screen and work your way down
Turn screen around and lightly wash inside of screen
Do This in Subdued Light Only!
Blot out image area with special towels on both sides Put in sunshine to dry or in front of a fan
Step 6 - Step 6 - Tape screenTape screen Use plastic tape to tape
up short sides of screen frame first(pinch & tear)
Tape long sides
Use scotch tape on flat side of screen to tape out registration marks
Block out any pinholes(use small brush and Ulano Block out)
Note: Wait 15 min. to let block-out dry
Step 7 -Step 7 - Place on pressPlace on press
Put your vellum art work on the platen, line up and tape in position(use a pencil to indicate the center of the platen)
Mount screen in the press where you want the image to print on the shirt by matching it to the position of the vellum
YOURART
WORK
Step 8 –Step 8 – Add InkAdd Ink Add ink
Attempt to keep ink away from edges and corners - it is difficult to remove with a squeegee
Secure a squeegee slightly larger than the width of your image
Taping over the gap of the squeegee keeping tape 1/4” away from the printing edge, will make cleanup easier
Step 9 –Step 9 – Load shirt on Load shirt on printing platenprinting platen
Make sure the shirt is straight and flat on the printing Make sure the shirt is straight and flat on the printing platenplaten
Step 10 – Step 10 – Print with the Print with the squeegeesqueegee
Hold squeegee at a 45 degree angle while printingHold squeegee at a 45 degree angle while printing
Step 11 – Step 11 – Remove the shirt Remove the shirt from platenfrom platen
Step 12 - Step 12 - Put in dryer Put in dryer (ink side up)(ink side up)
YOU’RE DONE!YOU’RE DONE!
Put the shirt on.