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Screen printing can be used for various purposes by many industries, from printing ceramics to creating custom textiles, but how much do you know about the screen printing process? Few people are familiar with the actual process of screen printing, but most people will own at least one screen-printed product.

How Can Screen Printing Be Used?

You can screen Print materials of any size and thickness, making it one of the most versatile branding solutions. 

Here are some examples of how you can use screen printing in your business:

• Posters, canvasses and artwork.
• Clothing designs.
• Stickers and Decals.
• Signage.
• Branded sports products.
• Promotional merchandise.
• Textile fabric designs.
• Decorations and balloons.
• Packaging and product labels.

How Does Screen Printing Work?

Screen printing uses a mesh screen, ink, and a squeegee to transfer a stencilled design onto flat surfaces. You can make these designs using many techniques, and you can use multiple colours. Screen printing involves several steps, namely:

Step 1: Design Creation. 

This step involves deciding on the design and printing it onto transparent acetate film. This will be used to create the stencil or screen.

Step 2: Making The Screen. 

Second, choose the screen and the mesh count (the total amount of fibres/inch). Different designs might require different mesh counts. A higher mesh count allows for finer detail printing while still preserving ink. After selecting the mesh, a layer of light-reactive emulsion is applied to it. Different types of emulsion can provide different results.

Step 3: Expose The Emulsion. 

The entire thing should be exposed to bright light after the design has been printed onto the acetate sheet. The light hardens the emulsion so that liquid remains on the design-covered areas of the screen. You will need a separate screen to apply each layer if your design has multiple colours.

Step 4: Cleansing The Emulsion. 

The screen will harden after being exposed to light for a certain time. To create a clear imprint, any remaining oil must be rinsed off. The screen is dried and cleaned by the printer, who does any touch-ups. Now the stencil is ready to be used.

Step 5: Preparing And Printing. 

Lay the material flat on the printing board. Next, place the screen with your design on top of it in the desired location. The screen can be lowered to the printer board. Next, add the ink colour to the screen. Use the squeegee to evenly distribute the ink along the length of the screen, pressing it through the stencil and then transferring it to the material below. 

Step 6: Finishing, Drying and Checking the Product.

After printing the product, it is dried in a dryer. This will 'cure" the ink and create a smooth, colourfast finish. To remove any residue, it is essential to thoroughly wash the final product before it is handed over to its new owner. 

Minuteman Press Pinetown can help you promote your company with high-quality screen-printed products with the right equipment and expertise. Contact us today to learn more.