|
What
is Screen/Silkscreen Printing?
 creen
(or silkscreen, as it is sometimes called) printing primarily uses
a hand or electronically-prepared stencil. The part that is to be
printed is made up of silk, nylon or a stainless-steel mesh. Ink
can pass through this area but not through the other part of the
stencil which is contained inside a frame. The printing surface
is placed under the frame on a flat surface. The impression is made
by forcing the ink through the screen area with a rubber squeegee.
The need for a heavy ink consistency and, as you
might expect, a course halftone screen
restricts reproduction quality. However, the process offers high-opacity
and brilliant color possibilities. The process is ideal for banners,
T-shirts, posters and most any other surface you can think of. The
downside is that it is not a highly automated process and the amount
of detail one can achieve is somewhat limited. Like letterpress
printing, this process is very popular in school workshops.
|