Screen printing is nothing more than a printing technique through the use of a stencil that is applied on a certain fabric or mesh, silk fabric is generally recommended. This fabric is stretched over a rectangular frame in order to transfer the ink to the surface.

In this sense we must emphasize that the word serigraphy has its origin in the Latin sericum. Its purpose is to be able to stamp a certain fabric through a mesh and with the use of an ink, thus allowing to reproduce various images on various surfaces without losing its quality, even after performing several repetitions.

This procedure is mostly carried out in specialized workshops , in a traditional way, however, this printing process is a method that can be done from home without any inconvenience, as long as you follow the instructions as described.

What materials are needed for screen printing?

The work area must contain:

• A resistant table with a suitable surface to place the fabric to be implemented and to carry out the stamping.
• A specific space where you can place the tools to be used as well as the papers and fabrics that can be used as tests.
• A space to separate everything that has been stained with ink and that does not damage the work.
• A bucket or container with water to be able to wash your hands well.

The materials to use are:

• Special inks for this type of work.
• Acramines and lacquers.
• Distilled water to reduce the density of the ink to be used.
• Rake for screen printing or squeegee. In this sense, we must point out that even a glass cleaning spatula can be used for this.
• Hair dryer to remove moisture and dry the print.
• Stamping paper.
• Textile spray that allows to fix the fabric to the table where it is going to work.

If you are going to make a stencil you must have:

• Stickers with various geometric shapes.
• Adhesive vinyl paper.
• Scotch tape.
• Leaves to be able to work.
• Elements that facilitate cutting such as scalpel, scissors, among others.

If you are going to build a silkscreen, you will need:

• A wooden frame.
• Screen printing fabric for textile.
• Recycled synthetic fabric
• Brush
• Hammer
• An upholstery stapler.
• White glue.

Types of screen printing

Among the types of screen printing, the most common are:

• Manual screen printing
• Semi automatic screen printing
• Circular screen printing
• Silkscreen on umbrella
• Automatic screen printing and textile

Silkscreen process

1. Creation of the photolith: it is created from the design that has been requested. Once received, it is defragmented into as many parts as there are colors in the design and the photoliths are created according to the number of colors found in the design. With that amount of photoliths the same, the base that will serve to form and have the screens of each color that you want to print is achieved.
2. Creation of the screens: When the photolith is ready, it is personified in a mesh in the center of these screens that are handmade, made with a wooden or metal frame and that centered mesh. The various techniques used to create the screens are sensitive to light since the execution consists of a chemical step called emulsion: in a more or less homogeneous way, liquids are combined against the photolith and on the mesh, matching the two objects perfectly. .
3. Ink stamping: finally, after having carried out the previous steps, we proceed to carry out the stamping of the design that has been requested on the appropriate surface and in the exact location so that everything is in the best possible way.
4. Drying: once the stamping process has been carried out, care must be taken that the final product dries very well, since otherwise, the work may be damaged and it may be badly done. That is why drying tunnels are used, or if it is handmade, a hair dryer, in order to achieve the correct fixation of the pattern that has been made.