Screenprinting 101

Stencil Cut Screenprinting

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Screenprinting with Ms. Clark

CLEANING UP THE SCREENS

1. Use a hose to spray off the ink. If you are careful with the stencil, you can reuse it.
2. Make sure you remove all the ink from your screen so it does not dry up and clog the screen.
3. If you remove the stencil, please be sure to leave the duct tape on the frame. Many over-zealous students have removed the duct tape and been surprised to find themselves reapplying duct tape.
4. Leave them to air-dry standing up.
5. If you take care to properly clean the screens, they will last for a long time.

VARIATIONS

• For screening t-shirts, you can use freezer paper between the shirt to protect the back of the shirt from printing
• T-shirts require a different ink. You will need fabric ink and be sure to check the heat set instructions on the ink. Nothing is worse than printing up twenty shirts and having the design wash off in the first wash.

TROUBLESHOOTING

1. The ink is leaking out of the design!

• Check the ink consistency. Is it too thin?
• Check the angle of the squeegie. It has to be 45º.
• Make several passes with manilla paper or newsprint to clean the stencil before using the finished paper or t-shirt.

2. It isn't registered!

• Use the acetate to make sure you are printing your design correctly.
• Make sure you are not shifting the clamps when you lower the screen.

3. I have a design that is not attached to the main contact paper and it keeps falling out.

• Usually the ink will hold the unattached pieces in place, as will the sticky from the contact paper.
• Use a little glue from a UHU stick to help glue it on. Only a little.
• Practice a few strokes before printing the final paper or shirt.

4. My ink is too thin.

• The only solution is to add more ink to the water-ink mixture.

5. Light ink dries too fast.

• Add extender or retarder to the ink.
• Work faster. ;)

6. The stencil has gaps in it once I put it on the screen.

• If your blade is not sharp when you cut the stencil, sometimes it pulls the plastic contact paper.
• Usually the ink will hold the stencil in place once you make a few passes over newsprint or manilla before using your final paper or cloth.

Stencil-Cut Screenprinting Session, November 13

Introduction of instructors and method.

Social Studies Cross-Curriculum Tie-ins: Propaganda posters from the WWII and Cold War eras (This is just one simple way to use screenprinting. We hope if you have any ideas you will post them this blog, so it can be a living document of our session.)

Art Historical References:

• US posters from the post-WWII and Cold War era
• Soviet posters from the Cold War Era
• Pop Art and Andy Warhol

Video of Students at work using the stencil cut method.

Demonstration of stencil-cut screenprinting.

American Propaganda Posters

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printmaking, american posters, screenprinting

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