Photo-emulsion Screen Printing

Step 3 Coating the screen

First -- lay out newspapers on your work surface, if you haven't already. Sometimes this step is relatively clean, and sometimes I end up with green emulsion all over everything.

Since you'll be flipping the screen over repeatedly during this process, go ahead and put a pushpin in each corner of the bottom (flat) side of the screen. That way, you can flip the screen and set it facing bottom-side down without getting emulsion everywhere. Also, if you don't have a squeegee, you can use a piece of semi-flexible cardboard, so long as it's got a wide, straight, smooth edge for spreading.

Start with the screen bottom (flat) side up. Pour (or glop, as the case may be) a thick line of emulsion across one end of the screen. Use the squeegee to spread it evenly over the whole screen, making a thin layer. Flip the screen over and rest it on the four pushpins. Pour another thick line of emulsion on one end of the inside of the screen and spread it evenly over the screen with the squeegee.

Repeat this process until you have a thin, even layer of emulsion covering the entire screen. (This shouldn't require flipping the screen more than a few times; you want to work quickly to minimize the amount of time the sensitized emulsion is exposed to light.) Do the final spreading step on the inside of the screen, so that you have a smooth surface for spreading the ink later.

Once you're done, set your screen bottom-side down (resting on the pushpins) in a dark place to dry. I usually set mine inside or under a cardboard box, in a closet or closed cabinet.

I let mine sit overnight, but if you want it to dry faster, point a fan at it.

Comments

[nattapon05]

when you do coating do you need to do in dark room ?

[makirro]

not necessarily just as long as you put it on before you go out in the cold, you'll be fine.
makirro (the fool)

[pirate ricky]

so... each side of the screen gets one coat or two?