down and dirty screenprinting for under 10$

Step 8: Print!

Lay out all of the items to be printed upon so they are easily positionable and moveable.

Start with a clean, clear work area, and be ready to move quick.
There is no need to rush, but no lolly gagging either.

Set the screen in place on top of whatever is to be printed and hold it down firmly. A friend can help immensely here.

Pour a thin line of ink directly above the stencil on the screen.
Using the plastic putty knife at a 45 degree angle t the screen, firmly pull the ink across the image.
This forces the ink through the stencil and onto the substrate.

It may be necessary to pull the ink through multiple times, but be sure the frame does not move on the substrate, otherwise the image will get blurred and smeared.

Carefully lift the screen off of the substrate and move it to the next item to be printed.
Continue until you are finished, or until the screen blows out.

Comments

[Lark Writeress]

Wow-- really? Vinyl? That's all? No need for that expensive screen filler or whatever?! SO COOL, THANKS!!

[Carly_Meik]

 This looks great thanks for know how . I love printing but just learning all the how too's thanks must have been a lot of work to photograph !

[rabenzie1]

How would I set up another screen to add color. Lets say I have a ring with 2 colors in it, how would i use this method to accomplish getting a 2 colored ring on the shrits?

[crazyg]

either look througt the screen as placing the frame down. or have datum marks on the to be printed surface this does require the stencil to be in the right place on the screen creating a double margin of error i found the first method worked better ,with multi colour expect to lose a couple of prints with each additional colour

[dreamer1172]

What is meant by "...until the screen blows out"?

[woodenshoespress]

eventually, the screen will quit working, usually because the vinyl adhesive gives out. hence, blow out.

[rabenzie1]

what if I want to add color to a specific part of the screen?

[burwuro]

 For Doing that you would have to have another whole setup. I.E one screen for red, blue, white, black and so on.

[drj85]

once you do this step can you use the same stencil and screen

[Unitedybevol]

I was told that white ink on black would bleed the white and it wouldn't be clear or good... is that true?

[Kryptonite]

Sometimes yes sometimes no, I'd try it first.

[jesusfreakgirl93]

Is there any other material that would work for the screen? like do you have any suggestions? Is a tighter weave more desirable than a looser one?

[raviolikid]

I did something like this a while back. I used an old silk scarf that I picked up at a yard sale as the material. I made about 15 copies with it before it wore out.

[Christopher93]

Was the irony in your name accidental, or deliberate? ;^D

[chad oliver]

huh?

[Christopher93]

Talking to jesusfreakgirl93, durr! =^P

[chad oliver]

I'm not that stupid. I just don't see what's ironic about it.
For reference: the term 'jesus freak' was originally an insult, but has been claimed by christians and refers to someone who intentionally tries to follow Jesus' more radical ideas (for example, actually truly loving others, forgiveness, and actively trying to help others). It's a badge of pride - nothing ironic about it!

[Christopher93]

Yes, and the number 93 is central, "holy" even, to an occult tradition called "Thelema" following the drug feind and self-appointed spiritual leader of the British Ordo Templi Orientis, Aleister Crowley:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thelema

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleister_Crowley

Hence, picking the name "jesusfreak93" would be very ironic coincidence. ;^P

I know this b/c I had an "occult" phase in high school, hence why I picked "Christopher93".

[mg0930mg]

maybe she was born in 93?

[Christopher93]

I feel so old...

[mg0930mg]

haha.

[chad oliver]

Heh - that is ironic! My bad; I stand corrected.
Hah!

[trogdorzune.net]

Obama has never looked so good, classy stencil and great project, good work!