Printed designs are a great way to showcase your ideas, opinions and even your personality. That is why screen printing is a popular method all over the world. This printing method uses ink presses through a mesh screen and creates printed designs.

It is used across multiple industries worldwide to create custom printed clothes, canvases, posters, art and so much more. It is also known as silk screen printing or serigraphy.

What is Screen Printing?

Screen printing is an intricate art. This printing process involves transferring a stenciled design onto a flat surface. This can be done with ink, a mesh screen, and a squeegee.

The most popular materials printed this way are paper and fabric, but screen printing can be used on metal, plastic, wood or even glass.

If the process is done right, you are left with a long-lasting product. Given the artistic freedom it offers, the choice of a variety of colors and easy to reproduce methods, it has become quite popular. It is even used for mass production of garments, accessories, and the like.

One of the advantages of screen printing is its ability to produce vibrant and durable designs, making it ideal for custom apparel. However, for those interested in alternative methods, this page on heat press printing offers insights into another effective technique that can achieve similar results. It’s essential to consider the materials and designs you wish to use, as both screen printing and heat press methods have their unique benefits for different projects.

How Does Screen Printing Work?

Screen Printing is a fairly simple process. All it requires is ink and a screen or mesh stencil.

The process starts by making a stencil on a mesh screen. Imprinting the design onto the surface of the material is done by pushing paint or ink through the stencil.

There are a variety of stencil techniques that can be used, which is why the printing process also varies greatly.

Once the stencil is created, pushing ink onto the material through the stencil gives you the design. The designs created can be colored in multiple shades of ink. It is advisable to apply individual color with separate stencils for multi-colored designs.

A step-by-step explanation of screen printing is discussed below.

• Creating the design

  • A design is printed onto a transparent film.

• Preparation of the Screen

  • The printer needs to choose the correct style of mesh screen that suits the design and fabric texture. The screen is coated with an emulsion that hardens beneath light when it is developed.

• Creating the Stencil

  • All areas of the screen not covered by the design are hardened. This produces a clear imprint of the design on the screen that allows ink to pass through. Once this is done, the stencil is dried and ready for corrections, prepping, and use.

• Prepping for Print

  • The screen is placed on a printing press and the fabric or item is placed below the printing board.

• Inking and Squeegee

  • The screen is lowered onto the board and ink is added to the top. A squeegee pulls ink to the full length of the screen.
  • The ink is pushed onto open areas on the stencil and the design is imprinted on the product.

Screen printing is ideal for those looking to print onto fabrics, wood or glass. A great way to do this is with ASPE, a company dedicated to innovation and textile quality. With its RapidTag technology that has revolutionized by the industry, it is a reliable company that executes orders flawlessly.