Benefits of Screenprinting: Is It Really Worth It?

There are different enjoyable hobbies but artistically challenging in nature. Screenprinting is among such hobbies and an age-old printing process. Screen, frame, inks, and stencil are employed to print anything on any material.

We live in a technological era where different inventions and innovations are taking place day and night. For this reason, technology has now introduced machinery, making it possible even to do this task on cylinders.

Traditionally, original silk was used for these projects. However, these have been replaced by nylon material having a tight mesh, but still, there’s that appearance and feel of silk with it. Here, you’ll learn more about screenprinting at large.

What are the main types of screens used for this project?

There are two different screens employed for screenprinting. These are the temporal options and permanent ones.

These screens serve almost the same purpose, but they have some differences with them. Here are their features to learn the difference they exhibit.

Features of temporal screens

• They last for a short time.
• They are best at registering limited or just single prints on materials.
• Temporal screens are easy to prepare, therefore require little effort and money to form.
• Examples of these options are the candle wax and stencil screens. 

Permanent screens

• They are durable and can even last forever if properly cared for.
• Used in printing multiple prints at a go
• Considerable effort and money are needed to prepare them.
• Examples of these options include the lacquer screens, photographic, and shellac screens.

Having a hint on the existing screenprinting screens available, it’s best that we learn the different screenprinting methods and various advantages of this process.

Screenprinting methods

The preparation of screens is the hardest part of the entire screenprinting process. Since this is the case, it’s best when making several printouts in a single design.

If you have some paper or clothes you’ll like to have the same design on them, then this is the best way to go with. Screenprinting screens can be prepared in different ways. Below are the commonly used methods at large.

Cut paper stencil

The process involves cutting of stencil on a particular paper, and tapping it right to the screen.

Then follows pressing of the ink through the stencil and application of it to the material you had to bear the design. However, this method has some downsides with it. These are:

• Don’t expect detailed designs.
• The results might not contain clear and straight lines.
• The designer can’t have features right inside the design.

The cut paper stencil technique is best when applied to home crafts projects, especially to people making simple tees. 

The screenprinting filler technique

This is best especially for beginners in screenprinting projects. It’s also best-accomplished right from home.

To do it the right way, you’ll draw or paint a special fluid onto your right choice of screen, followed by covering the contents with filler. Lastly, wash off the drawing fluid.

Screenprinting emulsion technique

This is the last and most complex screenprinting technique out there. However, it emerges as the best one for this project.

The screenprinting emulsion method offers designers the cleanest and clearest designs. The technique also provides durable screens that can be reused over time. Below is a guide from Thrives Screenprinting on how the technique works:

• Firstly, on your screen, apply a sensitized photo emulsion. You should keep it off from light when doing so. 
• Follow by dry screening, particularly in a dark location.
• Thirdly is the application of design to the screen, and after that, expose it to light.
• Lastly, wash all photo emulsion content that never cured during the process. 

If you need something amazing and will probably spruce your space, screenprinting is the method to consider for this.

In companies, for instance, it’s best to wear customized apparel rather than a general business casual, so that you look like a team all through. Screenprinting has a lot of advantages with it. Below are a few of them:

Advantages of screenprinting

It offers quality results

This is the main reason why most people prefer screenprinting compared to other available printing techniques. In comparison, the general print quality from this printing technique is far ahead of others.

The process employs a heat-dried ink that’s tough enough to enable repeated washing without cracking and fading.

Options

Screenprinting offers designers several garment options to choose to best suit your interests and intended need. In case you have the company logo with several items, you’re assured of different types of colors and styles you need the items to have.

Creativity

Screenprinting provides designers the opportunity of being creative in all the designs.

In case you have something a group of people envisions, consider screenprinting to bring everything to life. You might also want to visit Thrives Screenprinting for more information.

Best for large orders

In most cases, designers are tasked to produce things in bulk. In this case, screenprinting emerges the best to use.

A lot of preparations and the general printing process isn’t a walk in the park. Therefore, most people will prefer screenprinting to complete such orders on time.

Long-lasting

The ink employed in this process is the heat dried one. This means that the screenprinted materials will last for an extended period to be used again and again.

It’s versatile

Every person likes something versatile. Screenprinting offers such an advantage to Thrive Screenprinting designers who employ it in their printing projects.

The methods are best to almost all surfaces that are flat, on any material, be it metal, plastic, or wood.

Screenprinting offers numerous advantages that can pull designers to employ it in their daily printing activities.

However, like any other project, there are few challenges beginners can encounter at large. Here are some screenprinting problems and solutions to curb the problem.

Bleeding of colors

This may occur to designers who try to use watery printing pastes for printing. Using watery printing pastes will bleed the ends or surrounding areas, resulting in a spoilt printout. For this reason, designers require to employ only a thick enough paste to ensure that the printing paste sticks to the material at every registration. Also, the screen’s under part need to be cleaned after every registration.

Unequal gaps between repeats

There’s a need for proper calculation before performing any registration. This problem is common for designers who ignore calculating the registration of the screen.

The calculation is essential to ensure the subsequent repeats of the particular design joins to avoid the creation of gaps between repeats.

Solving the problem requires a thorough check-up of the repeats before starting the printing process.

They’re usually checked using the colored chalk by marking different design repeats on the material. This provides an idea of the specific place of placing the screen. 

Likewise, this can be solved by placing a colored strand widthwise at the edge of the design.

This ensures the screen is directly placed on the strand whenever a repeat is registered. Get off the strand, and you’ll have the design printed.

Irregular placement of the screen

As early stated, repeats need to be checked thoroughly. This should be done before any placement of the screen is performed to register your print.

The screen edges should also be blocked to avoid the soiling of the material and leakage/blocking of the screen. Use masking tape around the screen before commencing on the project.

Color patches formation

There’s a need for even distribution of the pigment on the screen throughout the process.

This is the patchy effect and can be prevented by using enough pigment for the process. Squeegee pulling should also be done best to avoid such problems.

Occurrence of pinholes

This problem is also common to beginners at large due to different reasons. These include:

If the mesh contains any form of dirt with it, maybe gums or oil in this case. In the development process of the screen, silk should be washed to remove all kinds of dirt that will block the passage of light.

This can be dealt off by cleaning the mesh before it’s stretched on the screen to remove all forms of dirt. 

This can also occur whenever there’s underexposure in the developing process of the screen. The due development time for the screen won’t be enough, so that the screen will be likely washed.

These lead to poor development of the chemicals, and in due course of washing, most of it will be washed, leading to the creation of pinholes. Solving this is allowing enough time for the development of the screen.

Conclusion

Screenprinting is an option for many individuals because of the numerous advantages it offers. Modern tools are employed to allow bulk production at a go.

Additionally, a printer can be set up and operated by different people at the same time, each printing a different color. Screenprinting is the fastest printing technology for quality and most durable printout you can consider.