Silk Screen Printing
Silk Screen Printing
1. Textile Printing
2. Signage and Posters
3. Promotional Products
4. Electronics and Appliances
5. Art and Fine Prints
6. Ceramics and glass
7. Logos
Silk Screen Printing Machines
Silkscreen Machines
Silk screen machines come in different sizes, durability, color stations, prices,
and weight, depending on the need of the printing companies. Based on
functioning, they are categorized into three major types; automatic, semi-
automatic, and manual.
1. Mesh Screen
A mesh fabric stretched over a frame;
the mesh size depends on the type of
design and the ink you're using.
2. Squeegee
A flat tool used to spread ink evenly
across the screen and force it through
the mesh to print the design onto the
fabric.
Tools and Materials:
3. Stencil
A pre-designed template that is either
adhered to or created within the screen.
The design is left open where ink can
pass through.
4. Palette Knife
Used for mixing and applying ink to the
screen, ensuring distribution of the ink.
Tools and Materials:
5. Cutter/Scissor
Manually cut the paper with a specific
shapes, patterns, and designs in paper.
6. Masking Tape
Used to block unwanted areas of the
screen to prevent ink from seeping
through those sections.
Tools and Materials:
7. Ink
Specialized screen printing ink for
fabric, which comes in various colors
and finishes (e.g., matte, glossy, or
metallic).
8. Fabric
T-shirts, paper, or other items that you
want to print on.
Methods of Silk Screen Printing
1. Gray Scale Printing
• This screen printing type
is an impressive technique
for printing full-color
images as one-color half-
tones or greyscales.
However, the prints appear
with great details when
more dots are in the half-
tone. This process differs
from a black-and-white
method.
1. Gray Scale Printing
CMYK, or four-color
process printing, uses cyan,
magenta, yellow, and black
inks to create a wide range
of colors by layering tiny
dots of these inks on paper,
a method widely used in
commercial printing for
full-color images.
4 Half-Tone Printing
a traditional printing
method that involves using
a mesh screen, stencil, and
ink to transfer designs onto
various surfaces, such as
fabric, paper, or plastic. It is
widely used for making
custom t-shirts, posters, and
other printed materials.
FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED
BEFORE PERFORMING THE TASK
1. Clean and Well-Ventilated Area – Keep the workspace free from dust
and debris, as these can affect print quality.
2. Flat and Stable Work Surface – A sturdy table or workbench helps in
precise printing and prevents movement during the process.
3. Proper Lighting – Bright lighting is essential for accurately aligning
designs and exposing the screen properly.
4. Drying Area – Have a space for drying prints, preferably with racks
or a heat press for curing the ink.
B. Safety and Precautions
• Protective Gear – Wear gloves when
handling chemicals.
✓ Stencil Design
✓ Silk Screen
✓ Fabric/Cloth
✓ Fabric Paints
✓ Squeegee
✓ Cutter/Scissor
✓ Masking Tape
PROCEDURE FOR MANUAL
SILK SCREEN PRINTING
1. Design Selection: Choose a design, pattern, or text for your stencil. It can
be hand-drawn or digitally created using software like Adobe Illustrator or
Canva.
2. Material Selection: Stencils can be made from paper, plastic, metal, or
cardboard, depending on durability and usage.
3. Cutting the Stencil: The design is cut out using tools like craft knives,
laser cutters, or stencil-cutting machines (e.g., Cricut, Silhouette).
4. Application: The stencil is placed on the desired surface (walls, fabric,
wood, etc.), and paint or ink is applied through the cut-out areas to transfer
the design.
5. Reusability & Cleaning: Plastic and metal stencils can be cleaned and
reused multiple times, while paper-based ones are usually single-use.
CONCLUSION