Impressions - October/November 2011 - (Page 68)

HANDS ON >> TECH TIPS HANDS ON >> HANDS ON Screen Printing TECH TIPS HANDS ON Five Important Steps in Prepping a Screen Though it may not be rocket science, prepping a screen for screen printing involves a few different variables. You must make special considerations for factors like mesh count, diameter and more if you want your printing efforts to yield acceptable results. Following are ﬁve considerations that are very important to effectively prep a screen that will enable maximum results when you’re printing. Select the proper mesh count: The proper mesh count will help to determine the amount of ink that is deposited on the substrate onto which you are printing. Choose low mesh counts for special-effects inks such as glitter (2540 mesh), reﬂective or puff-type inks (110-125 mesh). Choose high mesh counts (200-305) for more detailed or soft-hand prints. Select the desired mesh thread diameter: A thinner thread diameter for any given mesh count will reduce the overall fabric thickness of the mesh and allow more ink to be deposited onto the substrate due to lower ﬂow resistance and larger open area. The thinner thread diameter results in larger mesh openings and, thus, makes printing easier. This becomes important when a clean, crisp image or detailed design is desired, as the thinner thread diameter provides a smoother surface to which the stencil can adhere. Make sure your screen frames are clean, straight and level: Properly cleaned and leveled frames will help ensure that the printed image comes out crisp and clear. Personally, I prefer metal frames to wood, since metal frames last longer, resist warping and splintering, and they tend to hold the mesh tension longer. In addition, I also prefer retensionable frames, since the mesh tension can easily be tightened or adjusted. Tension the mesh properly: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the ideal tension recommended for the speciﬁc mesh being used. Make sure the tension is equal in both warp (lengthways) and weft (crossways) to achieve uniform mesh openings. Once Impressions >> October/November 2011 When setting the tension for your screen, make sure it is equal in both warp (lengthways) and weft (crossways) to achieve uniform mesh openings. Image courtesy of Mind’s Eye Graphics, Decatur, Ind 1 2 3 68 4 5 the ideal tension is achieved (measured in Newtons with a tension meter), tension the mesh in the frame, let it sit and then retension again if needed. Mesh often will stretch a little after the ﬁrst tensioning, hence the fact that letting it relax and then recalibrating the tension will more accurately achieve the ideal tension desired. De-haze and degrease both sides of the mesh: De-hazing removes ghost images of previous designs, ink stains and other impurities that may have accumulated on reused mesh. Although it may not be necessary to de-haze each time a screen is reclaimed, depending on how much detail the next design requires, it is a good idea to de-haze periodically — perhaps after two or three jobs. Degreasing is an important step before applying emulsion to the screen to remove oils, dust, ﬁngerprints and oth- er grime that may have settled on the mesh. This step can improve the adhesion of the emulsion and prevent pinholes and other imperfections, which may show up if the emulsion is applied over dirty mesh. I recommend degreasing as a mandatory step in prepping the screen prior to applying emulsion. After degreasing, keep frames in a dustfree environment until they are ready to be coated. One last tip: Always consider the manufacturer of the products you are using as a resource that can help answer any questions or concerns regarding its products. — Kieth Stevens Hear Kieth speak on special-effects screen printing at 2012 ISS shows. Individual seminars are just $25 if you pre-register: issshows.com. impressionsmag.com http://www.issshows.com http://www.impressionsmag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions - October/November 2011

Impressions - October/November 2011
Contents
First Impressions
From the Show Director
FYI
Product Gallery
ISS Conference Program 2012: Designed for Success
Laser Etching on Performancewear
On the Move
It Pays to Take Shirt Design Online
The Digital Difference
Technique
Production
For Screen Printers Only
Online Directory
Tech Tips
Business to Business
Classifieds
Ad Index

Impressions - October/November 2011