A screen printer must have the appropriate equipment in order to produce a crisp, clear print. We’ll go over each piece of screen printing equipment here, along with its purpose during the printing process.
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The Screen Printing Press
Although screen printing may be done with simply a mesh screen and a squeegee, most printers prefer to utilize a press since it makes printing large quantities of products more efficient. This makes it simpler for the user to change out the paper or garment being printed because the press keeps the screen in place in between prints.
Presses come in three varieties: automated, semi-automatic, and manual. Because manual presses are operated by hand, they need a lot of labor. Automatic presses are fully automated and need little to no human input, whilst semi-automatic presses are largely mechanized but still need human input to switch over the items being pressed.
A semi- or completely automated press is typically used by businesses that need to print products in big quantities since it minimizes errors and allows for faster, more efficient printing. A manual table-top press, often known as a “handbench” press, may be more appropriate for smaller businesses or individuals who screen print as a hobby.
The Inks
A colored impression of the stencil pattern is transferred onto the goods by pushing the ink, pigment, or paint through the mesh screen.
Selecting an ink involves much more than just picking a color. Numerous specialty inks are available to provide various effects on the final result. For example, to generate a distinctive look or feel, a printer may employ puff inks, sparkly inks, or texturized inks, which expand to create a raised surface. The type of cloth being screen printed will also be considered by the printer because different materials react differently to different inks.
Printers employ a particular kind of ink to print clothes that, after being heat-treated and cured, may be machine washed. This results in a long-lasting, colorfast garment that is suitable for repeated use.
The Silk Screen
In silk screen printing, a tiny mesh cloth is stretched over a metal or wooden frame to create the silk screen. Originally made from silk thread, polyester materials have replaced this mesh in recent years because they provide the same functionality at a cheaper cost. Smaller gaps between threads provide more detail in the print, and mesh thickness and thread count may be adjusted to match the roughness of the surface or cloth being printed.
The screen is prepared for use as a stencil after it has been exposed and covered with emulsion. Once the screen printing procedure is complete, it may be cleaned and used again.
The squeegee
A rubber blade fastened to a long wooden, metal, or plastic handle is called a squeegee. The ink is forced through the mesh screen and onto the printed surface using this method. In order to provide better coverage, the printer would often use a squeegee that is comparable in size to the screen frame.
For printing complex patterns with plenty of detail, a stiffer rubber blade works best since it guarantees that every crevice in the stencil gets a uniform coating of ink. A rubber squeegee that is softer and more yielding is frequently used for printing onto cloth or less intricate patterns.
In the Washing Station
After usage, the screens must be cleaned to get rid of any remaining emulsion so they may be used again for prints in the future. While some printers just utilize a water trough or sink and a power hose to clean their screens, some bigger printworks may employ enormous tubs of special cleaning fluid or acid to remove the emulsion.
Will the ink used for screen printing fade?
The design shouldn’t fade if a garment has been correctly screen printed by a qualified expert utilizing heat-treated washable ink. The printer must ensure that the ink is set in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions in order to guarantee a colorfast finish. If the printer wants to produce a durable, washable product, they must adhere strictly to the guidelines since the ideal drying temperature and duration varies based on the kind of ink and the cloth used.
What distinguishes digital printing from screen printing?
Direct to garment (DTG) digital printing transfers an image straight onto a textile using a specialized fabric printer, which functions similarly to an inkjet computer printer. The design is transferred directly into the cloth using a digital printer, which sets it apart from screen printing. This technique is frequently used to print complicated or highly colored graphics since it eliminates the need for a stencil and allows various colors to be applied simultaneously rather than in separate stages.
Digital printing is a more economical choice for printing single items or small batches of apparel since it requires less setup than screen printing. Additionally, it works well for creating photographic or extremely detailed graphics since it employs a computerized picture instead of a stencil. However, it doesn’t offer nearly the same level of color intensity as screen printing since the colors are printed using CMYK-style dots of color instead of solid blocks of ink. Additionally, you cannot use a digital printer to produce texturized effects.