Start a Silk Screening Service

Start a Silk Screening Service

                  

What is a Screening Painting?

Screen printing is a printing technique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink-blocking stencil to receive a desired image. The attached stencil forms open areas of mesh that transfer ink or other printable materials which can be pressed through the mesh as a sharp-edged image onto a substrate. A fill blade or squeegee is moved across the screen stencil, forcing or pumping ink through the mesh openings to wet the substrate during the squeegee stroke. Basically, it is the process of using a mesh-based stencil to apply ink onto a substrate, whether it be t-shirts, posters, stickers, vinyl, wood, or other material.

                                   

What is a Silk Screening Painting?
Silk screening is a process which is used to create prints on a wide variety of materials, from fabric to wood. Many commercial printers use silk screening to print, since it is cheap and easy, and when done well, it results in high quality prints. Home crafters and fine artists also use the silk screening technique for projects, and it is relatively easy to learn. People who want to learn how to make high quality screen prints may want to consider taking a class to learn the basics.
                        

What materials used in Silk Screening Printing? 

Caviar bead-

A caviar bead is a glue that is printed in the shape of the design, to which small plastic beads are then applied – works well with solid block areas creating an interesting tactile surface.

Cracking ink-

Cracking ink effect is when the ink produces an intentional cracked surface after drying.

Discharge inks-

Discharge ink is used to print lighter colours onto dark background fabrics, they work by removing the dye of the garment – this means they leave a much softer texture. The cons with this process is that they are less graphic in nature than plastisol inks, and exact colours are difficult to control. One of the pros of using this process is they are especially good for distressed prints and under-basing on dark garments that are to be printed with additional layers of plastisol. It adds variety to the design or gives it that natural soft feel.

Expanding ink (puff)-

Expanding ink, or puff, is an additive to plastisol inks which raises the print off the garment, creating a 3D feel and look to the design. Mostly used when printing on apparel.

Flocking-

Flocking consists of a glue printed onto the fabric and then flock material is applied for a velvet touch.

Foil-

Foil is much like flock, but instead of a velvet touch and look it has a reflective/mirror look to it. Although foil is finished with a heat press process it needs the screen printing process in order to add the adhesive glue onto the material for the desired logo or design.

         

Process of Silk Screening painting?

The silk screen process is one of the most versatile of printing methods. Silk screen printing can be used on fabric, metals, glass and, of course, paper and cardboard. Large commercial screen print operations now use automated equipment, but hobbyists, artists and small shops continue to do silk screening by hand.The stencil is attached to the under side of the screen. The exact procedure depends on the type of stencil used. The material to be printed is placed on the base, and the screen is lowered over it. A generous quantity of ink is put at the top of the pattern, but outside the printing area. The squeegee pulls the ink across the pattern and forces it through the silk onto the material. Most screen printing jobs require more than one color of ink. Each color must thoroughly dry before the next color can be applied. Large screen print operations have a different screen for each color. In a small shop, the same screen is cleaned of the stencil and ink and then reused for the next color.
                                

How to Start Silk Screening at Home

The first thing you need to do is decide on an image you want to print.  I drew up this tree as an example for you.  For your first screen printing subject don’t do anything with very fine lines.  Something like this tree or lettering is perfect.You’ll also need a frame with “silk” on it.  The silk is actually polyester.  You can buy it in craft or art supply stores.  Make sure you’re buying “110″ mesh.To apply your own silk just use a regular staple gun.  Pull it tight, but not so tight the silk rips through the staples.Once your screen is stapled, cut the edges off.Tape the outside and inside of the silk so paint can’t drip through.  I’m using duct tape because that’s what I had in my workshop.  There’s special papery tape you are supposed to use.  Next time I go to the art store I’ll buy it, but the duct tape works fine for now.  After more than a few washings of the screen it’ll unstick though.Now that your screen is ready, it’s time to coat it with Photo Emulsion.In your dark room, run a bead of emulsion across the top of your screen.  Apply the emulsion to the “bottom” of the screen.  The part of the screen that isn’t recessed in the frame.With your squeegee, draw the emulsion down over the entire screen.  Make sure you have a nice even coat, but work quickly.  Immediately put the screen in a dark area to dry.  Set it down horizontally, not vertically.  Depending on how thick you put your emulsion is on, drying will take 1-3 hours.Once your exposure area is set up you can cut out your image, if you chose to go with that technique as opposed to printing onto transparency.  I cut this image out with a swivel head X-acto knife, but if your design is very simple you could use scissors.

                                 

What Are the Education Requirements for a Screen Printing Career?

Although a formal education is not actually required in order to start a screen printing career, it can be helpful. A career in an art related field can help aspiring screen printers fine tune their artistic abilities and jump start their careers. Strictly speaking, there is really no specific degree that screen printers should have, but some colleges do offer degree programs in screen printing.A degree in fine art may is a general degree that can help propel almost anyone into an exciting art career. 

What is the Average Annual Salary of a Screen Printer?

The average annual salary of a screen printer will vary, depending on his specialty and talent, as well as the demand for his services. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not have any salary information specifically pertaining to screen printers, but it does have information about related professions.According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, however, printing press operators made an average salary of $35,370 in 2010. Graphic designers, on the other hand, made an average salary of $48,140 in that same year.

Business overview of silk screening painting

In general, aspiring screen printers will usually need to be somewhat artistic. They should have a good sense of color and style.Individuals interested in screen printing careers should also be creative. Many times, screen printers will need to create their own designs, which should be interesting and unique.Some screen printers may choose to work in large factories, such as t-shirt manufacturers. These professionals will usually operate large screen printing presses. Unlike small screen printing operations, however, these larger operations usually allow no room for creative freedom. These professional screen printers are typically required to simply operate a machine that mass produces items printed with existing artwork.Qualified screen printers might also be able to find employment in custom clothing shops, and some may even have the opportunity to open their own screen printing business. Operating a screen printing business is challenging, but it can also be very rewarding, since it gives screen printers complete freedom to express themselves artistically. These types of screen printers are not only limited to printing other people’s designs, for instance. They can also create custom pieces to sell.

                                     

FOR MORE INFORMATION:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screen_printing

http://www.theartcareerproject.com/screen-printin/849/