How to Silk Screen Print

Silk Screened Image of Car Photo

Have you ever wanted to create your own silk screen? Want to make and print your own custom t-shirts, bags, or posters? Well with a little bit of knowledge it's really not that hard to do. In this tutorial I'll show you how to do a basic one color silk screen. This tutorial will guide you through creating a silk screen from a graphic to printing of a t-shirt. The graphic in this tutorial has already been simplified and prepped for silk screening. Please see tutorial on How to prepare and edit your image in Photoshop for Screen Printing in the Resources section at the bottom of the page.

Things You'll Need

• Painters Tape
• Silk Screen Frame
• Transparency Image
• Photo Emulsion
• Emulsion Sensitzer
• Chop Stick
• Spoon
• Small Storage Bin
• 2 Small Rods
• Scotch Tape
• Black Paper
• Reflector Lamp
• 150-200 watt bulb
• Sink,Bathtub, or Hose
• Blank T-Shirt
• Flat Wood Piece
• Squeegee
• Screen Printing Paint

Instructions

1. 

   Choose an image you would like to use to create a silk screen. In this case I am using a photograph I have already prepped using Adobe Photoshop to simplify it for use in this tutorial. The tutorial to prep an image for screen printing in Adobe Photoshop is located in the Resources Section located at the bottom of this page called How to prepare and edit an image in Photoshop for Screen Printing. I will be using two identical transparencies to double the black opaqness of my image for a better screen burn.

   In this case I am using two images of a car that I printed on transparency film. The reason I printed two is because I am stacking them on top of each other and scotch taping them to double up the opaqueness. The reason for the need for opaqness is explained in STEP 9.

2. 

   Prepare your silk screen.

   Using blue painters tape mask off the edges of your silk screen. Tape both edges front and back. It does not matter which side you do first.

3. 

   Preparing your Photo Emulsion.

   You first have to add a Emulsion Sensitizer that will make the Photo Emulsion sensitive to light. This allows the Photo Emulsion to burn an image into the silk screen. This process is similar to how developing film works. The Emulsion Sensitizer usually comes in a small bottle. Read the instructions on the bottle for exact details as differing products may vary. In general you will fill the Emulsion Sensitizer bottle half way full with cold tap water and shake until contents are mixed well.

4. Now that your Emulsion Sensitizer is mixed add it to the Photo Emulsion bottle, close the lid and shake well. You should have a consistent color to your Photo Emulsion. If the Photo Emulsion does not have a consistent color you may need to stir with a thin rod. I just use a chop stick. Be sure to follow the exact directions the manufacture specifies. In this tutorial I'm using Speedball Diazo Photo Emulsion.

5. 

   By adding the Emulsion Sensitizer to the Photo Emulsion it now has become light sensitive. STEPS 5-8 Should be done in a dark room with very little to no light. Just enough to see what your doing should be fine.

   Add a decent amount of Photo Emulsion to the bottom of your Silk Screen with a Small Spoon. Complete this step over a small plastic tub or plastic storage bin so the emulsion has something to drip into. Use two small long rods to elevate it over the tub/storage bin.

   *This step can get a little messy.

6. 

   Use the squeegee to spread a thin even layer of the Photo Emulsion to the the silk screen. Use the squeegee at a 45 to 60 degree angle with very light to no pressure at all. Make sure there are no blank spots on the silk screen as any blank spots will allow paint to go through. Generally it's okay to do just one side. If your plan on doing a lot of runs then repeat this step on the other side of the screen. Spread any excess Photo Emulsion toward the masking taped areas.

7. 

   Wipe off any excess Photo Emulsion on the Painter Tape areas you masked on both front and back. You can save the emulsion and put it back in the bottle.

   *The Photo Emulsion will last approximately 4 weeks in a cool area to 4 months when refrigerated.

8. 

   Allow the Photo Emulsion to dry in a dark room horizontally. This allows an excess Photo Emulsion to drip off of the silk screen without creating a build-up. This purpose is to allow the Photo Emulsion to dry evenly. This step takes approximately 3-4 hours but times may vary based on how thick the Photo Emulsion is layered on. The Photo Emulsion should be completely dry with no tack to the touch. You can use a fan at room temperature to help speed up this process. As the Photo Emulsion is still sensitive to light allow it to dry in a dark room with no light.

   *This process takes a little finesse. If you see spotty areas you may have added to much Photo Emulsion. You may be able to squeegee off more of the excess Photo Emulsion if it is still wet and spreadable. This may take a couple of times to perfect. You can still use an uneven Photo Emulsion screen, but this may require a longer exposure time under the lamp. This may also result in an uneven image burn on to the screen.

9. 

   In this tutorial I have assumed you already have a graphic you want to print. I have covered how to prepare an image in Adobe Photoshop in another tutorial. Located on the bottom of this article you will find a link to my other eHow tutorial called How to prepare and edit an image in Photoshop for Screen Printing.

   I am using a picture of a car I printed onto a transparency from my inkjet printer. For the best results make sure your transparency is completely opaque in all the black areas. If you can see light through the black areas you may want to paint them black with a sharpie or a black paint pen.

   *A good rule of thumb is the cleaner your image the cleaner your screen will be. Line art images tend to work the best.

10. 

    You can also print another copy of the transparency to double up the opaqueness. If you choose this option just align the two images on top of each other and tape them together with scotch tape.

    You can of coarse use any black and white image and have it printed on to a transparency at Kinkos for a couple of dollars.

    Of coarse if you are skilled at drawing you can draw directly onto a transparency with black paint to use as your image to burn to the silk screen

11. Burning your silk screen.

    Just like developing film, the Photo Emulsion is light sensitive. Place your already prepped for silk screening image on the back-side of the silk screen. This is the flatter side of the silk screen. This is the side of the silk screen that will be up against what ever it is you would like to print on. In this tutorial I will print on a white t-shirt. Once your image is placed centered on the back side of the silk screen, tape it down with scotch tape.

    *Note: Make sure your image is backwards (mirror image) since we will be burning the image from the top down. When burning the image from the bottom up you place the image as you would normally see it. Since I don't have a light box to burn my image I will use the top down method.

12. 

    Add a piece of glass or clear plexi-glass over your transparency image. This ensures positive contact of the screen and the transparency when burning the image on to the silk screen. Then place your transparency image with glass over the silk screen in the position your want your image to burn. Then place your silk screen on top of a black piece of paper that is larger than the size of your image. Make sure the black piece of paper is pushed up against the silk screen. This helps insure no light is reflected to the other side of the screen since you want your light only to expose from the top down.

    The order should be as followed:

    Top: Glass
    Next: Transparency
    Next: Silk Screen
    Bottom: Black Sheet of Paper

13. 

    Set up your light source above the silk screen 12-14 inches above the image. I will use a 150 watt clear incandescent light bulb and a cheap 10 inch Aluminum Reflector Lamp I purchased from Home Depot ($10). Once lamp is placed, turn on lamp and let your screen expose for 20-25 minutes.

    ** Note this may be different depending on the watt of you light bulb you use, how far your light source is, and the wattage of your light bulb. You may have to differ the exposure times. This is a trial and error process, but once you find something that works stick with it. Generally higher wattage bulbs will require less exposure times.

14. 

    If your screen has been exposed properly you will notice a faintly lighter Photo Emulsion creating the image you just burned. This will look similar to a film negative.

15. 

    Now that your silk screen has been exposed your ready to wash out the unexposed emulsion. This is the emulsion that was behind any black areas of the graphic. Take your silk screen to a sink or bath tub and wash out your screen thoroughly with body temperature water. I am using the spray nozzle in my sink. Make sure to spray both sides. As the Photo Emulsion is still sensitive do not use super high pressured water to spray off the unhardened Photo Emulsion. A medium pressured cold water should work fine. If you have stubborn areas, I have found gently using a soft bristle brush will help remove some of the Photo Emulsion. If you still have stubborn Photo Emulsion in areas that are supposed to be clear, then increase the water pressure on your sprayer.

16. 

    After you have thoroughly inspected and cleaned your screen, let it dry. You can use a blow dryer to speed up this process. I usually just let it air dry in the sun.

17. 

    Place your t-shirt on a flat surface. Make sure you have a piece of flat wood inside of the t-shirt so paint doesn't run through to the other side while printing. You can also use cardboard, but you may get better results with a smooth flat piece of hard wood. Formica also works good for this process.

    *I put down news paper under my work area to keep clean up easy. Make sure your shirt is clean without wrinkles for best results.

18. 

    Place the silk screen on top of the t-shirt or other item you wish to print, and position it were you wish your image to print.

19. 

    Add the silk screen paint color of your choice to the top of the silk screen forming a large line from right to left. Spread the paint on with the squeegee at a 45 to 60 degree angle evenly with out pressure to flood the screen. Now with pressure swipe the squeegee in one stroke at a 45 to 60 degree angle from top to bottom. You may need to do another stroke to get areas missed, but it should not take more than two. Make sure the screen is held down to prevent any movement of the screen. For best results us a squeegee wider than the image you are printing.

20. 

    Carefully lift and remove your silk screen. Now your ready to heat set the paint on the shirt so it stays permanent. Blow dry the paint for 5-6 minutes on high heat. Now your all done.

21. If you are finished printing make sure to clean your screen in the sink. Make sure all the paint is sprayed out of your screen. You can always save your screen and us it again. If you want to reuse your screen for another project, then you will need to use Photo Emulsion Remover right away so the image that was burned does not stay permanent.

    If you wish to print more items with the screen right away, then keep the screen wet with ink and continue printing. Never let the ink dry, or it could clog your screen deeming it useless.

Tips & Warnings

• Screen Printing takes some patience and practice, don't get discouraged

• You may have to try differing screen exposure times

• You can pick up most items at the hardware and art supply stores

• This is a relatively cheap to get started

• You may wish to buy a screen printing kit that comes with most of the items

• Screen printing can get messy. Wear clothes you can get dirty & prepare to clean

• Have paper towels and newspaper handy.

• Prepare your work area first to save clean up time.

Resources

• Speedball Fabric Screen Printing Kit
• Speedball Ultimate Screen Printing Kit
• Photoshop CS4 PC
• Photoshop CS4 MAC
• Transparent Film for Inkjet Printers
• Transparent Film for Laser Printers
• eHow | How to prepare and edit an image in Photoshop for Screen Printing
• Learn how to screenprint your own t-shirts