How to Do Screen Printing With Polyester Film

Screen printing can be used to create unique branding for your company or fun, original artwork on T-shirts, posters, flyers and signs. The simplest method of creating screen-printed originals is the polyester film technique. This technique allows you to print any image you can photocopy or print, using a few basic materials.

Things You'll Need

• Black plastic
• Duct tape
• Weatherstripping
• Safelight
• Silk mesh screen
• Cold water
• Degreasing agent
• Photosensitive emulsion
• Spatula
• Squeegee
• Work gloves
• Black cloth
• Image printed on polyester film
• Glass sheet
• 250W spotlight
• Acetate sheets
• Ink (specific to surface used)
• Fabric or paper surface

Instructions

Prepare a Darkroom Work Area

1. Cover all incoming light with black plastic and secure around windows or other light sources with duct tape.

2. Block incoming light from beneath doorways with weatherstripping.

3. Install a safelight. This can be purchased from most photo supply stores and provides some light to work with without damaging the photo printing process.

Prepare the Silk Screen

1. Wash silk screen thoroughly in cold water before using.

2. Apply a degreasing agent. This will help the photo emulsion bond with the silk mesh.

3. Allow the screen to dry thoroughly.

4. Protect yourself from exposure to photo chemicals with work gloves.

5. Spread a thin line of photosensitive emulsion along the top of the silk screen, on the recessed front side, with a spatula. This should be done only in the darkroom.

6. Drag the emulsion firmly down the screen with a squeegee to create a thin, even coat.

7. Leave the screen in the dark for two hours until completely dry and no longer sticky.

Create a Stencil

1. Lay a black cloth on the back side of the silk screen.

2. Lay the image printed on polyester film on the front, recessed side of the screen.

3. Cover the screen with a heavy sheet of clean glass.

4. Press glass down firmly.

5. Shine the 250W spotlight on the screen for 15 minutes. The emulsion will harden where the light hits the screen, creating a stencil of the image.

Print the Image

1. Turn on the lights once the image is exposed.

2. Remove the glass and transparency.

3. Spray the screen surface with cold water to rinse off remaining emulsion.

4. Allow the screen to dry completely.

5. Prop up the screen, recessed side up.

6. Lay acetate sheets beneath the screen.

7. Flood the screen surface with ink.

8. Lower the screen carefully onto the acetate sheets.

9. Flood the screen surface with ink. This will create a first, test copy of the image.

10. Position fabric or paper surface beneath the acetate sheets.

11. Remove acetate sheets and lower the screen onto the fabric or paper surface.

12. Apply another layer of ink, firmly and evenly, using a squeegee.

13. Wash the screen thoroughly with a degreasing agent.

14. Allow the image to dry for one hour.

15. Iron over image, if printed on fabric, at a high temperature for one minute.

References

• Speedball: Screen Printing Instructions
• Reuels: Silk Screen Printing Instructions