How to Silk-Screen on a Small Frame
Silk-screening can be a fun and unique way to apply a wide range of designs to a number of clothing items at a reasonable cost. Screen-printing can be done on a large scale for commercial use, or in a smaller setting in the home or a community organization. Learning how to silk-screen on small frames can help you to produce personalized clothing with a minimum of experience required.
Things You'll Need
- Photo emulsion
- Printing ink
- Small frame
- Screen material
- Duct tape
- Staple gun
- Squeegee
Instructions
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Choose a digital image to print on your clothing item, then print the image on a transparency at home or at your local copy shop. Any design software can be used to create an image, or you can upload a scan of a hand-drawn piece of artwork or a photo.
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Construct or purchase a frame of appropriate size for your project. Small frames often chosen for use in DIY screen-printing include embroidery hoops and thin picture frames. Choose a frame that will be durable enough to withstand several uses, and one that is thick enough to hold multiple staples.
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Obtain your screen material. Your local craft store will likely sell material specifically designed for screen printing, or you can use a material like nylon hose.
Stretch the screen across your frame as tightly as possible. According to diehippiedie.com, stretching the screen can be easily accomplished using a bit of duct tape, a manual staple gun and an assist from a friend. Use the duct tape to temporarily hold your screen into place, then carefully staple the screen in place as your friend pulls it taut.
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Tape your image firmly onto the flat side of your small screen, then apply a photo emulsion and expose the image and screen to an overhead 150-watt light to transfer the image onto the screen. This is one part of the process where even a DIY printer must rely on a commercial product. Different emulsions require different light placements and exposure times, so read all instructions packaged with your emulsion thoroughly before attempting this step.
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Wash the emulsion out of your screen using a hand-held shower head or similar device with cold or lukewarm water. The emulsion covering your image should wash out, while the emulsion covering all white space remains.
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Place a board or other hard, smooth surface under the item you wish to silk-screen, making sure that only one layer lies between the board and the printing surface. For example, if you are printing on a T-shirt, place the board inside the shirt. Lay the flat side of your screen firmly on your clothing item, placing the image exactly where you would like it to be.
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Apply printing ink to your screen using a specialized ink spreader, or squeegee. Printing inks and spreaders, unfortunately, are two more items that likely must be purchased commercially, even in a DIY printing project. Spread the ink evenly and firmly across the entire screen, then lift up gently.
Clean your screen and store it in a safe place for reuse. Leave your printed item to dry for several hours, and dispose of all spilled inks and emulsions in an environmentally responsible manner.
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