How to Coat a Silk Screen

Silk screening might be used to print logos on hats and shirts.

Silk screening applies ink or paint onto silk fabric so that it seeps through to develop an impression on another item, such as a t-shirt. Coating a silk screen is a technique for applying photographic emulsion solution to the screen. The photographic emulsion method exposes dried emulsion to light to create the form. According to Reuels.com, utilizing this specialized technique allows for finer line drawings when screen printing.

Things You'll Need

• Photographic emulsion solution
• Squeegee or spreader
• Framed silk screen

Instructions

1. Place the framed screen with the inside facing downward. The inside is the side that will be exposed.

2. Place a dot of photographic emulsion solution on either bottom corner of the screen. Use either the left or right side, it does not matter; however, stay at the bottom of the screen.

3. Set your squeegee or spreader on the dot of solution.

4. Pull the squeegee upward, diagonally from the corner. The goal is to spread the solution evenly. As you move upward, the solution will thin out and diffuse to coat the screen.

5. Turn the screen over and repeat the process on the inside of the frame.

6. Set the screen aside and allow the solution to dry before exposing.

7. Attempt to spread the solution evenly on both sides of the screen before drying.

References

• Reuel's Art and Frame: Silk Screen Printing Instructions: Section Four: Photograhic Emulsion Method
• Textile Technology News: Understanding Silk Screening