BrentonScreen Printing
October 20th 2007 13:11
Screen Printing is the most fun thing ever. It’s awesome.
I got a screen-printing kit for my birthday this year. Here’s a few shirts I’ve made.
Why screen print? For me, it’s a way of beating the game, or the system. STICKING IT TO THE MAN one might say. Here’s a few more reasons:
1. Personalise. Who needs to look through shops for the coolest design when you can create whatever you can imagine?
2. Money – When you’re good enough you can even make a few dollars from your shirtage.
3. You need a hobby don’t you?
4. Christmas Prezzies are easy and sincere.
5. I didn’t really think this through before I stated making a list so five is just AWESOMENESS.
So what are you waiting for? Get printing! For those who don’t know how, I’ll take you through the process of a basic screen-print. This is the basic method – more complex stuff can be done using techniques such as photo emulsion.
You will need (and be able to get from most art shops) an OHT (Overhead transparency), a computer, a scalpel, a silk-screen, tape, ink, a shirt and a board.
Step One – Do a design. Be aware of limits. I find that the best thing to do is find a photo you’ve taken and put it in black and white.
Step Two. Print it out and cut it out. I print directly onto an OHT, and cut it out from there, but my girlfriend prints on paper and then paperclips it to an OHT, which she cuts out. Whatever works. You can use scissors if you like but I prefer this little tool. You can get art scalpels like these from most art shops.
Step Three – You need to attach your stencil to your screen. Make sure you position it on the outside, so that you’re not going to end up with a back to front image. Also make very sure that you cover up any gaps securely with tape and paper. Old glossy magazines are best for this.
Step Four – You’ll need to use some backing for your shirt. Personally I use a road sign of non distinct origin. Make sure you don’t stretch your shirt; even if it doesn’t damage the shirt, you’ll squish your design when you take it off. Lie your shirt on it’s board on a good surface, nice and flat.
Step Five – You’re now ready to print. Place your frame firmly down on top of the shirt. Make sure you’re applying decent pressure, especially if it’s a detailed design – these are more likely to allow the ink to creep under the gaps. Put a long blot of ink at the top of your design, then pull down slowly with your squeegee. Do this as many times as you seem to need to, to get the desired effect, but be careful not to overwork it.
Step Six - Peel the screen off carefully and slowly, taking care not to smudge your print. Leave it to dry. If you’ve buggered it up you can usually fill any gaps with a fine brush. If you’ve smudged it, usually that’s incurable, but if it’s a blotch off to the side (on an arm etc) then we’ll deal with that later.
Step Seven - Leave it. Let it dry. Keep it away from cats and small children.
Step Eight– When it’s dry, it’s time to heatproof. This is where you can fix up any major stuff ups. Just make sure you rub the iron over the part of the shirt that you want to keep permanent. If there are blotches, avoid them. Make sure you spend a decent amount of time heat proofing – I try to do about 2.5 minutes at a bare minimum.
Step Eight – You can throw it through the wash once if you like, but to be honest, you’re pretty much done! Hooray!
I got a screen-printing kit for my birthday this year. Here’s a few shirts I’ve made.
Why screen print? For me, it’s a way of beating the game, or the system. STICKING IT TO THE MAN one might say. Here’s a few more reasons:
1. Personalise. Who needs to look through shops for the coolest design when you can create whatever you can imagine?
2. Money – When you’re good enough you can even make a few dollars from your shirtage.
3. You need a hobby don’t you?
4. Christmas Prezzies are easy and sincere.
5. I didn’t really think this through before I stated making a list so five is just AWESOMENESS.
So what are you waiting for? Get printing! For those who don’t know how, I’ll take you through the process of a basic screen-print. This is the basic method – more complex stuff can be done using techniques such as photo emulsion.
You will need (and be able to get from most art shops) an OHT (Overhead transparency), a computer, a scalpel, a silk-screen, tape, ink, a shirt and a board.
Step One – Do a design. Be aware of limits. I find that the best thing to do is find a photo you’ve taken and put it in black and white.
This image was made my editing a photgraph in Microsoft Powerpoint
Step Two. Print it out and cut it out. I print directly onto an OHT, and cut it out from there, but my girlfriend prints on paper and then paperclips it to an OHT, which she cuts out. Whatever works. You can use scissors if you like but I prefer this little tool. You can get art scalpels like these from most art shops.
Step Three – You need to attach your stencil to your screen. Make sure you position it on the outside, so that you’re not going to end up with a back to front image. Also make very sure that you cover up any gaps securely with tape and paper. Old glossy magazines are best for this.
Step Four – You’ll need to use some backing for your shirt. Personally I use a road sign of non distinct origin. Make sure you don’t stretch your shirt; even if it doesn’t damage the shirt, you’ll squish your design when you take it off. Lie your shirt on it’s board on a good surface, nice and flat.
Step Five – You’re now ready to print. Place your frame firmly down on top of the shirt. Make sure you’re applying decent pressure, especially if it’s a detailed design – these are more likely to allow the ink to creep under the gaps. Put a long blot of ink at the top of your design, then pull down slowly with your squeegee. Do this as many times as you seem to need to, to get the desired effect, but be careful not to overwork it.
Step Six - Peel the screen off carefully and slowly, taking care not to smudge your print. Leave it to dry. If you’ve buggered it up you can usually fill any gaps with a fine brush. If you’ve smudged it, usually that’s incurable, but if it’s a blotch off to the side (on an arm etc) then we’ll deal with that later.
Step Seven - Leave it. Let it dry. Keep it away from cats and small children.
Step Eight– When it’s dry, it’s time to heatproof. This is where you can fix up any major stuff ups. Just make sure you rub the iron over the part of the shirt that you want to keep permanent. If there are blotches, avoid them. Make sure you spend a decent amount of time heat proofing – I try to do about 2.5 minutes at a bare minimum.
Step Eight – You can throw it through the wash once if you like, but to be honest, you’re pretty much done! Hooray!
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) but if I want one I can save up and buy one. And if I see a competition for a Wii, I’m almost certainly not going to bother with it. 
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