Handbook of the Silk Screen Printing Process

I

The Silk Screen Printing Process

THE basic principles of the Silk Screen Printing Process are very simple. An especially prepared paint is forced through the open mesh of a piece of silk by means of a rubber blade called a squeegee. The shape of the design or lettering to be printed is formed on the silk by blocking out some parts of the silk mesh and leaving open other parts in the form of a stencil. For example, if we wish to print the letter A, the first step is to tightly stretch a piece of silk on a wooden frame as in Figure 1 (A). Next the shape of the letter A is formed by filling in the mesh of the silk, leaving open only a portion of the silk in the form of the letter as shown in Figure 1 (B). Silk screen paint is poured into one end of the screen (Fig. 1-C) and pushed across the silk with a squeegee as pictured in Figure 1 (D). A layer of paint in the shape of the letter A is forced through the open part of the stencil onto the paper or other material beneath the silk screen. Hundreds of copies may then be made in like manner.

This sounds very much like the familiar method of brushing paint through a cut-out paper stencil. For the most part screen process is a method of applying paint through a stencil, but with some very important differences from the old idea of stenciling. In silk screen the stencil is formed upon a stretched piece of silk and the centers of the letters such as B and R, or the centers of circles in designs are held up by the fine mesh of the silk. This eliminates the necessity for tie-in strips between the centers of the letters or designs and the main body of the stencil. The advantages of this feature can easily be understood by examining Figure 2. In the silk screer printing process the paint is put on rapidly and smoothly by pulling the heavy bodied paint across the screen stencil by means of a sharp edged rubber blade. This is far more efficient than the old method of using a stencil brush.

Figure 2

Though basically a simple process, examination of the results that are being obtained by this method will show why this comparatively new process has taken an important and permanent place in the graphic art field.

SOME OF THE PRESENT USES OF THE PROCESS

By the use of the silk screen printing process one can print on paper, cardboard, cork, celluloid, metal, fabrics, glass, foil papers, ribbons, oilcloth, rubber, fabricoid, felt, leather and wood.

The following is a list of only a few of the items printed and decorated by screen process.

Show cards and backgrounds

Paper and oilcloth signs

Metal signs and displays

Celluloid novelties

Cork mats and coasters

Dress goods and sportswear

Greeting cards

School banners and insignia

Reproductions of fine art prints

Glassware, bottles and trays

Shower curtains

Decalcomanias

Toys and games

Juvenile furniture

Kitchenware

Figure 3

II

Equipment

IN general, the type of equipment used is the same whether one is a hobbyist producing greeting cards and other small items, or a commercial shop equipped for work ranging from small price tickets to large posters. It is mainly a matter of difference in size and quantity. The larger shop