View source for Screen Printing Workshop first test

[[Category:Member Projects]]
== Intro ==

On February 18, 2009 I made my first attempt at creating a screen using Diazo photo emulsion from Speedball.  Details to follow.  --[[User:Nathaner|Nathan]]

== Preparation ==

=== Materials: ===
* Lightbox (with 6 20 watt daylight fluorescent bulbs, distance from screen: ~7"
* 12"x10" Dick Blick screen #94708 (upc:651032 947087)
* Speedball Diazo photo emulsion kit
* Speedball 10" squeegee
* NOTE: It would have been good to invest in a scoop coater as well
* Flat, heavy materials.  I went with ''Flash MX Bible'', ''Visual Basic 6 Black Book'', ''SAMS Visual C++ 6'', ''SAMS Teach Yourself LAMP'' & ''Basic Electronics'' text book.
* Clothes you're not worried about ruining
* Patience

== Application ==

* Diazo photo emulsion kit requires mixing sensitizer (Black) into the base emulsion (Blue) to activate.  Do so and mix vigorously (Resulting mixture turns green.)
** Directions state emulsion can last for up to 4 months when stored in refrigerator.
* Carefully applied emulsion to both sides of screen with Speedball squeegee.  This is where I could have made less mess with a scoop coater.
* After checking that both sides were coated as evenly as possible I '''IMMEDIATELY''' took the screen to dry in a dark arrid place.  In my case I used my oven (no heat necessary).  According to instructions, dry the screen with the flat side down, but elevated.
** screen appeared to be perfectly dry in 1 hour, could have gone with 45 minutes probably.
* Do not expose screen to light until you are ready for printing.  This is why I need to build a drying box.

== Exposure ==

* I burned the screen for 15 minutes, checked it, uneducated guess is that it needs more time to expose.  Check again in 15 more minutes. (10:34 PM)
** Now is a good time to note that I should have attached my positive to the screen so when I checked it the alignment wouldn't get messed up.
* I decided to let it stay for another 30 that way if it overexposed I would have a high point of reference.  From what little experience I have it doesn't seem to have changed much.  The emulsion basically just gets ''slightly'' more transparent.
* After 45 minutes I pulled the screen off the light and washed out the print areas with my high pressure spray nozzle.  It takes a minute or two for the areas to start clearing out (I was worried) but then slowly they will empty out.
* Letting screen dry completely will I prepare my kitchen table for test prints.

== Result ==

[http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3503/3292457236_d59f36e353.jpg?v=0 My first custom shirt]<br>
[http://flickr.com/photos/nathaner/tags/screenprintingtest/ Full set on Flickr]


Came out way better than I could have imagined.  Only a few things to note:<br>
* The color blends into shirt fabric too much.  This isn't so bad on light colored shirts, but on dark/black it's nearly impossible to see.  I'll have to research further on types of ink to use (went with water solvable for this attempt) and step up to multi-color prints at some point.
* A finer screen mesh, which could be a little more expensive, would yield better results on firmer surfaces like paper.
* DEFINITELY need to learn how to stretch my own screens for saving cost.
* For future screen burns, I'm thinking of incorporating some kind of test pattern in the corner or my screens that I will mask off at printing time.  This will make it easier to check the progress of exposure without compromising the artwork.