Screenprinting is the process of applying a printed image to a surface using a stencil and a screen. Screenprints can be printed on different flat surfaces, most commonly paper or fabric, but also glass, wood, plastic or metal etc.
A screen is made by stretching fine polyester or nylon mesh over a frame. Stencils can be cut from paper, or made photographically by applying and then exposing a light-sensitive emulsion to make a photo-stencil. Using this process, almost any kind of image or mark can be made and applied to the screen - ranging from drawing and cut out shapes, right through to photographs, collage, mono-printed textures and beyond!
Once the stencil is on the screen, the print is made by pushing ink through the screen onto the surface below using a semi-flexible blade called a squeegee. The stencil both blocks the ink from going through the screen, and allows it through depending on your design.
Here’s a screen and squeegee in action in the studio, showing how the image is transferred!
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