As detailed in ScienceDirect’s article, “Screen-Printing Process,” screen printing, also known as silkscreen or serigraphy, has long been a staple in transferring vibrant, durable designs onto various materials. This method is popular across multiple industries for its versatility with substrates, allowing manufacturers to print on plastics, fabrics, ceramics, and glass. Screen printing remains valued for its ability to produce thick, vibrant prints that endure over time.
The screen printing process involves several steps, beginning with design drafting. The design is first transferred onto a transparent acetate film, which will serve as the basis for the printed output. Choosing and preparing the mesh screen is the next step; a light-sensitive emulsion layer is applied to the screen, and the screen type varies based on material and design complexity.
Exposing the emulsion to light is critical to forming the stencil. The acetate film is placed on the screen, and bright light hardens the emulsion, creating a stencil of the design where unexposed emulsion washes away. Setting up for printing follows, where the screen is aligned on a press, and the material to be printed is secured on a board beneath the screen.
Modern screen printing allows for both manual and automatic printing presses, with automatic presses ideal for complex, multicolor projects. This flexibility, combined with the high color vibrancy of screen-printed designs, makes screen printing a preferred technique in the production of durable prints across industries.
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Article with all rights reserved, courtesy of ScienceDirect.