What is silk screen printing?
Well, as my work is based around the technique of silk screen printing I thought I'd give those who are not quite sure about what 'it' actually is, a bit of a guided tour. I have tried to explain the method of silk screen printing many a time before without success and with a few bewildered faces, so hopefully this will give you an idea about how silk screen printing works in its most simplest form.
The starting place to any silk screen print is deciding on the image/design you want to print...for this little blurb i'll use a really simple idea:
Step 1: Making a 'kodatrace'...
To get your image onto a silk screen you must have a 'kodatrace'. This is almost like thick tracing paper, but you can also use acetate; the most important thing about kodatrace and acetate is that they are transparent! You must transfer, or draw, your image/design onto the kodatrace using opaque materials, such as photo-opaque, china graph pencils and certain types of permanent pen. It is important to use opaque materials because the image/design on the kodatrace must not allow light to pass through it (this will be explained in a few steps).
Step 2: Your Silk Screen...
You must choose the size of your silk screen in relation to the size of the image/design you want to print. A silk screen consists of very tightly stretched mesh over an aluminium or wooden frame...look after them, they are very precious! My silk screens are prized possessions but if you take care of them they will last and last.
Step 3: 'Coating' your screen...
For this step of the process make sure the screen you are using is 100% dry and clean. You are doing exactly what the name suggests, 'coating' your screen in a very thin layer of light sensitive emulsion. The coated screen is then left to dry in the dark...once completely dry is ready to use!
Step 4: 'Exposing' your screen...
This process must be done in a dark room as its kinda' photographic. You have your kodatrace ready to go by now...this is placed onto the surface of the screen. Using an exposure unit (U.V.light) or another very very bright light source you then flood the screen with light. The light will pass through the clear parts of the kodatrace, but not through your opaque image/design. The emulsion (used to coat your screen) surrounding your image/design is hardened by the light, while the emulsion under your image/design stays soft and un-exposed. Now you can remove your kodatrace and wash your screen gently with warm water...you will see all of the 'soft' emulsion will run away leaving a 'negative stencil' of your image on the mesh.
Step 5: Printing with your screen...
Printing is the exciting bit! I mainly print onto fabric and paper using specific inks but the possibilities are endless (think metallic inks/gloss foils/flocking...the list goes on). You need a print table for this and anything you want to print onto, e.g. some calico. Pin your ironed calico down to your print table and place your screen down on top of it, with the flat side of the screen on the calico. Pour your ink onto your screen at the top of the image, not too much, not too little. Using a 'squeegee' which is almost like a window washers blade, drag the ink over the mesh with a constant pressure. Lift your screen up and you will find a print of your image/design on the calico!
So as i said, this is silk screen printing at its most basic! Silk screen printing is quite an unusual way to work so I hope this has given you a bit of an insight into how Lillian's House poddles along...in the attic...a bit like Harry Potter in his cupboard.
