Screen Printing: Everything You Should Know

Every industry uses certain components that have texts, numbers, and logos printed over them. Screen printing is a process that allows the creation of these logos and patterns.

If you do not know what is screen printing and how it works, the guide below is meant for you.

What is Screen Printing?

Screen printing is a finishing process. In this process, ink is pressed in the components with the help of a stencil to have the designs printed.

This process is also known as silk screen printing and is commonly used in various industries. It offers versatility and compatibility with different materials and processes.

Screen printing can create a print in the form of thick ink using different methods. Manufacturers use screen printing on various materials like glass, plastics and ceramics.

How Does Screen Printing Work?

Процесс screen printing works in different steps, and these are as follows:

• At the first stage of screen printing, the image or text to be created is designed. The design is created on a transparent acetate film with the help of a printer.
• The second stage is to select the mesh screen for the screen printing process. It is based on the type of material on which the design will be printed.
• The mesh screen is covered with an emulsion layer, which is light-sensitive.
• The acetate sheet with the design is placed on the mesh screen. These two things are subjected to bright light, which helps harden the emulsion paint.
• The screen area not covered with the design also hardens after some time. The part having emulsion is not hardened by the light and is washed off. It prints the design on the mesh screen and is dried before further processing.
• The mesh is then set up on the printing press with the help of screws. Manufacturers use automatic or manual presses, and the printing material is placed under the screen.
• The screen that will have the ink poured is kept close to the component. It is done with the help of a squeegee on the object so that a print is formed.
• The ink on the component is then dried up using a dryer. Once it has dried, the final component must be washed and checked for any residue.

Common Screen Printing Equipment

There are different types of printers and films that work as important equipment for achieving screen-printed components. These are discussed below:

Printer and Films

The printer and films help create design on the stencils and it allows custom screen printing over it. The printer carries out printing the designs on the transparent films. These are acetate films, and you will need a separate acetate film for every color.

Mesh Screen

The mesh screen is very critical in the process of screen printing. The transparent film is placed on the mesh screen. It is made using silk threads, and the quality of the design depends on the thickness and thread count of the mesh screen.

The Inks

The inks are the main component of screen printing, and they are specially made for the process. These inks can be textured inks, puff inks, and glitter inks for creating designs.

Squeegees

Squeegees are rubber blades that have a handle, and they help push the ink through the mesh screen.

Printing Press

The printing press is a tool which holds a mesh screen and allows changing the printed objects below the mesh screen.

Belt Dryer

The belt dryer is responsible for heating ink so that an adequate temperature is achieved. It ensures the longevity of the print and protects it from cracking and fading.

Benefits of Screen Printing

There are many benefits of screen printing that make it widely used, and some of these are as follows:

• The process of printing is carried out either automatically or manually. It is very simple in both ways and you just need tools which are very simple to use.
• Screen printing allows printing components of different materials, sizes, and shapes.
• The designs created from screen printing use adequate coverage of ink. It ensures that a neat design is achieved and avoids fading or cracking.
• The process of screen printing is very fast, offers efficiency and can be a suitable choice for repetitive designs.

Drawbacks of Screen Printing

The drawbacks of screen printing are as follows:

• The initial investment in the process of screen printing is high and may not be feasible for small-scale production.
• Screen printing allows you to produce one color at a time. If multiple colors are required, you will need a new screen every time.

Different Types of Ink Used for Screen Printing

There are three types of inks that are used in screen printing, and these are as follows:

UV-Cured Inks

UV-cured inks are cured using UV lights, and when these inks are exposed to UV lights, they turn hardened. These inks dry very quickly, offer a nice glossy finish with vibrant colors and also are environment friendly. They can be opted for versatile materials.

Heat-Cured Solvent Inks

Heat-cured solvent inks are printed first and then cured. Heat allows the evaporation of solvents, leaving behind a durable print. It is resistant to UV rays and chemicals and is suitable for multiple applications and materials.

Air-Dried Solvent Ink

Air-dried solvent inks are dried with the help of air as these solvent evaporate and the ink is left behind. It is a very affordable process, which offers ease of application and flexibility. The ink can dry at room temperature and is used for such applications which require less durability.

6 Main Types of Screen Printing Process

The main types of screen printing processes are given below:

Spot Colour Screen Printing

Spot color screen printing is a very common technique. It uses spot colors of ink and prints them with the help of a mesh stencil. The method is very simple and creates a very solid spot color. It is suitable for printing on t-shirts, jackets, and hoodies.

Halftone Printing

Halftone printing holds single colors. The entire process uses single, half-toned colors, which allows the print to give a unique shade from a distance.

Grayscale Printing

The process of printing allows images to be printed in full color or grayscale. These prints have details with more dots and have CMY, color scales and RGB in gray-colored shades. It is very affordable and is used in print designs on black and white materials.

Duotone Printing

Duotone printing prints the same image by combining two half tones. The first half is black, and the second half can be any other color to create a sepia-like print.

CMYK (4-Color Printing)

CMYK, also known as four-color printing, uses the main primary colors, which are yellow, black, cyan, and magenta. These colors are combined to form the required tones of color to attain the best results.

Simulated Process Printing

Simulated process printing uses two painting techniques combined together which consist of 4 color printing and spot color printing. It allows creating light as well as darker shades of colors and is a versatile process to create photorealistic prints.

Common Applications of Screen Printing

The screen printing process is a very easy and affordable process for printing materials and customizing them. It has multiple applications, some of these are as follows:

• Components for industries
• Metal stamps
• Enclosures of metal
• Столовые приборы
• Items for advertisements

Differences Between Screen Printing and Digital Printing

Screen printing and digital printing are two different methods of printing, and some of the differences between them are as follows:

Time and Cost

Screen printing is a type of method in which you have to set up each screen before you start printing. You will need tools and stencils to dispose of the screens after you have printed each design. Hence, the setup cost is high compared to digital printing.

Color Payoff

Screen printing ensures better color payoff and the results are excellent. Digital printing, however, cannot help you achieve the same level of color payoff.

Количество

Screen printing is a perfect choice when the setup costs are spread over multiple products. It is because screen printing is a faster method compared to digital printing. When you have opted for high volume, screen printing takes less time and ensures cost-effectiveness.

Durability of Ink

In screen printing, the inks used are suitable for versatile surfaces. In comparison, digital inks are not capable of adhering to multiple types of materials and lack versatility.

Заключение

The process of screen printing offers multiple benefits and ease of use, which makes it popular among a lot of components.

If you are looking to have screen printing services for your components, DEK can offer you high-quality and affordable screen printing services.

Вопросы и ответы

Can screen print crack?

Yes, over a period of time, the screen print can crack.

Can I remove the silk printing?

It can be removed using a nail polish remover from some materials. The permanency and temporariness of the print depend on the material on which it is printed.

Which fabric material is best for silk screening?

Cotton is the best option when it comes to opting for the finest material for silk screening.