{"id":1050,"date":"2020-03-06T16:09:00","date_gmt":"2020-03-06T16:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/au.contrado.com\/blog\/?p=1050"},"modified":"2021-02-17T14:40:31","modified_gmt":"2021-02-17T14:40:31","slug":"what-is-screen-printing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/au.contrado.com\/blog\/what-is-screen-printing\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Screen Printing?: The Pros and Cons of Screen Printing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Screen printing \u2013 also known as silkscreen \u2013 is arguably one of the most common processes used in the textile industry. As with all printing methods, it has its pros and cons. These can be weighed up to see if it is the best method for you. So, what is screen printing, exactly? How is it done? Well, read on to find out more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Does it Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When trying to answer the question of how does screen printing work, a stencil, some nylon mesh and a squeegee don\u2019t necessarily seem like the best tools for the job. However, when working out how to screen print shirts professionally, trust us, they are exactly the right ones. The screen printing process relies on that stencil, first and foremost, to actually create your design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A stencil is created of the design that you want to print. This is done using an acetate sheet and emulsion. You harden the stencil in the areas that you don\u2019t want your design to appear. Think back to when you were a child, and you could get those alphabet stencils; you coloured in the gaps. The spaces were the parts that you wanted the design. The hardened bits would be the parts that are left unprinted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"what<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How to Screen Print on Fabric<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The stencil is then placed on top of a mesh screen, which will have the fabric underneath it. Everything needs to be completely flat. Ink is added to the top of the screen-stencil-sandwich. A squeegee is then used to pull the ink across the screen, which pushes the ink through the stencil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This prints it onto the fabric below, where the gaps in the stencil are. Using this method, each screen can only be used for one colour, although it can be used more than once. This makes screen printing very cost-effective for large print runs, especially as the image reproductions are amazing. It\u2019s also great for creating sharp edges, and large solid blocks of colour. Screen printing multiple colours, however, is not done easily and creates a lot of waste. It\u2019s a pretty labour intensive printing method, so small runs aren\u2019t ideal. For photos or for graduating colours, it\u2019s not the best choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"t-shirts\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Difference Between Screen Printing and Digital Print<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Screen printing is a manual process, whereas digital printing involves the designs being processed by a computer before being printed. Although silkscreen can be done by machines, it\u2019s still a process which isn\u2019t computerised and that is what makes it different to digital print.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Screen Printing vs Vinyl<\/h2>\n\n\n\n