SCREEN PRINT MATERIALS

FRAMES Frames may be of wood, metal, or our new environmentally friendly frames of recycled plastic (Enviro Frames). These are light weight, easy to clean and easy to lock into hinge clamps, will not soak up water, rot, or warp. You can buy the frames made to measure, or , in the case of wood, construct them yourself from pre-cut lengths.

SCREEN MESH

Silk was the original material used, hence the name "silk screening", but it is rarely used today in the industry. Multifilament and monofilament polyester are the products used, monofilament being the most popular.

Multifiament Polyester mesh is made from twisted strands of polyester.

Monofilament Polyester mesh is made from single strands of polyester

Mesh count is denoted by a number, which increases with the fineness of the mesh. A mesh count for monofilament for 160 means there are 160 openings per inch. Monofilament meshes commonly used by textile screen printers are as follows:

ARTIST'S KNIFE - An essential tool for cutting masking film.

AMBER MASKING FILM - Used for artwork preparation and for handcutting positives. Easy stripping and very opaque.

AUTOPREP - A grey paste containing abrasive ideal for preparing mesh to receive the stencil film. Since the mesh material is chemically inert, the adhesion is physical. To increase this adhesion, the mesh must be roughened with Autoprep.

STENCIL SYSTEMS CAPILLEX FILM (PRE-SENSITIZED PHOTO STENCILS) The latest in stencil making! This is a light-sensitive photo-stencil film ( a pre-sensitized factory-coated emulsion on a film base support) used to create screen printing stencils. The capillary film is applied directly to the screen, dried, and then exposed to UV light with a positive. How It Works: The film will harden when exposed to the UV light. The positive, being opaque, will prevent some of the areas of the film from being exposed and will remain soft. After exposure, the stencil is washed with water and the soft unexposed areas which were blocked by the positive will be open, leaving you the negative image of the positive on the screen. DIRECT EMULSION - A sensitized emulsion is coated onto the mesh, generally using a scoop coated, and then dried before exposing to UV light with a positive. Brand names - Duracoat, Resistal, Autosol Fast, Autosol Plus Clear INDIRECT PHOTO STENCIL FILMS - A photo sensitive film that is exposed to UV light, washed out, developed, and then applied to the screen mesh. The carrier sheet is peeled after drying the film, and then used to print. Brand names - Five Star, Nova Star HANDCUT STENCIL FILMS - Films that are cut by knife rather than by UV light. Brand names - Autotype Solvent Green, Autotype Autocut Amber

TRANSFER PAPERS - Specially designed papers for screen printing with the "Heat Transfer" method. The image is screen printed as a reverse image onto the paper, placed image down on the substrate, and then heat is applied with a heat transfer machine. Brand names - Duo Trans II, Aqua Trans, Soft Trans ST88 Hot Peel, Transfer-75 and Copy Trans which has been developed as a instant heat transfer paper.

SQUEEGEES - A basic piece of equipment (rubberlike blade in a handle) used for flooding the screen with the ink and printing. Blades have varying degrees of hardness (durometer) for different printing jobs.

HINGE CLAMPS - Features a wide-wing thumb screw for firm and easy fastening to the screen frame. Easy to install, the clamp offers positive locking for perfect registry and precise control.

SPRAY ADHESIVE - Apply to clean printing table to keep textile or paper in place and wrinkle-free during printing. Will not stain fabric.

2000 GREEN - An excellent biodegradable, environmentally safe wash-up for plastisols and water-based inks. Also removes adhesives, tar, grease, and other grime.

SCREEN STRIP - Mixes with water to form a solution which removes the stencil after printing.