The Basics of Screen Printing
Screen printing is a very old form of printing. Origins of this form of printing stem from the Sung Dynasty in Japan (A.D. 960 - 1280). Screen Printing is a technique which uses simple stencils an woven mesh to transfer an image.
If you have been to a Catalyst event you have probably printed a poster or two, or at least seen it done. This is an extremely effective form of printing for low cost mass production of t-shirts, or posters, and all other garments and materials. There is endless amounts of information on the internet regarding this form of printing.
We've have put together a video to go over the basics of how we print, but if this is something that sparks your interest, get out there and start researching shops or supply stores in your area that can manufacture the products you need. At the end of this post will be some links to sites that we use as well as some inspiration sites of screen print shops in Minnesota that are crushing the screen print scene.
Check out our wicked video on Screenprinting!
Catalyst Screen Print 101 Video from Catalyst Movement on Vimeo.
Shopping List
I have put together a screen print set-up shopping list for a beginning screen printer. All of these items can be found online at screen print shops but as well as sites like ebay or craigslist. If you are willing to go on the hunt there are great products for great prices. If I could give some advice... find the stuff for cheap on craigslist or ebay. Most of the things I've gotten for my studio have been about a third of the retail price. So here is the list in no particular order.
-1 or 2 meshed screens (use smaller sizes to start)
-1 or 2 squeegees (use a size that fits in your screen)
-primary inks, use them to mix colors (mix your own purple rather than buy it)
-Stationary clamps. (refer to video for description)
-table or board to bolt them to. (an old art table works great)
-tape (to tape up the screens to avoid making a mess)
Where to burn your screens?
Now with this list you have everything ready to print besides the image. You will need to find a screen print shop that can coat and expose you screens to print with. Once they are exposed with your design this will stay on until you want to take it off. Then you can take it back and get a new one exposed on it. So there is a crash course of screen printing. Watch the video to see more.
Good websites for screen printing purposes:
silkscreeningsupplies.com (this has everything you would ever need, kind of spendy though)
ebay.com
craigslist.org (for these two just type in screen printing and you find everything)
Websites with awesome screen print work:
gigposters.com (this website has every artsist and every band... it's awesome)
RSS
Post Comments
Add Your Comment!
Log in to leave a comment or Create an account
LOVE IT! Caleb, you need to get your own show. Prob on HSN.
P.S. Great music choice.
» Comments RSS