Create Art for Silk Screening
Silk screen, commonly known as screen printing, is an ideal medium for printing on paper, metal, fabric, plastic, glass and wood. This versatile technique leaves a brilliant, durable impression and can be used to print one- or multi-color designs. To prepare art for silk screening, create a design and print it on a piece of transparent film, then transfer it onto a silk screen frame coated with photo emulsion.
Instructions
1. Plan your art for your silk screen project. Decide the purpose of the art and what surface will it be printed on. Create several rough pencil sketches on paper to develop your art idea. Arrange the elements in your design in an eye-pleasing way that also communicates your idea effectively.
2. Choose the best rough sketch to develop into your final art for silk screening. You can execute the art in a graphics program on your computer or draw directly onto paper.
3. To create your final art on a computer in a graphics program such as Adobe photoshop, open a new file and save it. Use the "type" tool to add any typography you want in your design. Choose a color, typeface and type size that works with the idea from your rough sketch. Import any photo or illustration files that your would like to use in your design into Photoshop. Copy and paste it into your final art file. Arrange the typography, photo andr illustration elements according to your rough sketch. Print a proof on paper to see if it meets with your approval or if you need to make further changes.
4. To create your final art on paper, use black india ink to trace over your rough sketch. Erase pencil lines when the ink is dry. Add details as necessary. Scan the art into your computer. To create a full color design on paper, use your favorite color medium, such as water color, acrylics or colored pencil. Let the art dry then scan it into your computer.
5. Open the art file on your computer. Load your printer with transparent vellum. Print your art on the vellum. Print a separate film for each color in your design. Adobe Photoshop allows you to print each color separately using the channels palette. For full color images, print a separate film for each of the four CMYK colors (cyan, magenta, yellow and black).
6. Coat a silk screen frame with photo emulsion. Once dry, place the silk screen frame face down over a piece of foam rubber that fits inside the frame. Place the film positive face down on the back of the screen frame and tape into place. Cover it with a piece of heavy glass. Hang a halide light over the frame and expose the silk screen frame for the time recommended in the photo emulsion instructions. Develop the image by spraying with warm water. Once the image appears, blot both sides of the silk screen frame with newsprint and let it dry. Once dry, it is ready for printing.
