Use a squeegee to spread screen printing ink.
Screen printing is a crafty medium, providing an opportunity to create an art deco style piece of art out of an ordinary photograph. With care and precision, it's possible to screen print fabrics at home. A basic range of equipment is needed for screen printing, although some items may be slightly altered.
Printing Screen
Obtaining a printing screen with the proper mesh is the most important step when silk screen printing. A sturdy aluminum-framed screen with a 110- or 160-mesh count will allow ample coverage for printing on fabrics. Wood framed screens are available, but the aluminum-framed screens withstand moisture and chemicals better.
Emulsion
Photosensitive emulsion, a light-sensitive chemical, is needed to burn the stencil into the screen. The emulsion is applied to the screen with a scoop coater, which holds the emulsion and distributes it along the screen. Always wear gloves when dealing with the emulsion, as it can cause chemical burns.
Flood Lamps
Flood lamps, outfitted with a 250-watt photographic flood bulb, are needed to expose the emulsion-coated printing screen. These high-powered bulbs can become extremely hot, so practice caution when working with them, even when touching the stands.
Hinge Clamps
A set of hinge clamps, attached to a sturdy workbench, hold the stenciled screen in place for printing. Secure the clamps so the screen can be lifted easily, without it falling back down onto the work surface.
Acetate
Clear sheets of acetate are used to print a sample image by taping it to the table and flooding the stencil with fabric paint. After printing the sample image, the piece of fabric is placed under the acetate and adjusted until the image is in the proper place on the fabric. The acetate is then moved to the side and the image is printed on the fabric.
Squeegee
The squeegee or wallpaper smoother is used to spread ink across the stencil. A line of ink is applied above the stenciled imaged and is pulled downward through the stencil with the squeegee. It's better to apply too much ink than too little, as not enough ink will cause unsightly splotches in the screen-printed picture.
