silk screening

[Burma]

Looking for a clue or two about silkscreening. Did a print or two years ago with a hobby kit but I've pretty much forgotten the process. I remember that it worked well enough but I nearly killed myself with the fumes when cleaning up.
Any websites you can point me at?

[Jewels]

Burma, I cant help you, as dont know anything about silkscreening, but have seen some beautiful works though, I did have some books on the subject, but wouldnt have a clue if I still have them anymore, there would have to be something on the internet, Im sure, good luck with it

[crumpet]

We do all water-based screenprinting at uni. Much, much, much better for your health than the alternative. For the ink, we mix acrylic paint or pigment with a special screenprinting retarder so the paint doesn't dry in the screen.

There are quite a few different ways that you can get an image on your screen — paper cutout stencil, blockout that you can paint thinly on the screen, or photo emulsion and exposure.

I don't screenprint all that much though. I thought I would love it before learning it, but it's actually my least favourite of all the printing processes, so I don't do it unless I have to.

One of the blogs I read is by a student in NSW who concentrates on screenprinting — http://estasketch.blogspot.com/

[chrissycav]

Check out the books in your local library. They will have some info which will help. Its a bit hard to explain over the internet.

There are a few ways you can do it. I assume you have your screen? If not, you use a frame and than attach your silk tauntly like you would if you were making a canvas.

1. Using stencil paper. This is like a cartridge paper with rough one side and shiney smooth the other. You cut out your stencil shape (usually very basic images and not detailed). I use to masking tape the stencil paper to the outside of the silk screen face down onto paper ready for printing. Than blob the paint in the frame and use your squeegee to smooth the paint into the exposed cut-out stencil area. Remove silk screen frame and vola, you image is on the paper.

2. Use photographic emulision to fuse image onto silk screen. This process is highly dangerous with the fumes and chemicals used. Paint up your screen with the emulsion and place in dark cupboard. Remember this is a light-sensitive process. Get your image, photocopy it onto overhead projector paper. When emulsion has "cured" without exposing the frame to direct sunlight, place your OHT over the frame correct way (e.g. make sure text will be read the right way when printed) and expose under a specific light for a specific time (sorry I dont know the expecifics). Than wash out the screen and the areas where the emulsion wasn't "burnt" onto the screen will wash out leaving your image. Print as before.

Hope this helps. I know you can buy "kits" I think they are called speedball. I dont know exactly what they are. But you local art supplies store should have them.

Chrissy