Silk Screening

Screen printing is a printing technique whereby a mesh is used to transfer ink onto a substrate, except in areas made impermeable to the ink by a blocking stencil. A blade or squeegee is moved across the screen to fill the open mesh apertures with ink, and a reverse stroke then causes the screen to touch the substrate momentarily along a line of contact. This causes the ink to wet the substrate and be pulled out of the mesh apertures as the screen springs back after the blade has passed.

Basically, it is the process of using a mesh-based stencil to apply ink onto a substrate, whether it be T-shirts, posters, stickers, vinyl, wood, correx or other material.

Screen printing is also a stencil method of print making in which a design is imposed on a screen of polyester or other fine mesh, with blank areas coated with an impermeable substance. Ink is forced into the mesh openings by the fill blade or squeegee and by wetting the substrate, transferred onto the printing surface during the squeegee stroke. As the screen rebounds away from the substrate the ink remains on the substrate. It is also known as silk-screen, screen, serigraphy, and serigraph printing.  One color is printed at a time, so several screens can be used to produce a multicoloured image or design.

Frequently asked questions

Screen printing, also known as silk screening, involves transferring images onto various mediums using mesh screens and a rubber squeegee. It’s suitable for printing on different materials and offers durability and vibrant colours.
Screen printing offers durability, vibrant colours, and specialty inks, making it economical for bulk orders. However, it can be expensive for small runs and becomes costlier with more colours in the artwork.
The maximum print size for screen printing is typically 1000mm x 700mm.