Screen Printing Sacramento (a.k.a. silk screening) is an old technique whereby ink is applied to a material. To do this you’ll need to use mesh, a stencil to place the design on the material below, and a squeegee. Since this process is relatively easy to do it won’t cost you a lot of money. However, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind as you do this.

Prepare Your Ink

The quality of your ink plays an important role in the image you ultimately produce. If your ink is too thin or too dark it’ll be difficult to regulate the printing quality.

Prepare Your Artwork

Another important thing you must do is properly set up your artwork on the screen-printer. To do this you’ll need to copy the image onto a transparent layer, making sure that it has a clear background. This will block the screen’s emulsion so the ink can pass through and create the desired image.

Make Sure You Have All Your Materials

Once you’ve prepped your artwork and the ink that you’ll be using you’ll want to gather up the rest of your materials. This includes the material you’ll be making your print on, the screen frame, a squeegee, the layer on which you’ll be placing your screen, sensitizer, and activator.

Hold Your Screen as Tight as Possible

When your screen is loose it’ll compromise the finished print. The image will “bleed” since it’ll accidentally become a moving target. By making sure that your screen is held tight you’ll be able to easily create a high-quality print.

Pay Attention to the Mesh Count

Every screen has a different mesh count. When you have a high mesh count it’ll release less ink through the screen onto your print. The right mesh count for your project will depend upon how complex your design is and how many colors you’re using. If you want to create a bold look you should use a lower mesh count. However, for more complex designs you’ll want a higher mesh count.

Choose the Right Squeegee

For the ink to be able to pass through your screen onto the material you’ll need to use a sharp, straight squeegee. This is important because you don’t want to make a lot of strokes.

The Bottom Line

Screen Printing Sacramento is relatively easy to learn and with these tips, you’ll be able to master the creation of high-quality images. Before you know it you’ll be creating some great designs.