What is screen printing?
Screen printing is a versatile printing technique used to transfer images onto fabric, paper and other flat surfaces using a mesh screen and stencil. It is widely used by textile artists, printmakers and designers to create both small-scale prints and repeat patterns on fabric.
A line of ink is poured onto one side of the stencil and drawn across the screen using a squeegee. The ink is pushed through the fine mesh and transferred onto the fabric or paper beneath. The areas masked by the stencil remain unprinted, forming the design.
One of the great advantages of screen printing is that an image can be reproduced many times with excellent consistency, making it ideal for printing lengths of fabric for curtains, upholstery, clothing or craft projects.
The screen can be used to print items such as:
- T-shirts
- Posters
- Greetings cards
- Scarves and ties
- Art prints
To create multi-colour screen prints, a separate stencil is prepared for each colour. Each screen reveals or masks different areas of the design so the colours can be printed in layers.
Our blog post includes an overview of screen printing techniques.
Screen Printing Inks and Pigments
Choosing the right ink is essential for successful screen printing on fabric or paper.
George Weil offers the Selectasine system of screen printing pigments and binders, which allows artists and designers to create their own water-based inks for screen printing.
The binders include specialist formulations such as:
- Puff Binder – expands when heat-set to create raised printed effects
- Metallic Binder – designed for mixing with metallic pigments
These binders can be combined with Selectasine ECO pigments or shimmering powders such as Jacquard Pearl-Ex to create a wide range of colours and effects.
For artists who prefer ready-mixed colours, Jacquard Products produce the highly regarded Jacquard Professional Screen Printing Ink range.
These professional-quality, water-based inks offer:
- Excellent pigment strength
- Smooth printing through fine mesh screens
- Strong wash fastness on appropriate fabrics
- Fully intermixable colours for creating custom shades
They can be used for screen printing on cotton, linen and other natural fibres, as well as paper and board.
Practical Screen Printing Tips
A few simple practices can greatly improve the quality of your screen prints.
- Use untreated fabric
Many fabrics contain sizing or finishing agents that can prevent inks from bonding properly with the fibres. Always test-print before starting a project. - Prepare and degrease the screen
To ensure the success of screen printing techniques, monofilament polyester screen mesh should be degreased before applying emulsions, fillers or films. Minute traces of grease (even grease from hands) will create problems with adhesion and cause premature breakdown of the stencil. Use Selectasine Screen Mesh Prep Gel to ensure a thorough degreasing. - Dampen the screen Lightly spray the screen mesh with water and wipe with a wet cloth before printing with water-based inks to help prevent the ink from drying in the mesh during printing.
- Stir inks thoroughly
Pigments can settle during storage, so always mix inks well before use. - Print with smooth strokes
Use an even squeegee pressure and avoid applying thick layers of ink, which may affect wash fastness. - Adjust the ink if needed
Printing bases and mediums can be mixed with inks to adjust transparency, extend coverage or soften the printed handle on fabrics. - Prevent ink drying in the screen
During short breaks, mist the screen lightly with water. For longer breaks, wash the screen thoroughly. - Clean screens immediately after use
Water-based inks should be washed out promptly to prevent them drying in the mesh.
Creating the Printing Mask / Stencil
There are several ways to create the stencil that controls where the ink passes through the screen mesh.
Paper Stencil
This is the quickest and simplest of screen printing techniques.
Cut your design from strong paper or acetate sheet.
Turn your frame over with the mesh side (known as the substrate side) facing upward. Place your stencil on the mesh, remembering that the design needs to be in reverse, especially when printing text! Tape the stencil in place using masking tape. If the stencil is smaller than the area of the screen mesh, place tape over the exposed mesh. Overlapping the tape will ensure that the ink will not pass through any of the gaps.
Flip the screen over and position it on the item to be printed. Press down firmly on the frame to ensure contact between the stencil and mesh.
The first pass of the ink-loaded squeegee will hold the stencil against the screen and create a temporary mask capable of producing several prints.
Screen Filler (Negative Method)
Screen filler blocks areas of the mesh to prevent ink passing through.
Place the screen over your design and trace it onto the mesh using a soft pencil. Paint screen filler onto the areas that should not print.
Ensure the screen is slightly raised while applying the filler so it does not stick to the work surface.
Allow the screen to dry thoroughly (preferably overnight) before printing.
Drawing Fluid with Screen Filler (Positive Method)
With this technique, the design areas that will print are first painted with drawing fluid.
Trace the design onto the screen and paint over the areas to be printed. When the drawing fluid has dried, apply a coat of screen filler across the entire screen with a squeegee.
Once dry, spray cold water onto both sides of the screen. The drawing fluid dissolves and washes away, leaving open mesh through which the ink can pass.
Allow the screen to dry completely before printing.
Photo Emulsion Screen Printing
Photo emulsion screen printing is a versatile screen printing technique that allows extremely detailed screen printing stencils to be created, including fine lines and photographic halftone images. A light-sensitive photo emulsion is applied to the screen mesh and, when exposed to UV light (from a lamp or sunlight), it hardens to block ink from passing through.
Placing artwork, such as a film positive, over the coated screen prevents light from reaching certain areas. These unexposed areas remain soft and are washed out after exposure, leaving open mesh “holes” through which ink can pass during printing.
One widely used system is Kopimask Zoico 400C Photo Emulsion, which produces durable, high-quality stencils suitable for multiple print runs when used with polyester screen mesh.
The process typically involves:
- Coating the screen
Apply a thin, even layer of photo emulsion to both sides of the screen. Allow it to dry in a dark, dust-free environment. - Preparing the artwork
Use a high-contrast black design printed onto transparent film or acetate to create a clear exposure master. - Exposing the stencil
Place the artwork onto the coated screen and expose it to a suitable UV light source. The exposed emulsion hardens, while the areas blocked by the artwork remain soft. - Washing out the design
Rinse the screen with water to remove the unexposed emulsion. This reveals the stencil image as open mesh areas where ink will pass through during printing.
Once dry, the screen is ready to use. After printing, the stencil can be removed using a suitable emulsion remover, allowing the screen to be cleaned and reused for future designs.
Creative Screen Printing Techniques
Screen printing offers many creative possibilities beyond simple colour printing.
For example:
- Discharge paste can remove colour from dyed fabrics to create lighter printed designs.
- Devoré paste can dissolve the cellulose fibres in mixed fabrics such as silk velvet, creating sheer patterned areas.
These techniques allow textile artists to combine printing, dyeing and surface design within the same fabric.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What fabrics are best for screen printing?
Natural fibres such as cotton, linen and hemp generally give the best results because water-based inks bond easily with the fibres. - Do screen printing inks need heat setting?
Yes. Most textile screen printing inks require heat setting with an iron or heat press to achieve good wash fastness. Always follow the instructions provided with the specific ink. - Can beginners try screen printing at home?
Yes. Simple stencil methods allow beginners to start screen printing with minimal equipment. A screen, squeegee and suitable ink are all that is required to begin experimenting. The Selectasine Fabric Screen Printing Kit contains everything you need to get started with screen printing on fabric and paper. - How many prints can one screen produce?
This depends on which of the screen printing techniques used. Temporary paper stencils may produce 10–20 prints, while photo emulsion stencils can produce hundreds of impressions.