Screen Printing Frames

Basic Tips and Suggestions for Screen Printing
There are very few crafts or hobbies that are as artistically challenging as screen printing. During printing, individuals use a screen, stencil, frame and various inks to produce an image onto an item. Items that are commonly used in screen printing include shirts, paper, caps, metal products and others. For a challenging and rewarding craft, individuals choose screen printing as their medium. Certain tools and accessories are necessary to begin into screen printing. Individuals can comparison shop in order to get the most for their allotted budgets.

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10 × 14 Base	18 × 24 Unit	20 Shelf Racks	25 Shelf Racks
Price: $35	Price: $64	Price: $500 - $595	Price: $735
Brand: AWT	Brand: AWT
This unit also includes three stainless steel registration guides.	This unit has a 20" × 24" × 1/2" thick base, and also includes three stainless steel registration guides.	Depth is 31" (79 cm).	Depth is 40" (102 cm).


AWT Cord Setter	AWT Sidekick	AWT Stainless Steel Registration Guides	AWT Wash-Out Sink
Price: $15	Price: $86	Price: $9	Price: $2895
Brand: AWT	Brand: AWT	Brand: AWT	Brand: AWT
This easy-to-operate tool presses the cord into the groove with the tap of a hammer for the tightest stretch.	The Sidekick's spring-action lift elevates your frame while screen printing, then holds it there until you're ready to lower it again.	These long-lasting tempered stainless steel registration guides are used for any thin stock printing application.	Maximize productivity with heavy-duty washout stands designed for pressure cleaners.


Blick Cord-Stretched Frame with 110 Monofilament Polyester Mesh	Blick Cord-Stretched Frame with 12XX Multifilament Polyester Mesh	Blick Cord-Stretched Frame with 8XX Multifilament Polyester Mesh	Blick Tite-Stretch Cord
Price: $29	Price: $25	Price: $17	Price: $19
Brand: Blick	Brand: Blick	Brand: Blick	Brand: Blick
Monofilament polyester mesh consists of single strands of man-made fibers with uniform construction and spacing, plus the finest uniform diameter threads.	Multifilament polyester mesh is considered by professionals to be the standard for screen printing.	Dick Blick assembles this frame for printing T-shirts and other textiles, as well as for printing signs and posters with large ink deposit requirements.	Available in a standard 11/64 diameter for a tighter fit or the 9/64 diameter for easier stretching.

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Following are some of the necessary basic items to begin printing.

A frame constructed of wood or aluminum.

Fabric mesh screen. A mesh that is tight will give more detail in the design.

Stencil made of transparent material such as film positive.

Emulsion fluid.

Sensitizer fluid.

Glass piece to fit into the frame.

Black piece of cloth.

Lamp with a 250 watt photo type bulb.

Water supply from a sink, hose, or other point of access.

Protective gloves.

Squeegee of art quality.

Large assortment of screen printing inks.

Material choice for printing upon.

Clothing for person performing printing that okay to be destroyed by various contacts with printing supplies.

Once all supplies have been gathered. Individuals are ready to begin their screen printing project. They should keep in mind that a good stencil is very important in making a great design. Images should contain areas of contrast. These images will show up more adequately on materials. Following are some steps and tips for screen printing a project.

Adequately secure screen to frame.
Create desired stencil.
Mix sensitizer and emulsion together. Apply mixture to both sides of mesh. Use squeegee to even out the application.
In a couple of hours, this mixture application should be dry. Place one side on black cloth.
Put stencil on top of frame. Place glass on top of stencil.
Light source should be directed to one side of screen.
When emulsion has dried, remove glass and stencil.
Rinse screen and allow it to thoroughly dry.
Place cardboard inside of material to be printed. This will keep ink from bleeding through to other side of material as in printing a t-shirt.
Put screen on item being printed.
Use squeegee to put ink onto screen.
Lift screen to reveal image printed onto the material or item being used.

When printing with various colors, allow the item to dry before adding another color and reprinting. Always clean all equipment used in one printing before beginning another for the best overall results.