Screen printing can be a new venture if you have always enjoyed creating new art pieces and drawing. Screen printing creates an array of new artists who love creating new dealings and selling them for a side income or adopting a new career altogether.
Are you looking for simple screen printing stencil making? It is the right place you have come to. Most of the tutorial that offers screen printing stencil making is complex and hard to follow for beginners. Screen printing can be fun and satisfying for arthritis who enjoy creating from scratch and getting a wonderful end product. They involve complex methods of photographic emulsions, and for beginners to follow them can be rather difficult.
For the best-looking screens, we advise beginners to make designs and print them in black ink on a transparent sheet of paper. Hereafter, you can use light-sensitive emulsion or photo emulsion.
This tutorial will show you how to print a two-color or a single-color print on paper and screen printing stencils. To begin with, you can get your supplies in the comfort of your house by ordering from online sites. You can visit this site and order the screen printing supply listed in this article.
Supplies You Will Be Needing
If you have a screen of 43T mesh, you can start by ordering the following:
- Screenprinting ink
- Screenprinting squeegee
- Scrape papers for printing
- Masking tape
- Scissors
- Paper for printing
- Paintbrush
- Rags and access to water
- Spoon
- Screen fillers
#1 Step: Prepare The Papers
Collect scraps of paper from the different projects you might be doing. If you have a large piece of paper, you can cut them according to the size you need. When you prepare the paper in advance, it will allow you to decide on the size of the print.
#2 Step: Map Your Desing
It is suggested that if you are a beginner, you must start with simple images or designs. Drew your design roughly on a piece of paper and held it against the window. Then you can draw your design on the back of the paper. Later you can use it as a guide when you will amke the stencils.
#3: Making A Paper Stencil And Tape
Paperwork and masking tapes work wonders when you are working with stencils for screen printing. Tape your design at the back of the screen, and flip it over to trace the design and make the stencil.
Cut the tape with scissors in the shape of the stencil and place it on the screen in the places where you want the part to be white. After you have applied the tape all over the lines, flip the screen over and remove the guide.
After you are done with this step, you can block the areas around your design. Later cut some scrap junk mail and trap it in the screen. Secure the edges of the design with some extra tape.
#4: Application Of The First Color
Each print needs two passes of ink with your squeegee. Use a spoon to place the ink above the image and draw it down without applying too much pressure and fill the screen. For the second pass, hour your squeegee holding it at an angle of 45 degrees to push down the ink on your paper or fabric.
The first print will be rough, but you do not have to worry, trust the process. The print will become smooth eventually. Leave the print to dry somewhere safe while you prepare for the other color.
#5: Cleaning The Screen
After you are down with the first edition, scrape the ink and place it back in the ink jar, it can be reused later. Then apply minimum pressure to remove the tape and the paper, removing the stencil carefully.
There will be excess ink on your screen; wipe it out with a sponge or damp cloth and wash the stencil in a sink. Be gentle while you wash the stencil. After you are done with the washing, leave it in a dry place.
Ensure that you clean your squeegee immediately after use with a rag.
#6: The Use Of Screen Fillers
If you are confident with your brush strokes, you can use another way to create stencil prints. You can print the filler directly onto your screen. After you are done painting, attach the stencil to the flat surface of the screen. Let it dry while you attach tapes to the other part of your screen before you do a print test.
#7: Time For Second Color
You have to follow the same method you have followed to print the first ink. After you are done applying the second color, check if the fillers need stencil needs any more adjustments. You can add or remove color where you think it is required.
#8: Final Step
After the print has completely dried, you can add any additional details you want to add or sign your art.
Once you have mastered the skills of screen printing with paper, you can experiment with other materials, like cloth and silk are the most common. You can gradually experiment with wood, glass, plastic, and metal.
Conclusion
Take time to admire your work. Scrutinize the areas where you could have done better. If you have messed up, do not stress. You are forgiven some wrong steps when as a beginner. When you master the skill, you can play around and be more adventurous with your designs.
It is just a matter of a few hours before you can start from scratch and get beautiful shiny art in front of your eyes. When you are working, and things may not seem perfect, do not leave and start from the beginning. Complete the whole process and wait to see the results. As they say, “Trust the process.”