Comments on: Screen Printing 101- Part 2- Creating The Stencil

By: Mandra

Mandra — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 16:29:46 +0000

I wondered if this was the case. I meant to say 250 watts rather than volts; the distance I’m using for this wattage in the speedball directions is accurate, but I will try your recommended bulb and distance. I have also read your tip about checking for proper exposure time with numbering your screen and periodically covering them up after a few minutes – great idea.

Is a photocopier darker than a printer? I photocopied my line drawing, then converted that to a jpeg and printed on transparencies that I then put together.

I’ll try your exposure tests first – I am thinking my hose might be strong enough, and the problem is that I’m over exposing. I hope it comes out with screen cleaner…

Thank you!

By: admin

admin — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 10:19:37 +0000

Sounds like you are overexposing your screen. The transparency probably needs to be way darker- try photocopying it and placing two together. And you bulb is way too strong and way too close. Try using a 150 watt bulb 18-20 inches away and see what happens.
If you have exposed right your image should be faintly apparent when you remove your transparency and be very apparent when it gets wet. Also, you may not have enough pressure in your hose as well.
Good luck.

By: Mandra

Mandra — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 08:39:04 +0000

I have a question about washing the screens out – I just coated and exposed my first screens ever. I am using two of my hand-drawn images that have been printed on transparency film, and these are flush against the screen by placing glass on top. My image is not totally light when I finish, the area in the center of the screen is hard to see. Either way, when I try to wash it out, nothing much happens more than a few pinholes.

Do I need a stronger spray than my sink hose? I’m using the emulsion that comes with the Speedball kits, and am using a 250 volt BBA bulb 15 inches from the screen in a clamp light.

Any help is so much appreciated!

By: Anne

Anne — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 12:33:51 +0000

Congrats on The Martha Show – So great to see a Nova Scotia craft business get such a great boost. Good luck with your success. (sorry Michelle – link above is wrong – the “b” on my keyboard is sticky)

By: Anne

Anne — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 12:31:53 +0000

Congrats on The Martha Show – So great to see a Nova Scotia craft business get such a great boost. Good luck with your success.