How to Silkscreen

The private practice of silk screening has brought on the advent of many different methods of performing the same task. Most often these differences stem for the use of different resources rather than any particular philosophical reason. While there may be purists who argue that the original practices of silk screening should be followed there never-the-less has developed a myriad of opinions on how to silkscreen. From the use of crude devices and chemicals to more complex machinery, silk screening practices are as varied as there are practitioners. Yet despite the differences in materials and processes all the methods have certain common grounds which stem from their shared name. While the different approaches are to extensive to list their commonalities are not and neither are their core differences.

Opposing First Steps in how to Silkscreen

All silk screening has three to four basic steps depending on your experience and level of skill. Of the basic steps listed in any how to silkscreen guide the step with the least consensus is the first. There is a divergence on whether the screen should be prepared first or the artwork. The more pedantic followers believe that the screen should be prepared first as a means of setting the tone for the care required in later steps. The opposing school of thought who place importance on the preparation of the artwork feel that without the picture there would be no point. The first two steps are interchangeable so the third and fourth are always the same.

Different Ideas on how to Silkscreen

Apart from the different departure points there are also different methods concerning what takes place during step three. This step involves the “burning” of the stencil onto a predetermined material, which can be virtually anything. The different methods used also affect the preparation of the screen as each method has its own particular requirements. It is important when going through the steps on how to silkscreen that you consider your materials, time and desired effect. Some of these methods include: the use of a simple paper cut-out, a series of complex and varied inking methods, and careful emulsion and control of light.

As alluded to previously all decisions are linked based on the screen and printing method. The decision on how to silkscreen is an iterative process but once a decision has been made it must be followed through. The printing method is dependent on the screening method which in turn is dependent on the printing method. The more commonly used emulsion method requires light as the source for imprinting the image onto the given material. Given that the emulsion method requires light this can be a controlled light source in a darkroom or simple reliance on the sun. Inking requires consideration of not only the inking technique for printing but also the printing surface to determine the choice of ink. It is clear that the changes in silk screening will only develop further in the future.