Positive Failure
If the image area doesn't wash out, this usually means your positive failed to stop UV energy from reaching the stencil.
Dime Complete Opacity Test
To judge if your positive completely stops UV energy, tape a dime or piece of aluminum foil to the stencil to see if the dark areas of your positive are failing you and letting UV-A energy through to the stencil.
If the area covered by a dime
doesn't wash out, you've exposed the stencil to UV or heat energy in storage, and the stencil resists dissolving with water.
21 Step Transmission Test Positive
The best stencil hardness test is a US$10 Stouffer 21 Step Transmission Gray Scale. A transmission gray scale is a small film positive with darker and darker filters next to each other in steps. When you have one on the stencil as you expose you will get a simulation of 21 different exposures to the stencil and you get visual feedback that shows you how well your stencil is exposed.
When you wash out the stencil, areas that didn’t get enough exposure will dissolve with water and go down the drain. You want a minimum of a Solid Step 7 that doesn't dissolve and go down the drain. More exposure will make your stencil more durable and less will make the stencil less durable.
When you put a gray scale on every screen, you will get
visual feedback of the invisible action or cross linking and you will notice when it washes out differently and you will know your lamp or stencil is different and you have to change your exposure.
Exposure FAQ Screen Making Products how to measure exposure
Proclaim is a diazo sensitized emulsion so you can monitor the color change as UV energy reacts with it.
With your low energy lamp, you will get faster exposure with a pre-sensitized SBQ emulsion.