First time screenprinter, just wanted to ask a few questions....
My cousin actually got me interested in screenprinting my own clothes. So I went out and bought a speedball screenprinting kit (came with a 12x10 screen, red blue and silver opaque ink, squeegee, diazo photo emulsion, drawing fluid and screen blocking liquid, so you know what Im working with). I also got a new printer and transparencies for film positives. now many of my friends who do tshirts use acrylic paints, but do it free hand. Has anyone here tried using acrylics with a screen with any success? just outta curiosity....
also, ive seen shirts that have graphics on them that are smooth to the touch, as tho the ink was soaked into the garment. From what it looks like, it looks as though dyes were used for the graphics instead of screenprinting ink (like those from express, aeropastale, etc) is it possible to use dyes with screens? my guess is that you would need a higher count mesh screen for that....thanks in advance.
Last edited by phillys13silvia; September 16th, 2007 at 01:29 PM.
Re: First time screenprinter, just wanted to ask a few questions....
You're off to a good start. I started with a Speedball kit and some homemade frames.
Yes you can use acrylic ink for shirts. It will be a bit crusty, but it works. I used to use the "Basic" brand.
The soft feel you are describing is probably waterbase or thinned out plastisol. Correct waterbase textile inks (not acrylic paints) have that feel to them, as does very thin plastisol. You are correct in assuming you will need a higher mesh screen.
Re: First time screenprinter, just wanted to ask a few questions....
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Originally Posted by phillys13silvia
Has anyone here tried using acrylics with a screen with any success?
With paper, yes (and with a base added), but not with fabric. I don't think it would work very well with fabric.
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Originally Posted by phillys13silvia
also, ive seen shirts that have graphics on them that are smooth to the touch, as tho the ink was soaked into the garment. From what it looks like, it looks as though dyes were used for the graphics instead of screenprinting ink (like those from express, aeropastale, etc) is it possible to use dyes with screens?
As EastBayScreen said it was most likely waterbased ink (which is what you would have got with your Speedball kit), but you can print with dye, so it is possible that that's what they're using.
Quote:
Originally Posted by phillys13silvia
my guess is that you would need a higher count mesh screen for that
Re: First time screenprinter, just wanted to ask a few questions....
OK. so would it be possible to thin out the speedball fabric ink with water to achieve the desired effect? what do you guys think would be an appropriate ink to water ratio for that? and what mesh count screen do you think I'd need to procure?
Sry for all the noobish questions, I promise thats the last one. I just want to get my facts straight before wasting all my hard earned product, you know?
Re: First time screenprinter, just wanted to ask a few questions....
Quote:
Originally Posted by phillys13silvia
OK. so would it be possible to thin out the speedball fabric ink with water to achieve the desired effect?
You can thin it out with water, though whether it will give the desired effect or not is another matter No harm in trying though (although if it's opaque ink it's not really going to work very well). And bear in mind it will dilute the colour.
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Originally Posted by phillys13silvia
what do you guys think would be an appropriate ink to water ratio for that?
I don't have an exact ratio for you, but not much water. You don't need to add much water to get a very noticeable change in viscosity. Try adding a dribble, mixing it in, seeing how you like the feel, etc. etc. - you can always add more, but you can't really take the water out after it's in.
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Originally Posted by phillys13silvia
and what mesh count screen do you think I'd need to procure?
Probably something in the 140-200 range.
Quote:
Originally Posted by phillys13silvia
Sry for all the noobish questions, I promise thats the last one.
You shouldn't say that, or you'll regret it when you have more questions
Quote:
Originally Posted by phillys13silvia
I just want to get my facts straight before wasting all my hard earned product, you know?
...and be sure to do test prints on scrap faric, t-shirts, etc. before doing your final these-are-costing-real-money prints.
Re: First time screenprinter, just wanted to ask a few questions....
O trust me, ive already gone through 3 scrap tees just practicing my technique, way ahead of you!. you guys know of any brand of dyes I could try my hand at?
Re: First time screenprinter, just wanted to ask a few questions....
(Yeah, my 3rd post and I'm already handing out advice!)
FWIW, Speedball sells fabric ink and acrylic ink, the latter I presume is for block printing. And they also make several "starter kits." I myself started with their starter kit for t-shirts, and am looking for a water-based ink made by a more mainstream manufacturer.
Merely thinning the Speedball ink won't get you what you're looking for. That's either a heat transfer or a Plastisol ink; the Speedball fabric ink soaks into the fabric rather than lying on the surface, so the texture of the weave is prominent. Some people want that, others want the rubbery shiny surface that you get with Plastisol, especially that made for printing on athletic wear.
This is a discussion about First time screenprinter, just wanted to ask a few questions.... that was posted in the Screen Printing section of the forums.
First time screenprinter, just wanted to ask a few questions.... 
No harm in trying though (although if it's opaque ink it's not really going to work very well). And bear in mind it will dilute the colour.
