for a long time. It's been years. When I did it, we only had solvent-based inks and image creation via the high-arc method.
I am interested in getting back into it, but I'd like to know what technologies have emerged that would make it much easier now. I want to teach unskilled homeless men various trades for entry-level jobs. I'm assuming there are water-based inks. Are these any good for image and durability?
I'm assuming there are easier methods for image transposing onto screens. Is this true? I know it's possible with vinyl and I do have a vinyl cutter. But what other methods are there available that would eliminate messy cleanup and make for a relatively easy image transfer to the screen?
Sorry for the neophyte questions, but it's almost like starting over again. Looking to the experts here for help. Thanks!
There are water based inks available but I would say that plastisol inks are the easiest to work with for general purposes. If you are producing any kind of volume you will need to dry or cure the inks anyway so air dry is not attractive.
As far as making screens photo emulsion and inkjet film positives is probably your easiest and highest quality alternative.
The old ways are still the best ways. That big arc light is the perfect light to expose screens and the bulbs are usually tied to exposure meters which makes each exposure precise. Much of this equipment is sold used at pennies on the dollar.
One method to make screens using a vinyl cutter is with a Ulano Amba Water Stencil. This material cuts on the vinyl cutter and weeds like a vinyl. With just a little water it can be transfered to a screen and printed with plastisol ink. Once finished, the film can be washed out of the screen with just water. Other than the ink clean up chemicals, the water stencil is chemical free and doesn't require a darkroom, but still is "real screen printing".
Thanks so much for the reply. I think I was trying to eliminate the emulsion step, but that may not be possible. I thought perhaps the technology had evolved to a point where images could somehow be taken from printer to screen without interim photo steps being used - perhaps an emulsion paper which would dissolve in printed areas, yet could be applied to screen. Probably sounds a little crazy, but I didn't know what had been "invented" in the last 10 years. I think I would opt for a method which is somewhat easy and relatively clean.
Thanks for the great info. The Ulano water stencil is probably the kind of thing I'm looking for. Since I have a vinyl cutter it would make perfect sense to go this route. This avoids the photo step completely, and makes it easier in terms of time, cleanup, etc. The beautiful part about the vinyl cutter is that you can make positives or negatives simply by choosing the weeding of the graphic. The only downside is probably the lack of detail you can achieve.
Any idea as to the quality of the product? I know when I was doing screen printing, Ulano was THE name in the business. Does it adhere to the screen well? Is it easily washed out with water? THANKS, again.
I found out that Ulano also makes a stencil material that is solvent based, and can be used with water-based inks. I don't know if this can be cut with a vinyl cutter, however. This description isn't clear. Anyone ever done this? Thanks. I think it might be easier to clean up this stencil than the inks I'd have to use if I were to use a water-soluble stencil.
I purchased a roll of the material and have done a couple tests, but have not done any extensive testing. My setup has one of those big lights, so generally i use hat. Where i'm limited in is overall size. Currently i max out at 11x17, so using the vinyl cutter can get me around the size limit.
From my experience the stuff works good, but water must be used sparingly when applying the transfer otherwise the whole film will wash away. Yes, it cleans up very well with water. Just a hose and its gone! Getting the ink off the screen is the only real cleanup.
I've not produced enough prints off a screen to know how durable the film is. I had not problems with using it to screen print.
As for level of detail. The film is very thin and cuts like a dream. Good level of detail should be possible. Remember that you will be weeding backwards to normal. The things you remove will allow ink to be printed. With some designs this can be an annoyance.
Another thing you can consider is that with the addition of a heat press, you could cut transfer material with the vinyl cutter and heat set it with the press.
I have been considering the heat-press vinyl for garments also. There are lots of variations on this - matte, flock, gloss, etc. I saw this at trade shows years ago, but am now just getting into this part of applications.
I think I'll probably go with a solvent applied stencil and water-based ink for making screens with the vinyl cutter. Just seems like less clean up that way, and I don't have to worry as much about the water ruining the stencil the way you indicated. Toss up: water stencil w/ solvent inks vs. solvent stencil w/ water inks. I think the latter will have a little less cleanup.
There may just be a better alternative yet - a vinyl cut that uses a film specifically made for adhering to screens, if such a thing exists. This would eliminate the need to clean the screen if the backing was made to adhere to screen w/o solvent or water. Don't know is such a thing exists. I contacted a company tonight that makes a stencil film, but doesn't say if it can be used on screens. I know regular vinyl will adhere to screen; I guess the degradation is a factor, however.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ImageIt
I purchased a roll of the material and have done a couple tests, but have not done any extensive testing. My setup has one of those big lights, so generally i use hat. Where i'm limited in is overall size.
Yes,
Currently i max out at 11x17, so using the vinyl cutter can get me around the size limit.
From my experience the stuff works good, but water must be used sparingly when applying the transfer otherwise the whole film will wash away. Yes, it cleans up very well with water. Just a hose and its gone! Getting the ink off the screen is the only real cleanup.
I've not produced enough prints off a screen to know how durable the film is. I had not problems with using it to screen print.
As for level of detail. The film is very thin and cuts like a dream. Good level of detail should be possible. Remember that you will be weeding backwards to normal. The things you remove will allow ink to be printed. With some designs this can be an annoyance.
Another thing you can consider is that with the addition of a heat press, you could cut transfer material with the vinyl cutter and heat set it with the press.
I've been away from screen printing.... 
