First of all I apologize if I'm not posting this is the right place, but I seem to be navigation challenged.
I recently received the basic StencilPro kit. My screens are developing fine. No exposure issues I can detect. But I'm having a heck of a time getting a decent print of Versatex White on a black sweatshirt. My stencil isn't moving, but I'm either getting a very light or incomplete print, or I'm getting bleed.
I'm taping the top of the stencil to the t-shirt and I'm using adhesive spray to hold my material to a rigid surface. Everything seems to stay in place, but I'm getting poor and inconsistant results.
I'm debating making a frame for the stencil. BTW, this is for a lapel print. So far I've been using black sweatshirt material until I get the bugs out of it to avoid ruining a sweatshirt.
Comments, instructions and suggestions are not only welcomed, they're desparately needed!
Versatex has several white inks. Are you using the Super opaque? Even with Super opaque, you are still going to see black showing through your ink. The only way around this is to use 2 coats, drying the first one before applying the second. But, without a rigid frame/press system, it will be virtually impossible to line up the screen for the 2nd print.
Also, make sure your screen is not the hi-rez one. To get enough ink through the screen, you should be using the standard screen for white on black printing.
I just ordered some some Ryonet super opaque which hopefully will help. Just using the standard, not the high-res. I'm concerned about the right amount of pressure to use. I've done silk screening many years ago and the screens did not contact the material...it's very strange for me to have the screen directly on the material as I can't gauge pressure to apply.
...it's very strange for me to have the screen directly on the material as I can't gauge pressure to apply.
Do a search here. There are a couple of posts about using a home-made frame to tape the screen to. That's what I do (I use a picture frame). In this way the screen does not sit directly on the material.
A frame (actually 2 layers of matte taped together) and the Ryonet white did the trick. Warning though, Ryonet white is very very thick and cleaning the StencilPro is a job in itself. About 10 times more difficult than cleaning the screen using Versatex. Had to soak the screen for 30 minutes before I could get it cleaned out, even though I'd soaked it immediately after printing and used a soft paint brush to clean the screen. Ryonet laughs at a paint brush with soap and water. Soaking 30 minutes followed by brushing was the only way to clear the screen. Guess that's the cost of a super opaque.
It may well be...I didn't look that close at it. Is there a better way I should be cleaning the screen when using a plastisol?
Yes. It's called Screen Wash 147, Ryonet sells it. Never try to wash plastisol ink with water. It simply does not work unless you use another product like Citra Paste (Ryonet sells this, too) to break down the ink first.
Oh well...I assumed since the container said to remove it from your hands with water that it would work on the screen as well. That may explain the hour I spent cleaning a single screen! Thanks all! BTW, is there a household equivalent to either of those screen cleaners for economic reasons?
question for you guys. You say use a frame so the screen doesn't sit right on the shirt. I also received the stencil pro, actually won it here on the forum. I've never screen printed before. How high up off the shirt do you want the screen? with never screen printing before to me that sounds like the ink might go beyond where the screen is. Any help and direction to get this right would be appreciated.
question for you guys. You say use a frame so the screen doesn't sit right on the shirt. I also received the stencil pro, actually won it here on the forum. I've never screen printed before. How high up off the shirt do you want the screen? with never screen printing before to me that sounds like the ink might go beyond where the screen is. Any help and direction to get this right would be appreciated.
Unless you are doing more than 1 or 2 prints at a time, you don't need a frame. Otherwise, experiment starting at 1/8-1/4 of a inch.
You actually have a bigger chance the ink will creep through on the shirt side not using a frame, rather than using one. By using a frame, the screen only hits the shirt as your squeegee is passing over. But on 1 or 2 prints, you should be ok without a frame.
I use the frame even if only doing a single print as it produces a much crisper transfer. I use a 1/8 inch offset from the material which seems to allow the ink to clear the fabric well. I've not been able to get a clean transfer with the StencilPro sitting on the material.
StencilPro/PhotoEZ on Sweatshirt 
