I am new to Silk screen printing. I am using Speedball photo emulsion and I cannot burn my image to screen. I am using a UV light and nothing happens. I tried burning it for 45 mins, 30 mins, 25 mins, 20 mins, 15, mins, 13, 10, 5 mins, 2, 1 min and still no image on screen! Can someone please help me!!!! I really want to do silk screening!!!!!!! thanks!!!
hi ! It doesnt wash out!! I dont know what I am doing wrong! Lastnight I burn it for 4 mins and it didnt wash out, and the other day I burnt for 1 min and it didnt wash out!
Are you handling your coated screens in a safelight environment, or just under room lights. If no emulsion washes out, then it's being over-exposed; possibility by surrounding lights, like flourcent, daylight coming thur a window, etc. Once you open the container of emulsion, it should be done in a room w/ a yellow or other safe light. Your coated screens should also be handled in the safe light area.
Another issue could the emulsion itself...was it a 2 part mix (where you add a powder mixed w/ water), or is it basically "ready to go"?
I am having the same problem that sophie is having but i have done everything in a light safe envirnoment and my image still is not coming out. I have done previous screens with the same techniques but with less precautions and seemed to work fine. Now that I am taking precautions I am having problems. what am I doing wrong?
I'm not trying to insult your intelligence, but you sure you have the film positive between the light source and the screen? I'm sure you do, just grasping for straws now. The most common problem is underexposure due to poor light source. But to have nothing wash out means overexposure for some reason. Could the emulsion be old and past expiration date?
Even with poor density with you film positive, you should still get some image on the emulsion after exposure.
I would almost bet your positives are not dark enough. The max time I use under a 1000 watt halogen is 15 minutes and my screens wash out good. If I go beyond that they start to get hard to blow out. You should not be able to see light through your positives when you hold them up to a lamp. Hope this helps.
was it a 2 part mix (where you add a powder mixed w/ water), or is it basically "ready to go"?
my bet is with Brian.
speedball emulsion isn't pre-sensitized. you know that little bottle that came with the kit that says: "do not throw away, this bottle is not empty"... that's your emulsion sensitizer. it'll turn the emulsion from blue to green when properly mixed, and give it photo-sensitive properties.
to check the density of your positives, tape a coin to the screen, between the emulsion and the light source. this will block all uv energy and should wash out fine after near-proper exposure.
what kind of light source are you using? you need uv type a light to expose the emulsion.
speedball emulsion is usually a diazo-type emulsion that will show image area before washout. can you see the image appearing lighter on the screen after exposure and before you put water on screen? after?
a quick search brings me this link: washout and emulsion help by Ulano's emulsion super-wizard Richard Greaves. it may have some helpful info.
I dont see any image after washing the screen nothing changed at all after washing.
Matto- You said you used a 1000 watt halogan light. Can you put that in a normal light socket and where can you buy that?
I am using a UV light black light, Do I need a special type of light?
What is the best light source to used while bruning the screen?
Youre suppose to apply a thin coat to your screen right? The first few types I apply photo emulsion on, I set it to dry and there are dripping marks. I guess the image cant burn through thick coat of emulsion?
Now I am apply thin coat., maybe too thin??
It is like my 15-20+ times trying to burn the screen ...So difficult!! lol.
ummm... don't know what kind of bulb you have. photo-uv, 500 watt??? etc etc...
there is no way to determine how to correctly calculate exposure times without conducting an exposure test. a search for exposure test here brings up: T-Shirt Forums Search Results
a thread i found to contain some useful information can be found here: Emulsion
there may be someone out there with a guide for distance of light source to screen if you post the specs of your bulb...
Burning the image to the screen 
Re: Buring the image to screen 
...So difficult!! lol.
