Anybody used direct stencil film to make their screens? I was looking for an alternative for applying emulsion on screens and came across Ulano CDF/QT-50 direct stencil film and the Ulano knife cut stencil film. I bought the knife cut film but did not have much success so I wanted to know of any experiences or pros & cons of the direct stencil film before I bought any. Any info. would be greatly appreciated.
I use the Ulano CDF-5 all the time. I've never used the QT version or the knife cut. The CDF-5 is great. I never use liquid emulsion. The film is more expensive, but it's worth it for me for the ease of use, quickness of creating a screen, and the better quality stencils.
If you do buy some ask the rep to make sure it's not past the expiration date. I was recently given an old box and it was terrible. They replaced it with another old box. And then the Ulano rep finally got me a fresh box, and it worked great. The film is so rarely used that some suppliers don't keep their stock fresh. I think if more people tried it, there would be a lot more people using it.
I use the knife cut film and cut it on my plotter. You apply it to the screen with the adheasion fluid. I use water based inks with it. I am not sure about the direct and indirect emulsion films that adhear with water. I am going to try those films next when I get an exposure set- up.
I use the knife cut film and cut it on my plotter. You apply it to the screen with the adheasion fluid. I use water based inks with it. I am not sure about the direct and indirect emulsion films that adhear with water. I am going to try those films next when I get an exposure set- up.
I've tried the knife cut film but I could not make it work. I would apply it according to the instruction but would get too many air bubbles or after drying the stincile would crack with lots of pinholes, but I think I see that my problem was that I wasn't using the adheasion fluid. Thing is, I don't want to buy the fluid and have simular results.
I use laq. thinner to remove the stencil because it is cheap compared to the adheasion fluid. I think laq. thinner would apply the film. You should put a solid surface under the film to keep it tight against the screen. I dont get any bubbles and have no problems other than those two chemicals.
I use laq. thinner to remove the stencil because it is cheap compared to the adheasion fluid. I think laq. thinner would apply the film. You should put a solid surface under the film to keep it tight against the screen. I dont get any bubbles and have no problems other than those two chemicals.
Yeah, I need to keep try different surfaces and expirimenting with it. I'll try the laq. thinner. Thanks!
I tape it to the screen, flip everything over onto a piece of glass and start dabbing the adheasion fluid on slowly. It works every time.
I've been using the instructions from the Ulano web site "Position the prepared screen squeegee side up, over the film. Saturate a sponge with water. Move the sponge slowly in one stroke over the mesh from the squeegee side. Slightly overlap the strokes until the entire surface is adhered" , but I would either apply too much water or not enough.
I've been using the instructions from the Ulano web site "Position the prepared screen squeegee side up, over the film. Saturate a sponge with water. Move the sponge slowly in one stroke over the mesh from the squeegee side. Slightly overlap the strokes until the entire surface is adhered" , but I would either apply too much water or not enough.
OK...you are using the capillary film. Forget about solvents for application or removal. Your film is activated by water.
Is it a knife cut film or an diazo emulsion film. Are you burning the screen?
It really isnt that bad. Remember it is backwards from weeding a decal. You are removing the large areas of film as the details stay in place. You do have to pay attention but the film weeds very well.
OK...you are using the capillary film. Forget about solvents for application or removal. Your film is activated by water.
Is it a knife cut film or an diazo emulsion film. Are you burning the screen?
It's a knife cut film applied with water, but it is not too friendly with detailed layouts and it is tricky to apply. Too much water and I ruin the stencil & creates pinholes, too little water & it gets air pockets & and it cracks. I haven't been able to make a screen with it yet, but I'll keep on trying. I think I'm also going to try the one you are using and the direct emulsion film. I'll call my supplier and see if they could send me some samples. Thanks
Stencil Film 
