Newbie having trouble developing first screen

I've rarely exposed a screen to the point where I've ruined it. But then again, the artwork I do contains mostly hard edges...no halftones/feathering.

As you pass the ideal exposure time, you tend to loose a little detail as light is allowed more of an opportunity to seep around the corners of the printed portions of your transparency and cure more and more of the emulsion. This isn't usually a huge deal unless you are exposing half-tone dots or very fine lines/details. Also, if you overexpose, the stenciled portions tend to become increasingly difficult to wash out...though not impossible if you have a decent pressure washer.

I have a home-made exposure unit that has done very well for me...and when I expose, I tend to err on the side of over-exposure. Obviously you don't want to overexpose significantly, but like I said in my last post...you should have a fairly forgiving window of time where you will get more than adequate results.

If you over-expose just a little...wet your screen on both sides, leave it to sit for a couple minutes, then blow that baby out with a pressure washer. Cold water from a distance of no closer than a foot should keep the water pressure from having an adverse effect on the stencil.

So if you're doing straight-forward art like I do...you'll rarely over-expose a screen unless you're narcoleptic and fall asleep mid-job.