Newbie Help Needed... Screen exposure/washout

1679 Views 8 Replies 4 Participants Last post by chrisf116, Mar 26, 2012

chrisf116

Discussion Starter · Mar 25, 2012

Ok so the first job I did went perfectly. I exposed my screen for 17 minutes, it washed out perfectly, and the printing went very well. Then cleanup went well too, and I even reclaimed the screen perfectly.

Now, I can't seem to replicate any of that success. I think I ruined one screen entirely, as the emulsion was too thick (?) so it bubbled up all over the screen. I decided not to use it, so tried to reclaim it and I have tried and given up on 3 separate occasions now over the last week and I cannot get the emulsion to budge at all (I'm using emulsion remover from Ryonet diluted 10:1).

On top of that, I over exposed a screen (at 17 minutes) again, so I reclaimed that.

Then, since I overexposed that one, I've side exposed 2 more screens at 15 minutes each, and can't get them to wash out either.

What am I doing wrong???

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InkedApparel

· #2 · Mar 26, 2012

what has changed since the first success?

how old is the emulsion? sounds like your using a dule cure emulsion which has a shelf life of 3 months.

are you coating the screens the same as before?
are the screens getting pre exposed before you burn them?

there are a ton of variables to deal with when trying to burn a screen....you need to keep a log of what works and what doesnt.

Inked

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sben763

· #3 · Mar 26, 2012

All good advise above like to add it will last 3 month in the fridge without freezing maybe longer at 65 and above shelf life starts to decrease the warmer it's kept the faster it goes bad

Never start a reclaim and stop. Once you do locking the screen chances are very high. There are few threads for reclaiming a locked screen but most techniques will damage or severely shorten mesh life.

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chrisf116

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 26, 2012

Thanks guys, well I used the emulsion remover straight (not diluted) today and that removed the emulsion. I guess I diluted it too much.

As far as the exposure, I think I know what I did wrong. I was washing them out in the sunlight outside. Newbie mistake, I know! I realized the successful one was washed out at night! So I will try again tomorrow, but I'll try after the sun goes down.

Is it ok to do it in the shade? I have a side yard off my garage, what if I put a cover over the side yard?

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chrisf116

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 26, 2012

Oh, and the emulsion is about 2 weeks old. I just started screen printing about a week ago lol

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InkedApparel

· #6 · Mar 26, 2012

lol.....you know emulsion is LIGHT sensative ? ....right?
no its not ok to washout a screen outside during the day...even in a shaded area...the uv rays are everywhere.....even if you mist the screen before going outside I wouldnt trust it.....the exposure and washout should always be done in a light safe area....you dont want to chance it.

Inked

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sben763

· #7 · Mar 26, 2012

Wet the screen down inside put in a plastic bag take out side to the shade. As long as the water has started to break down it will wash out. So leave in the bag until you start to wash out

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TYGERON

· #8 · Mar 26, 2012

InkedApparel said:
lol.....you know emulsion is LIGHT sensative ? ....right?
no its not ok to washout a screen outside during the day...even in a shaded area...the uv rays are everywhere.....even if you mist the screen before going outside I wouldnt trust it.....the exposure and washout should always be done in a light safe area....you dont want to chance it.

Inked

YES!!!
Especially with pure photopolymer type!

I chanced it. Once was enough.

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chrisf116

Discussion Starter · #9 · Mar 26, 2012

thanks guys

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