Importance of Silkscreen Printing in the modern era of Digital Printing

Serigraph is another name for silkscreen printing. Serigraph is made up of two Greek words: seicos, which means silk, and graphs, which means writing. The oldest kinds of printmaking include silkscreen printing and other stencil-based printing technologies. Printmaking is a method of creating artwork editions (many originals). Painting, on the other hand, is a method of creating a single unique work of art. Each print in an edition is regarded as a unique piece of art, not a copy, in Printing Press in Dubai.

Silkscreen printing is a stenciling technique in which ink is printed through stencils supported by a porous fabric mesh stretched over a screen frame. Silkscreen printing is perfect for graphic and dramatic designs.

Silkscreen printing dates back to 9000 BC when Egyptian tombs and Greek mosaics were decorated with stencils. In China, stencils were employed to create Buddha pictures from 221-to 618 AD. Japanese painters developed a complicated procedure in which a piece of silk was stretched across a frame to act as the carrier of hand-cut stencils, turning screen printing into a complex craft.

The Process of Silk Screen Printing – How it’s done

Squeegeeing ink through a stencil onto paper is the most basic printing procedure. This is known as “pulling.” For each print to match the original, each colour must be reproduced in the same position and the same sequence.

The first stage in the procedure is to create an original image. The screen printer then creates a distinct stencil for each colour based on his colour expertise and preferences. After that, each stencil is affixed to its screen.

The artist carefully mixes inks to match the hues of the original and the intended hue and value conclusion. The amount of colours on a silkscreen print in my work varies: normally there are at least six distinct hues, but a single picture might have up to 40.

The ink is pulled over the printing frame, which is put above a piece of paper that will retain the artwork. After that, the ink is driven past the screen and onto the paper underneath it. The stencil is subsequently destroyed once this process is performed on all of the edition’s sheets.

From the conceptualization of designs through the transfer to the screen, colour mixing, and printing of an edition, the printing process is extremely labour demanding. To accommodate for pictures discarded owing to printing faults, a silkscreen printer often allocates 10% extra of what he wants for an edition size. Large prints can take 3-4 months to make in my process, however tiny prints can be completed in as little as one month.

A silkscreen printer’s designs are generally produced in a limited edition. A fine art print edition comprises all pictures published at the same time. Silkscreen editions range from one to 500 prints. The size of the edition can be decided by the printing process itself, such as when a stencil wears out, although the edition is typically restricted by the artist. Because the stencils are destroyed after printing, each edition is one-of-a-kind.

The lower margin of the print is signed and numbered with what appears to be a fraction. The edition size is indicated by the lower number, which denotes the impression within the series. The 2/25 print is the second of twenty-five photographs. The number shows the order in which prints were signed rather than the order in which impressions were pulled. This, along with the fact that later impressions are occasionally superior to early pulls, implies that lower numbers do not always imply greater impression quality.

What is the distinction between “Silkscreening” and “Screen printing”?

Silk mesh screens were employed to drive ink through to the cloth in the early days of screen printing. Silk mesh has been replaced by different synthetic textiles in recent times. Polyester is the most prevalent.

Don’t be concerned if a customer approaches you and requests “silkscreened” shirts. The phrase is synonymous with screen printing. “Serigraphy,” “silk screening,” and “screen printing” are all terminology that is interchangeable. The phrase “silk screening” is still used today.

What is the distinction between a genuine fine art print and a reproduction?

A fine art print is a “multiple originals” created by hand, one imprint at a time, from a plate etched or carved by the artist (typically wood, copper, zinc, or in this instance amberlith film). The tactile feel of the ink on paper and the printing method are integral components of the artwork in genuine fine art prints, which replicas cannot replicate.

Although using high-quality printers and cutting-edge technology to create giclees or iris prints, the results fall short of fine art prints.

Furthermore, because the matrix does not wear out, replicas are produced in the thousands and there is no physical limit to the number of impressions. However, to support the publisher’s intended price, the edition size is intentionally limited to generate scarcity and so boost the value of the print, which is even signed and numbered by the artist, leading to doubt over authenticity.

An emulsion is “scooped” across the mesh to prepare the screen for printing. When it is dried, it is subjected to UV light via a film with the required design.

This causes the emulsion to solidify where it has been exposed, while the remainder of the screen remains soft.

The realm of graphic arts has been changed by digital technology. Digital media’s electrical and interactive nature has ushered in new artistic frontiers, spawning new approaches that broaden artists’ perspectives and stimulate creativity in ways we never dreamt imaginably in Printing Press in Dubai.

Silkscreen Printing Process

• A screen constructed of (often) polyester or nylon mesh is firmly stretched over a frame.
• A stencil is created by obstructing portions of the screen in a “negative picture” of the artwork you want to print.
• These are the areas on the clothing where the ink will emerge.
• With a water spray, the soft emulsion is washed away, leaving a clean area in the mesh in the shape of the image to be printed.
• The fabric to be printed is placed on a pallet, which is taped to prevent ink from spilling onto the palette and any subsequent clothes that may be placed on it.
• The screen is examined for emulsion “pinholes” that might cause unintended leaking. To avoid this, tape or “block out” pens are employed.
• A layer of ink is applied to the screen after it has been placed on a firm foundation. To push the ink through the holes in the mesh, a floodbar (usually made of aluminium) is used.
• The printer lifts the screen to prevent contact with the surface beneath. Then they apply a slight amount of pressure to pull the fill bar, which is attached to a reservoir of ink) from the back to the front of the screen. The fill bar is pushed to the top of the screen by force. This fills the mesh openings with ink that matches the design exactly.
• A rubber blade called a squeegee is then used to push the mesh down towards the surface, squeezing the ink into the garment in a controlled process to ensure nice clean lines and prevent blotting which can ruin the design in Printing Press in Dubai.

However, regardless of how powerful digital technology is in the field of graphic design or art, conventional printing procedures such as screen printing should not be overlooked. Despite the fact that many new printing technologies have arisen, screen printing remains one of the most reliable and offers several benefits. Some of them are listed below.

Produces One-of-a-Kind and Genuine Results

When opposed to digital Printing Press in Dubai, screen printing produces distinct visual results. The ink for screen printing is absorbed deeper, resulting in better picture edges. Screen printing ink may also be applied thicker, resulting in colours that remain longer, are brighter, and more brilliant, especially on deeper shades. Screen printing is still the greatest solution for garment design that demands a high level of vibrancy when printing on dark grounds.

Cost-effective and produces large quantities

Screen printing is less expensive than digital printing since it can produce huge numbers of the desired design in a shorter period of time. The screen printing technology can also mass create higher amounts of identical designs, making it the ideal printing choice for bigger orders.

Very adaptable

Screen printing works with a variety of materials, including vinyl, cloth, rigid plastic, foam board, metal, and glass. Using the same screens, the printer may create a variety of items such as banners, t-shirts, caps, posters, and wallpapers. It is also not limited in size or shape, thus unique objects such as mugs and bottles may be created utilising this printing technology.

Long-lasting, high-quality results

When compared to digital printing, the ability of screen printing inks, such as water-based inks, to bond over the material of the garment results in a more durable and clear image. Heat-dried screen printing inks are also resistant to cracking and fading when washed repeatedly. Ink can also be treated with additives and coatings to make it resistant to UV rays, scratches, chemicals, and moisture, allowing the products to last for many years.

In conclusion

Silkscreen printing is the most common form of printing in a wide range of commercial and retail applications for a multitude of reasons, including its versatility, durability, cost-effectiveness, and excellent quality for Printing Press in Dubai.