How To Fail at Screenprinting.

[Blasto]

Okeedoke - you've all given me helpful direction as always. Somewhere between feeding, rocking, and changing the baby, I'm going to find time to try burning again tonight.

What are you using for films? Chances are, you can push that burn time a little longer than you think.

I'm using laser prints coated with baby oil & I'm sticking 'em down during exposure with the space-bag method.

[Andymac]

well, those are about the worst posis....you need to increase your time. the light is not high UV to begin with, and then it has to fight through the paper. I'll bet if you had a decent film positive on clear, you would have no problem, and your time would go down.

try another 4 minutes. (if you are at keep increasing your time until it doesn't come off. Hopefully the image will still wash out.

[Blasto]

Yeah- I haven't really explored the film positive route since trying it with my own laser printer & noticing how transparent the black printed out. I guess I could double 'em up, I just imagine taping the 8x11 sheets together to piece together the full size design would make for a registration mess.

I'll keep transparencies in mind, though since I take your advice seriously!

[Blasto]

Guys! Thanks so much for the advice you've posted! Ive had much better burning and washout results. Reclaiming has been a different story. I now realise the importance of a pressure washer for that bit. 2 more screens for the trash. At least I can print some cool distressed textures through the permanently fixed emulsion before I chuck the screens.

I started pulling my first prints tonight & am way happy with the results. I'm on color 2 of 4 so far- I'll post some pics if the end product isn't too embarrassing.

[tenspeed]

Can I add one to this? The room was dark before exposing the screen and I put one in a set of covers down the wrong way round... great.

[Andymac]

why dark?

[tenspeed]

I don't quite know really. It's just something we've always done.