All the sudden I can't get my screens to burn correctly.

[mhmitszach]

Well, I realized a dirty squeege was coating screens very unevenly, which is why I'm pretty sure my last attempt failed. Some small details were washing out and then rest of the screen started to get sloppy.

Just coated a screen better than I ever have, let it dry 24 hours, burned it about 15 seconds longer than usual. But once again, the small details washed out.

And the emulsion looks like it's almost bubbling up. I'm nearly certain I won't even need to use the pressure washer to clean it out.

I'm pretty much out of ideas as to why these screens are burning so poorly and washing out so easily!

The details of this print are higher than any others that I've tried, but I've done burn tests with the detailed grids and found that about 9:30-10 minutes works perfectly.

Thanks!
-Zach

[Iron Canvas Studios]

"Well, I realized a dirty squeege was coating screens very unevenly"

Are you coating your screens with a squeegee?

[mhmitszach]

"Well, I realized a dirty squeege was coating screens very unevenly"

Are you coating your screens with a squeegee?

My bad. Scoop coater.

Had a dirty edge of dried emulsion leaving streaks. Figured emulsion was too thick and not dried.

[Andymac]

if it's coming off, it's underexposed. maybe your light has lost it's glow...

[mhmitszach]

if it's coming off, it's underexposed. maybe your light has lost it's glow...

Is it possible it's not dry enough?

I've only burned about 10 screens max with this light setup. And it was practically my last screen that burned best with the same time as now.

[huthbot]

Temp change? let your bulbs warm up for a few minutes keep your screens above 50º while they are drying. Residual reclaim chemicals on screen? Emulsion expired, poorly mixed or froze at some point? lots of possibilities, figure out what it isn't- eliminate options and figuring out your control elements will help you determine what it is.

[BigmanJames]

How old is your emulsion? I had some shit laying around for about 6 months, hence my 40 minute exposure times. errr.....

The stuff has a shelf life. OR rather a half life.

[Andymac]

yeah, it might not have dried completely. That'll make it peel off with washout.

Without seeing how you are doing it, it's hard to pinpoint one 'wrong'

[the hipoisie]

Peeling and bubbling sounds like it might also be coated too thick.

[mhmitszach]

I'm pretty sure my screens just aren't dry enough. I hit this one with a hair dryer for about 5 minutes right after I coated it and right before I burned it.

If I rub parts of it with my finger I could easily remove the emulsion. Too wet still right?

This one turned out way better, the 2 parts that were washing out bad before are actually almost alright. Only just barely started to wash out.

I burned the screen a minute longer.