S05 Screens and Darkroom
Why Someone Should Come
A perfect print is impossible without a perfect screen. The darkroom is often where the most critical, yet overlooked, steps of screen printing occur. This session covers the science and technique behind creating durable, high-quality stencils that will hold up during production and wash out easily when the job is done.
Who Should Come
New screen printers, darkroom technicians, and anyone experiencing issues with stencil breakdown, pinholes, or difficult screen reclaiming.
What They Will Learn
- Positive Imaging: Learn the best practices for printing opaque positive images onto film.
- Screen Preparation & Coating: Understand the different types of screens and mesh counts, and learn the proper techniques for coating screens with emulsion to create a solid stencil.
- Exposure Techniques: Discover how to properly expose and dry screens, including the benefits of using advanced equipment like LED exposure units for faster times and higher detail.
- Reclaiming & Maintenance: Master the cleanup process in the washout room, including the use of ink degraders, emulsion removers, pressure washers, and dip tanks to efficiently reclaim and dehaze screens for reuse.
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