DIY stencil machine. Home screen printing technology Screen printing at home is the easiest way

Many of us are familiar with the relaxing effects of activities such as knitting, making homemade pizza, or reading a good book. This may seem strange, but the process of silk-screen printing on kitchen towels It can also relieve nervous tension, induce a feeling of calm and relaxation. We invite you to try yourself in this matter, to comprehend the basics of the art of creating screen printing.

It may seem to anyone inexperienced in this matter that screen printing (also called silk-screen printing) is an incredibly complex process that can only be done by specialists armed with special equipment. Not true! It turns out that you can create silk-screen prints at home without much difficulty.

So, let's get acquainted with the basics of silk screen printing technology. IN general outline it looks like this: you cover the mesh of the printing plate with light-sensitive paint and let it harden, when the emulsion-painted surface dries, you place the image for the print on top of the paint layer and expose the whole structure to bright lamplight. The stencil mesh covered with the image on top will not harden as it is not exposed to light. Therefore, after you have “exposed” and dried your printing plate, the unexposed photo emulsion of the grid, which is located under the image, will be easily and simply washed off with water. This area in the form of a picture or text is your stencil design. By passing the ink paste through it, you will get a clear screen print on a T-shirt, bag or kitchen towel.

Is everything completely clear? Not really? OK. Let's try to explain again. With the help of photographs...

First, you need to decide on the picture whose print you would like to receive. As an example, we decided to focus on the image of the silhouette of a Christmas tree. For your first experience with screen printing, we recommend choosing large, solid pictures without thin lines or small details. Images like this tree or caption would be ideal for beginners.

You can print the selected picture on plain paper and then carefully cut it out, or copy the image onto special transparent paper. In any case, you should remember that the picture must be LIGHT-PROOF. If you're not sure your stencil design is showing through, try looking through it at a bright light source. If light rays pass through the image, it will not be opaque enough to produce a quality silk screen print. In this case, we recommend printing another copy and overlaying the pictures on top of each other or coloring your sample with a black marker.

You will also need a frame with a fine mesh “silk” mesh stretched over it. In fact, polyester is used as silk. This mesh can be purchased in specialized stores. Make sure you buy the 110 size polyester screen mesh.

At this stage, we suggest you take advantage of the opportunity to choose: you either buy a ready-made frame with a mesh stretched over it, or purchase a frame and several meters of polyester fabric and attach the material to the frame yourself. If you are into handicrafts, you can build a frame yourself.

In order to stretch the fabric onto the frame, you can use a regular construction stapler. The material is pulled tight, but not so tightly that the fabric unravels at the places where it is fastened with staples.

Once you have attached the fabric to the frame, trim the remaining material around the edges.

To prevent the paint from spreading, tape the edges of the frame inside and out. To do this, you can use ordinary electrical tape, but if you do not want to waste time scraping off the remaining electrical tape from the surface of the stencil mesh, then it is better to purchase a special paper tape from an art store. duct tape and use it.

Now that your stencil is ready, it's time to coat it with liquid emulsion. This is a special composition that reacts to light. Therefore, this stage of work should be performed in a darkened room. Leave the mesh soaked in photo emulsion there until it dries completely. Attention! The screen mesh should dry completely dark room. If you decide to dry the frame in a closet, make sure that light does not enter through door cracks.

Typically, photographic emulsion is supplied in two parts. This is the container you can see in the photo, and a small bottle of a chemical that must be added to the container to activate its contents. Nothing supernatural. Instructions for use are included. And you just need to vigorously shake the bottle of solution several times.

The photoemulsion is applied using a rubber scraper. You can use an existing scraper or buy a new one.

While in dark room, apply photo emulsion to the stencil mesh. We recommend applying chemical composition from top to bottom, carefully painting all areas of the surface of the form.

Using a rubber scraper, the emulsion is applied to the surface of the entire mesh. Try to apply the composition in a good even layer, do not forget that this type work must be carried out carefully and very quickly. After applying the photo emulsion, place the mold in dark place for drying. The frame should be installed horizontally, not vertically. Depending on the thickness of the applied layer of photoemulsion, drying will take from one to three hours.

While the prepared stencil mesh is drying, you can start setting up the exposure area. Technically, you can expose your uniform to just the sun, but there are some risks involved. The fact is that the frame must be irradiated for a certain time. If you expose the mesh to light, you will not be able to wash off the emulsion from unexposed areas. If you underexpose, your image will not be fixed, but will be washed off the frame along with the unhardened photographic emulsion.

It is best to expose using light from a 150 watt light bulb. Usually, the instructions for the photo emulsion indicate the time for ultraviolet irradiation of the mesh, depending on its size. The instructions also provide information about optimal distance between the light source and the exposed object. Photography lamps are very convenient for exposure. They are usually equipped with special dome reflectors that help focus the light on in the right area. If you don't have one, you can try directing the light using a metal cup or can. shiny finish, or slightly increase the exposure time of your image to the light.

In addition, for exposure you will need a matte black stand on which to place your stencil grid. Can be used old board. A black piece of cardboard will also work.

Once the exposure area has been prepared, you can begin cutting out the paper-printed samples for silk-screen prints. You can cut out the outline of the picture using a special knife with a rotating head or use scissors.

Once your screen mesh is dry, cover it with a dark cloth to block light and place it on your prepared exposure area.

1. Place the frame with the grid on the black matte surface of the stand. By placing the surface with the emulsion applied “facing” the light source.
2. Place your image on the grid in the REVERSE DIRECTION. Hold the design in your hands, turning it the way you would like it to appear on a t-shirt, then flip the design over and place it on the mesh stencil frame.
3. Press the image firmly onto the grid using a clean piece of clear glass.
4. Turn on the light source.

The exposure time of our grid (dimensions 60x60 cm) was 35 minutes, under the influence of a 150 W lamp placed at a distance of 45 cm from the drawing. Depending on the size of the frame and the image itself, the exposure time to light may be different. Perhaps your first exposure experience will be unsuccessful. Don't despair. Determining the correct exposure time for images can take some time.

Set a timer and leave your image alone. No need to press on the glass or adjust the picture. After the required time has passed, remove the glass and cut out paper sample. You will notice the faint imprint of the picture that appears on the stencil grid immediately.

Take your frame to the bathroom and wash it under good pressure. warm water. Just point the shower head at the stencil mesh, and you will see how gradually, as the photo emulsion is washed away, the contours of the image will become clearer and the design itself will become brighter. You've just created your first silkscreen stencil. Impressed?

Place the T-shirt or any other item you wish to print on in the pre-prepared work area protected from possible paint splashing.

Place your newly made stencil on the T-shirt. External side frames with stretched mesh should be in contact with the fabric of the T-shirt, and the sides of the frame will be at the top.

Place paint on the top of the stencil. In our case, we used a mixture of black and white paints to obtain a deep dark gray shade. Remember that after drying, the paint will become more dark shade than during dyeing. Using a rubber squeegee, apply paint to your image. There is no need to press down on the scraper trying to push the paint through the stencil onto the surface of the fabric.

Then, applying pressure, drag the scraper across the image again in the same direction.

If you press the scraper with little force, the resulting screen print will look slightly faded.

The harder you press on the scraper, the more saturated the printed image will be.

Dry the product with the printed image.

After the print has dried, you need to fix the image by ironing it with a hot iron. The silk screen print is ready. Agree that screen printing is not such a complicated process and the effort spent on creating a print is repaid by the pleasure gained from the work.

Tell me, who doesn’t want to add something of their own to clothes, uniqueize and decorate, emphasize their individuality, and maybe convey their way of thinking or protest to society (especially if you are young)? For this, someone even goes to such lengths as on our native fleshly clothing - leather, and someone does silk-screen printing on fabric clothes. Both have the right to life, but today we will talk about silk-screen printing, and you can read about tattoos if you are interested.

Silk-screen printing on a sweatshirt made by yourself

To make silk-screen printing with your own hands at home, you don’t need super-skills, you just need desire and a little patience. You will need the clothing itself on which silk-screen printing will be done, acrylic paints for fabric (spray), thin translucent paper(for silk-screen printing of the cold compartment with adhesive base— can be ordered in the online store; but if there is none, then it may be another material for making stencils for decoration) , iron, brush, sharp mounting knife(don’t forget that they need to work carefully) , paper mounting tape, and some to your taste.

Our original image must be absolutely contrasting - that is, black and white. This way it will be better visible through the thin paper that we will apply on top. The desired picture can be found on the Internet and printed on a printer. Whether this would be a copyright violation... I don’t know, it all depends on the source.

So, we place the sketch on a flat table, on top of it is silk paper, which we fasten at the corners to the table with paper tape (see photo below).

Step 2: Cutting

This is the longest part, and some patience will be required, especially if your pattern is complex, with many small details and pieces (therefore, when choosing a pattern, calculate your capabilities in advance; perhaps you should not opt ​​for too complex patterns). The “floating” pieces of the stencil can be numbered and set aside so that you can carefully return them to their proper place when we apply paint.

Step 3: Additional Detailing

To prevent our silk-screen printing from being boring, we can further detail it. For example, you can make stripes - simply apply paper masking tape in stripes, and then lightly spray paint (see photo below).

Step 4: Ironing

Now it's time to secure the stencil. Place it with the adhesive side down in the desired location. Preheat the iron to medium temperature and apply gently. There is no need to drive them here and there, just apply on top. Otherwise, our silk-screen printing may end up with a crooked pattern.

Step 5: Painting

Perhaps the most pleasant part of our hand-made silk-screen printing. Just spray the paint evenly over the stencil until there is an adequate layer (no need to make it too thick). Next, wait for the paint to dry a little.

Step 6: Removing the Stencil

Carefully remove the stencil. The paint is absorbed into the fabric, but the stencil may have a thick layer of still wet paint, so when removing it you need to be very careful not to cover the free parts of the design with this paint, thereby ruining our silk-screen printing. In addition, stencil paper is thin and tears easily. On edges and thin pieces, the stencil can be carefully pryed off with the same knife that was used to cut it out, gradually removing it. Complex designs require some skill.

Step 7: The silk-screened clothes are ready!

Voila, 7 steps and our old clothes - a shirt, a T-shirt, but it doesn’t matter what, the main thing is that it already looks completely new, and is made with our own hands! Enjoy your unique work and wear it with pleasure! Or maybe you’ll get involved and collect orders for silk-screen printing

Everyone once has the desire to put an exclusive image on clothes or objects. Some solve the issue easily, turning to a salon for the production of printed products, others do not look for easy ways and decide to organize a “workshop” for applying images to media using the home screen printing using a stencil.

Silkscreen printing as a printing method

Today, no one needs to explain what silk-screen printing is. This printing technology allows you to apply images to a variety of surfaces made of fabrics, plastic, glass, ceramics, leather, cardboard, etc. To apply a high-quality and bright image consisting of many complex parts, especially if you need to produce a whole batch of products with the same image, usually requires bulky, expensive professional equipment and those who have experience working with such equipment.

Salons undertake the production of any batch of products with a pattern, but the final cost per unit depends on the quantity. The most optimal quantity for silk-screen printing is 100 units. Its production will not take much time, and the cost will be several times lower than, for example, when ordering one product. If you want to save money and test your abilities, you can try organizing a workshop right at home. And in order to apply on one bag, sweatshirt or T-shirt it is enough a simple picture, you only need a special kit, which includes a stencil film, ten A4 sheets (five for regular drawings, five for high-resolution images), an exposure frame and a plastic spatula. All these instruments are sold in free access in specialized printing stores, but their use requires special skills and craftsmanship. In this case, the “home” method of screen printing can help.

Home screen printing technology came to us from America, and is slowly gaining popularity. To work with it, in addition to the basics, you will need a little: A printer and a computer, possibly (but not necessarily) - digital camera and a scanner. In general, everything that is in almost every home. And if you draw well, then you won’t need a printer or computer.

A few nuances about silk-screen printing

When using silk-screen printing as a way to transfer an image to a medium at home, you need to carefully study all its pros and cons.

The advantages of the printing method include:

• Possibility of using any shade of color.
• Obtaining a bright, clear image at the output.
• Possibility of applying an image to any surface.
• Resistance of the finished product to external factors: temperature, weather, ultraviolet radiation.

The disadvantages of home screen printing include:

• High paint consumption and the possibility of marks appearing, where the product loses a layer of paint.
• The need to spend on materials and tools.
• Long drying.
• The need to spend on tools that are more expensive than making thermal transfers for sticking images.

If the shortcomings of the “historical” method of transferring an image to a medium do not bother you, and you are ready to pay for a gorgeous exclusive option- feel free to get involved in the work.

Stages of work

Printing an image at home will require special care and perseverance. But in general it is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance.

First you need to make a negative image. To do this:

1. Draw on paper or print a sketch of the desired image in a mirror image;
2. After removing the control, stick a stencil film on the sketch;
3. Place the sketch with the film in the frame and place it on sunlight(or under an ultraviolet lamp);
4. After a few minutes (the instructions for the film should indicate exact time) put the film in water, rinse, remove any remaining coating with a soft brush;
5. Dry the finished negative by placing it on a cloth or napkin - again, in sunlight or under an ultraviolet lamp.

The "Image" is ready. Now we transfer it to the media:

1. Having placed something hard and flat (preferably plastic) under the media, place the negative on the media - in the place where the future image should be;
2. Press the negative firmly onto the media and use a plastic spatula to apply silkscreen ink to the negative - any stencil ink will do.
3. Record the time also indicated in the instructions for the paints.
4. Dry the finished product with the image thoroughly on a flat surface.

By the way, the washed negative can be used several times. This fact reduces the cost of mass silk-screen printing, since the bulk of the funds are spent on creating the negative.

If you want to reduce the cost of the product even more, you can try to make the paint yourself. But you shouldn’t immediately count on perfect result. Do not risk immediately applying an image to a “finish” medium; it is better to practice on a “rough” surface.

Making paint for silk-screen printing

The process of preparing paint itself is not so complicated; finding all the necessary elements is more difficult.

To make the dye you need:

• offset paint,
• casein infusion (one tablespoon of casein powder is diluted in cold water– eight hundred milliliters),
• laundry soap, grated, mixed with water and boiled in a water bath until solid,
• drying oil,
• desiccant,
• clear varnish and
• white spirit.

And also any tin can and a paddle-rail with a cross-section of twelve by three millimeters.

To prepare the dye, offset paint is placed on the bottom of the jar with a two-centimeter layer, a tablespoon of drier is poured into it - mixed, then a couple of tablespoons of liquid is added laundry soap– and mixes again. Now casein infusion, filtered through cheesecloth, is poured in small portions. At first the paint will become too thin, but will soon thicken again.

Why would I take out a loan, sit heavily in debt in order to buy expensive equipment, and wait for years for it to pay off?

It dawned on me! All equipment can be assembled with your own hands, spending a minimum on it! Even if you don’t manage to implement your plans, at least there won’t be any big disappointments about the amount of money spent.

I spied the design of a rotary loom at a knitting factory and sketched out a drawing for myself. I built my first 4-color rotary machine practically from scrap metal and improvised materials. It took a month and a half to prepare and assemble.

At the same time, I was collecting, studying the technology of making screen printing forms, making photo forms, and all the little things needed for this process.

The total price of the starting capital was: 4-5 thousand rubles.Almost everything was included in the amount consumables to launch the first T-shirt printing process.

I began to slowly promote myself. The first order appeared, from a sports club. I made the first TPF in my life, of course it looks terrible (today it’s already a relic, I keep it as a talisman) but it gave me the first impetus to free flight in home business on silk-screen printing and the first money I earned personally, with my idea.

After the first order: how it burst, and it went and went...

New orders appeared, money appeared, life got better. Appeared free time, to implement interesting ideas, I became interested in website building and everything connected with it. It's drawn out))) In general, life became interesting.

I received a lot of letters and requests for advice, to suggest how to assemble a machine with minimal costs How to print on T-shirts. It took a lot of time.

In this regard, in 2007, I wrote the first electronic manual on Silk Screen Printing for those eager to create something similar using my example.

I am sincerely glad that this guide in those days helped many to create their own business with minimal costs and reach new level life. But progress does not stand still, everything changes, and screen printing is no exception.

Demands for print quality are increasing; what was acceptable yesterday is no longer looked at today. Over the course of the year, I collected and reviewed all the questions, feedback and suggestions that arose from both my customers and my users. practical guide"Silk-screen printing at home."

And taking everything into account, I decided to improve and assemble with my own hands a more functional six-color carousel press for printing on T-shirts. Moreover, I myself have long wanted to have such a machine. (appetite increases during lunch)

I filmed the entire process of assembling the machine, from the first nut to the release of the first printed T-shirt, on a new six-color machine.

Anyone, even those with little knowledge of technical points, without much effort will be able to repeat everything after me step by step actions, assemble it yourself or order according to drawings, a six-color T-shirt printing machine.

I want to give you interesting idea! After studying this material, you can easily organize the assembly of custom-made machines. This is another great high profitable idea, to create a home business.

I even want to assure you that there is demand! I very often receive letters asking me to assemble a machine to order. For me personally, only the printing process is more interesting. Well, what do you choose! It's up to you to decide. Everything is in your hands!!!

Many people have heard about silk-screen printing. Using this technology, you can make various products: business cards, labels for various products ( matchboxes), branded bags, inscriptions on pens, lighters, inscriptions on various souvenir and gift products, as well as on textile products.

To obtain high-quality and multi-color images and photos on porcelain, metal, fabric and other products traditional way To create silk-screen printing, previously you needed bulky and expensive equipment, as well as a lot of work experience.

Plan. Recently (from America) the newest one for the CIS and Eastern Europe a technology that immediately became very popular, because with its help you can do silk screen printing at home. Using this technology, you can produce all the same products as with the usual method, only your desire is enough.

To work you need a computer, a printer, you may need a scanner, and later you can purchase a digital camera. If you draw well, you can do without computer equipment.

The process occurs in two stages: a negative image is prepared, and then transferred to the product and developed.

1. The sketch is printed on a printer or drawn on a sheet of paper.
2. Then, having previously removed the control, the screen film
   paste it on your sketch.
3. The sketch with the film is placed in a special frame and placed in sunlight or you can use a UV lamp.
4. After a few minutes (according to the instructions), the film is placed in water, rinsed, and the remaining excess coating is removed with a soft brush.
5. Dry the wet negative on a napkin or cloth under UV or sunlight.

Now you can proceed directly to transferring the image to the product.

1. Place the negative on the product, placing any plastic panel under the product.
2. Paint is applied to the negative, which is tightly attached to the product, using a special plastic spatula. Any paint used for silk-screen printing is suitable.

The used negative after washing with water is again ready for use. unlimited quantity once!

For work, it is proposed to purchase a starter kit consisting of an exposure frame, 5 A4 sheets for regular drawings, 5 A4 sheets for drawings with high resolution, plastic spatula. The price of the set is $268.