Art2u: Screenprinting Today, Introduction

SCREENPRINTING TODAY

By Andy MacDougall
©1999 MacDougall Screen Printing Ltd.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION

SCREENPRINTING TODAY: an introduction

Screenprinting (also referred to as silk screening, screen process printing, serigraphy) is a unique method of transferring or printing graphic images, and is considered by many to be the one of the oldest methods of printing. It was first used by the Chinese and the Japanese to decorate clothing, reproduce artwork, and publish posters with the latest words of wisdom of the emperor. Over 1000 years ago it was discovered that woven silk stretched on a wood frame, with a stencil image attached to the bottom with glue, could be used to reproduce the same image over and over on different materials by forcing ink or paints through the opening in the stencil. That's screenprinting!

Examples of this original technique are still used today. If you ever get the chance to watch a traditional Japanese kite maker, you get a glimpse of ancient screenprinting in action. The kite maker uses a set of miniature silk screens with different colours and stencil shapes to repeat fish scales, eyeballs, and other shapes that illustrate a fish on the side of a kite.

The basic components of the screenprinting process remain the same as in ancient times:

the art or design
the frame with the mesh
the stencil carrying the image
the ink
the squeegee
the press system
the substrate (material) to be printed

However, there have been a few advancements made over the years in materials, techniques, and equipment that allow today's screenprinter to use the process to print almost anything anywhere.

This course is concerned with covering some of these advances in screenprinting, and helping to integrate the new ideas into your printing efforts. You will develop your ability to recognize and reduce variables and problems within the process to achieve 'the perfect print'.

Please Note: Materials contained in this article are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced or distributed without the express written consent of the author. Individuals, companies, and institutions who wish to purchase the material as a course of instruction should direct inquiries to:

Andy MacDougall
1475 15^th Street
Courtenay, B.C. Canada V9N 2C3

andy.squeeg@shaw.ca or ph.(250)334-2598

Screenprinting Today: Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Screenprinting Today: the basics

About Andy MacDougall

Andy MacDougall has been involved in all facets of screenprinting, from owning and running one of the top commercial shops in Vancouver B.C., to helping develop the Parapress large format screen press, and building the SOL-X solar exposing system.

Through the years, he has also applied the technology of commercial screenprinting to the production of fine art prints, and currently operates an innovative art printing studio in the Comox Valley, on Vancouver Island, off Canada's west coast. A firm believer in the benefits of collaboration between the artist and the printer, he has worked with many of Canada's leading artists and helped them explore new and wonderful applications of the screenprinting process as they explore the medium.

Screenprinting Today ... the Basics is part of a workshop developed to answer the need from both Fine Art & Commercial screen printers for information about the core technology of screenprinting, regardless of the final use of the process.

"The Fine Art printer and the Commercial screen printer have much to learn from each other, and I hope by publishing this course online, we can start tearing down the philosophical barriers that stand in the way of exchanging knowledge and mastering the screenprinting process. It's all about doing the best you can with what you have. Anybody I've ever met that pulled a squeegee wants it to work properly. This info is concerned with helping them achieve that goal." Andy MacDougall

For further information on workshops, instruction, or studio rental, contact :

Andy MacDougall
1475 - 15^th Street
Courtenay, B.C. Canada V9N 2C3
(250) 334-2598 fax (250) 334-1534

andy.squeeg@shaw.ca

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originally published on Art2u on January 1, 2000