Screen printing is a printing technique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink-blocking stencil. The attached stencil forms open areas of mesh that transfer ink or other printable materials which can be pressed through the mesh as a sharp-edged image onto a substrate. A fill blade or squeegee is moved across the screen stencil, forcing or pumping ink into the mesh openings for transfer by capillary action during the squeegee stroke. Basically, it is the process of using a stencil to apply ink onto another material.
Screen printing is also a stencil method of print making in which a design is imposed on a screen of polyester or other fine mesh, with blank areas coated with an impermeable substance. Ink is forced into the mesh openings by the fill blade or squeegee and onto the printing surface during the squeegee stroke. It is also known as silkscreen, serigraphy, and serigraph printing. A number of screens can be used to produce a multi-colored image.
Screen printing was largely introduced to Western Europe from Asia sometime in the late 18th century, but did not gain large acceptance or use in Europe until silk mesh was more available for trade from the east and a profitable outlet for the medium discovered.
Early in the 1910s, several printers experimenting with photo-reactive chemicals used the well-known actinic light activated cross linking or hardening traits of potassium, sodium or ammonium Chromate and dichromate chemicals with glues and gelatin compounds. Roy Beck, Charles Peter and Edward Owens studied and experimented with chromic acid salt sensitized emulsions for photo-reactive stencils. This trio of developers would prove to revolutionize the commercial screen printing industry by introducing photo-imaged stencils to the industry, though the acceptance of this method would take many years. Commercial screen printing now uses sensitizers far safer and less toxic than bichromates. Currently there are large selections of pre-sensitized and "user mixed" sensitized emulsion chemicals for creating photo-reactive stencils.
A group of artists who later formed the National Serigraphic Society coined the word Serigraphy in the 1930s to differentiate the artistic application of screen printing from the industrial use of the process. "Serigraphy" is a combination word from the Latin word "Seri" (silk) and the Greek word "graphein" (to write or draw).
The Printer's National Environmental Assistance Center says, "Screenprinting is arguably the most versatile of all printing processes." Since rudimentary screenprinting materials are so affordable and readily available, it has been used frequently in underground settings and subcultures, and the non-professional look of such DIY culture screenprints have become a significant cultural aesthetic seen on movie posters, record album covers, flyers, shirts, commercial fonts in advertising, in artwork and elsewhere.
We can screen print your company logo, slogan, name, or other artwork onto virtually any garment. Whether your needs are corporate, business casual or athletic, we can customize any garment to fit your needs.
Our screen printed t-shirts are a low cost option for customer gifts, uniforms & safety awards. Our talented art department can create a design to represent your company, school or organization. We offer a variety of special effects inks and techniques for designs that stand out, and Pantone matching for inks that bring your logo or design to life.
All apparel is printed in-house for quality assurance. We also offer screen printed hoodies, jackets, tank tops, bags, blankets & towels, shorts & pants.
Call us today for a free, full color garment catalog at 432-686-8244 or toll free at 1-800-228-4467.
For more information, visit:
http://cgssign.com/dotnetnuke/Apparel/ScreenPrinting/tabid/79/Default.aspx
Century Graphics & Sign manufactures in-house, can customize to suit your needs, and services all of North America and overseas, including the Permian Basin, Marcellus Shale, Eagle Ford Shale, Utica Shale, Bakken Shale, and others.
