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How to expose a screen for screen printing.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5(21 ratings)
87 students

How to expose a screen for screen printing.

Using photosensitive emulsion and film positive acetates to expose and dial in your exposure time.
Created byChessie Rosier-Parker
Last updated 2/2022
English
English [Auto],

What you'll learn

  • Learn how to expose a screen using photosensitive emulsion and film positive acetate.
  • Understand the process of exposing screens with light and how exposure units work.
  • Identify the signs of an under-exposed screen and an over-exposed screen.
  • Learn how to dial in your personal exposure time for your screen printing exposure set up.

Explore related topics

Course content

1 section • 15 lectures • 31m total length

  • Introduction1:00

    Learn to expose screens for screen printing with photosensitive motion and film positives, determine exposure times, coating and drying your screens, troubleshoot, and use the at-home exposure calculator.

  • Preparing your artwork for exposure.4:20

    Learn how to prepare screen printing artwork for exposure by producing dense, opaque black film positives with an all-black ink system, rip software, and Illustrator output.

  • Coating and drying your screens.1:58

    Coat screens with distilled-water sensitized emulsion and dry to one percent for exposure. Use angle with lips to reduce edge beading, then lay the screen print side down in darkness.

  • The method of exposing with photosensitive emulsion.2:46

    Expose the photosensitive emulsion with UV light using a film positive to harden exposed areas and rinse away the unexposed portions, then transfer ink through the open mesh.

  • Exposure unit types.2:47

    Explore exposure unit types and compare five methods: metal high bob exposure unit, LSD bulbs in an express unit, fluorescent tube exposure, overhanging lamp, and sun.

  • How to find your exposure time.5:52

    Find that exposure time varies with variables like bulb strength and mesh. Use trial-and-error or an exposure calculator, then run 10 mini exposures to determine the best time.

  • Washing out your designs.1:49

    Learn to wash out your screens using a power washer, misting both sides, soaking in a dip tank, and washing from the flat side to remove unexposed material.

  • How to know if your exposure is perfect.3:38

    Expose your screen and learn to spot underexposure by film outlines and motion on the mesh, and recognize overexposure by faint impressions and crumbled line edges after washing.

  • Troubleshooting | Weak transparencies1:03

    Learn to diagnose exposure problems in screen printing, focusing on weak transparencies, jagged edges, and washout issues, and discover how a thick ink deposit on the screen improves results.

  • Troubleshooting | Image ghosting1:16

    Troubleshoot image ghosting by ensuring dense film positives and close contact between the film, screen, and glass, avoiding misalignment or doubled transparency.

  • Troubleshooting | Un-even exposure1:13

    Troubleshoot uneven exposure in screen printing by ensuring even emulsion coats, applying even pressure on coating both sides, using high-tension mesh, and inspecting the exposure unit lights for dead patches.

  • Troubleshooting | Fine lines not coming out0:30

    Identify why fine details and halftone lines fail to print, and resolve by increasing mesh count, since higher mesh holds more detail in screen printing.

  • Troubleshooting | Emulsion breaking down on press1:04

    Troubleshoot emulsion breakdown on press by matching ink type to the emulsion and checking exposure. Let the screen dry overnight in a warm, not humid environment for a clean exposure.

  • Troubleshooting | Pinholes in exposure1:24

    Reduce pinholes by rinsing, drying, and cutting the screen before exposing, and prevent dust by cleaning the glasses with glass cleaner and keeping fans away from the screens.

  • Outro0:53

    Master screen exposure timing and setup to achieve consistency. Explore exposure duration, setup, and variables to improve your prints, and ask questions in the comments for help with exposures.

Requirements

  • Students do not need any prior experience to take part in this course however this class does showcase professional screen printing equipment. All of the methods used can be accomplished using smaller/beginner equipment if necessary.

Description

Join me in this class and you will learn how to expose screens using photosensitive emulsion and acetates so you can start your screen printing journey.

In this class I will demonstrate how a screen is exposed using an 'all in one' metal halide lamp exposure unit. When completing this course you learn the method of exposing screens with light, how to find your personal exposure time and how to know if your screen is over-exposed or under-exposed.

You will find simple, easy to follow lessons that can be implemented by a beginner screen printer. Here are the course chapters:

  • Preparing your artwork for exposure. This chapter includes everything you need to know about artwork preparation including how to print your film positives ready for screen exposure.

  • Coating and drying your screens. This chapter focuses on how you can prepare your screen to allow for a clean exposure with no pinholes or defects.

  • The method of exposing with photosensitive emulsion. This chapter is all about how exposing with light sensitive emulsion works and how you can adapt this method to your own set up.

  • Exposure unit types. This chapter focuses on the best methods of exposure including different types of exposure units and which ones work best.

  • How to find your exposure times. This chapter walks you through how to use an exposure calculator to find your personal exposure time for your set up.

  • Washing out your design. This chapter covers the process of washing out your screen for best results.

  • How to know if your exposure is perfect. This chapter focuses on how to know if your screen is under-exposed or over-exposed using a trial and error method.

  • Troubleshooting. In this chapter you will learn 6 different techniques to get your screens exposed perfectly, from 'how to correct image ghosting' to 'why fine lines won't expose properly'.

Students do not need any prior experience to take part in this course however this class does showcase professional screen printing equipment. All of the methods used can be accomplished using smaller/beginner equipment if necessary.

Once you have completed this class, you’ll leave with the insider knowledge to start exposing your screens professionally using photosensitive emulsion and acetate, also known as film positives.

Who this course is for:

  • This course is for both new and experienced screen printers who want to dial in their exposure time and create perfect screens for screen printing.

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