If you’ve ever wanted to try screen printing at home, or just been curious how the process works, this post can answer some of your questions about DIY screen printing. You just may find yourself picking up a new fun hobby!!
A few weeks ago I had the chance to go to visit Ryonet, a local company that offers screen print classes, supplies and equipment to everyone from hobbyists to large shop owners. It was a lot of fun to see their warehouse, learn the process, and even try out a bit of printing right there on site.
Basically there’s a fine mesh screen that gets some light-sensitive solution spread on it. Using a regular ink jet printer and their special waterproof film, you print out the image you want to use. It gets placed right on top of the screen and a powerful UV light shines on it for several minutes. This develops all the parts of the screen that aren’t covered by your printed image. Then you wash off the screen, and the undeveloped parts wash away. This is the part of the screen that ink will be able to pass through now onto your shirt, paper, or whatever you’re printing on.
I got to come home with a kit of my own to use. I watched the instructional DVD, built my hinge press, turned our hall bathroom into a dark room with the light bulb they provided and very successfully made my first screen!
In a couple weeks I’ll show you what I actually ended up making, but for now, if you’re interested in buying your own starter kit for you or someone you know, visit the Ryonet DIY Print Shop.
**AND** if you want to WIN A KIT, go visit this post at Today’s Creative Blog. DIY Screen Print Kit Giveaway
So I want to know…have you tried screen printing before, or do you want to now?
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