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Screen Printing: What Is It?
No, it’s not what happens when you press ‘PRTSCRN’ on your keyboard, but nice try. Screen printing is actually a very versatile method for printing designs onto a number of different surfaces. The technique involves pushing ink or dye through a stencil mesh, or ‘screen’, onto the printing surface. It’s also known as silkscreen or serigraphy. The key advantages of screen printing over lithography are that the printing surface doesn’t have to be flat and doesn’t have to be put under pressure.
The Development of Screen Printing
Screen printing techniques originated in the Far East in the middle-ages where first human hair and later silk was used as the mesh through which ink is pressed (hence the name silkscreen). Europeans were very slow to pick up screen printing methods, mainly due to the limited availability of silk. It wasn’t until the eighteenth century, when trade links with the East improved dramatically, that screen printing became popular.
Screen printing was originally used in Britain for making wallpaper and printing designs on fine fabrics. With the development of the photograph, screen printers soon harnessed the technology to create photo-quality stencils. By now the silk had been replaced by synthetic meshes in which the stencil could be embedded and artists discovered the convenience of screen printing for easily reproducing their work. Later Andy Warhol would make screen printing famous with his garish prints of celebrities.
Today screen printing techniques are combined with digital technology for multifarious uses. These include T-shirt printing which can be done at unsurpassed rates using screen printing; DVD, CD, label and snow/surfboard printing; electronic circuit board and even semi-conductor printing for the manufacture of PV solar cells.
Screen Printing vs. Litho Printing
The pros and cons of screen printing against litho printing break down as follows:
Pros of Screen Printing
- Can be used on uneven and delicate surfaces
- Can be used on fabrics and adapted to other materials
- Equipment is cheaper to obtain
- Greater detail in photographic reproductions
Cons of Screen Printing
- Much more expensive than litho for high volume printing on paper
Screen Printing Companies
Many UK companies offer screen printing, mostly for fabrics but many other applications too. If you require screen printing compare several suppliers as costs vary wildly. Also, request samples of work where possible to assess quality.
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