Equipment/Screenprinting - Revision history

Jkbr: /* Summary */

2020-01-19T18:57:02Z

‎Summary

Jkbr: /* Owners */ Removed owners who have left Makespace

2020-01-19T18:24:53Z

‎Owners: Removed owners who have left Makespace

Jkbr: /* Equipment */ Update

2020-01-19T18:24:20Z

‎Equipment: Update

Jkb: /* Wishlist / Ongoing issues */

2018-06-21T19:02:13Z

‎Wishlist / Ongoing issues

Jo dkbt: /* Equipment */

2016-08-30T14:51:05Z

‎Equipment

Jo dkbt: /* Care of personal items and shared equipment */

2016-08-30T14:50:35Z

‎Care of personal items and shared equipment

Jo dkbt: /* Summary */

2016-05-04T15:09:35Z

‎Summary

Jo dkbt: /* Wishlist / Ongoing issues */

2016-01-14T14:26:18Z

‎Wishlist / Ongoing issues

Jo dkbt: /* Main steps in the screenprinting process */

2016-01-13T23:17:37Z

‎Main steps in the screenprinting process

Jo dkbt: /* Safety */

2016-01-13T22:47:53Z

‎Safety

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 == Summary ==
-Screenprinting is a manual printing technique using liquid ink and a stencil to create permanent images on sheets of paper, card or fabric or pre-existing items such as t-shirts and cotton shopping bags. Due to the amount of work required for set-up before and clean-up after printing, the process is most suitable for printing multiple identical items in one session such as a set of t-shirts or posters.
+Screenprinting is a manual printing technique using liquid ink and a stencil to create permanent images on flat absorbent materials or items.
 A screen is a frame with a fine polyester mesh stretched across it which carries a stencil. The printing process applies liquid ink/paint in one colour at a time using a squeegee. The stencil on the screen-mesh works in a similar way to stencils in other art processes: some areas of the screen are left open and others are blocked.  This determines where ink is deposited onto the piece and thus creates a design or image. The result is a thin film of ink applied to the workpiece.
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 Makespace supports non-photographic waterbased screenprinting on paper, fabric and other materials up to A2 size.
-Now commissioned and available for use.  Please read through the wiki and see Training below for videos and book available at Makespace.
+This is orange equipment because we recommended reading through these instructions before starting a session.  This will improve the results you get and help us maintain the shared equipment through proper usage and cleaning.
 === Making stencils ===

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 == Owners ==
 * Jo Brook
 == Training ==

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 * Hinge clamps to hold screen during session
 * Reversible bed with:
-** Hinged platen for printing larger t-shirts, tote bags etc. (Pull t-shirt over platen to stop ink printing through to the back layer)
+** Flat surface for printing onto paper and other single-layer materials and smaller items such as tote bags and t-shirts smaller than XL.
-** Flat surface for printing onto paper and other single-layer materials
+** Hinged platen for printing larger (XL+) t-shirts (pull t-shirt over platen to stop ink printing through to the back layer)
 '''Print-drying rack''' 20 spring-loaded A2 wire shelves
-'''Plan chest''' A1 primarily for storage of papers and flat items. Currently in use for screen-drying until a dedicated rack is constructed.
+'''Plan chest''' A1 primarily for storage of papers, stock and temporary storage for personal screenrprinting projects.
 '''Screens'''
 outer w x h (max printable area w x h)
 Thread-count: Approximately 28T
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 '''Squeegees'''
+Communal blank screens for use with temporary paper or vinyl stencils:
 {|
 |-
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 | [[File:Squeegee blades squareprofile.jpg|200px|right|alt text]]
 |}
 '''Washout'''
 *Shower attachment for tap (kept in or under sink)
 '''Other small tools:'''
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 '''Protective clothing:'''
-* Printer's aprons (2)
+* Printer's aprons
 == Stock ==

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 == Wishlist / Ongoing issues ==
 '''Workbench, drying area and storage'''
-* Adjustable-height bench
 * Vertical drying rack to store screens and keep them off the dusty floor
 e.g., like this at London Createspace:
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 '''Photographic stencil creation'''
-This would need:
+After many discussions over the last few years we have decided we cannot run any kind of darkroom on the current site at Mill Lane due to many practical issues and the terms of our tenancy.
 * Mini-darkroom area for exposing screens -- could maybe be tent/pop-up
 * Lightsafe, undisturbed space/cupboard for storing multiple emulsion-coated screens overnight to dry -- cannot be pop-up
 * Exposure unit or lamp.  Photo-cube lamps could work if daylight colour-temperature (5000K) bulbs are replaced.

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 '''Washout'''
-*Shower attachment for tap
+*Shower attachment for tap (kept in or under sink)
 '''Other small tools:'''

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 * Screenprinting ink will stain clothes, since it is designed to dye fabric permanently. So wear an apron while printing and pay attention to stray bits of ink, wiping hands and equipment with tissue paper if needed during the session.
 * Ink is liquid so work with care not to let splashes of it get onto other people's work. This applies especially when washing the screen out as the diluted ink can still stain and is more likely to splash than when the ink is in its print thickness.
-* Wash out the screen immediately after the last item has been printed. Waterbased ink starts drying into the screen as soon as you are not actively printing to force new ink through the mesh. Dried-in acrylic ink forms a plastic material which cannot be washed out and which blocks the holes in the mesh, rendering the screen unusable. Prompt washout will help remove as much ink as possible which will help shared screens to be ready for the next user.
+* Wash out the screen immediately after the last item has been printed. There is a shower attachment which can be put onto the tap.  Waterbased ink starts drying into the screen as soon as you are not actively printing to force new ink through the mesh. Dried-in acrylic ink forms a plastic material which cannot be washed out and which blocks the holes in the mesh, rendering the screen unusable. Prompt washout will help remove as much ink as possible which will help shared screens to be ready for the next user.
 == House Rules ==

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 A screen is a frame with a fine polyester mesh stretched across it which carries a stencil. The printing process applies liquid ink/paint in one colour at a time using a squeegee. The stencil on the screen-mesh works in a similar way to stencils in other art processes: some areas of the screen are left open and others are blocked.  This determines where ink is deposited onto the piece and thus creates a design or image. The result is a thin film of ink applied to the workpiece.
-Makespace supports waterbased screenprinting on paper, fabric and other materials up to A2 size.
+Makespace supports non-photographic waterbased screenprinting on paper, fabric and other materials up to A2 size.
 Now commissioned and available for use.  Please read through the wiki and see Training below for videos and book available at Makespace.
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 At Makespace we support vinyl and paper stencils. Vinyl stencils can be made on the vinyl cutter. Paper stencils can be cut with scissors or craft knives or on the laser cutter, if you are already trained on it.
-You will probably need to try different types of stencil to work out which kind of stencil works best for your design.
+You will probably need to try different scales and types of stencil to work out which kind of stencil works best for your design.
 Factors include the level of detail in the design and whether there are any 'islands' such as the inside of a letter 'o'.
-Note: We do not currently support photographic methods at Makespace due to lack of a darkroom and lightsafe storage area. It is possible to create photographic stencils at home and bring the finished screen in to print with at Makespace.
+Note: '''We do not currently support photographic methods at Makespace''' due to lack of a darkroom and lightsafe storage area. The current area is suitable for learning basic handprinting technique and smallscale craft and hobbyist printing.
 But please do not take Makespace screens away from Makespace.
 === Main steps in the screenprinting process ===

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 # Print things.  More details for printing on [[ScreenprintingOnFabric|fabric]] and [[ScreenprintingOnPaper|paper/non-fabric]]
 # Clean up: Reclaim ink where possible then clean screens and tools immediately. Wash ink from hands afterwards.
 # Pay for any Makespace materials used (ink, all paper including test prints, cotton bags etc.)
 # Fabric only: Once ink has dried, heat-fix any prints using the iron or heatpress
 For more details follow the links above or see section on '''Training''' below.

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 * The drawers in the plan chest are heavy and can be pulled all the way out of the chest.  Be careful and pull them out slowly and not beyond around half way.
 * After cleaning ink from the equipment also wash it off your hands and skin. If you print regularly the pigments in the ink may cause skin irritation if not removed.
-* After washout, mop up any water left on the floor using the mops near the sink to avoid the main pathway through the space from becoming slippery.
+* After washing up the equipment, ensure that the floor is not slippery by mopping up any water using the mops next to the sink. This is particularly important as the sink is on the busy main pathway through the space and to the secure workshop.
 ===Care of personal items and shared equipment===