Wednesday, May 11, 2016

To Understand Screen Printing Maryland Is Worth Visiting

By Dennis Bell


Screen printing refers to a printing technique that employs a mesh to transfer ink onto substrates except in regions in which blocking stencil is applied to make ink impermeable. A squeegee or blade is moved across the screen filling ink into open mesh apertures. Passing a reverse stroke causes the mesh to momentarily touch the screens along some line of contact. The ink touches the wet substrate to print. When in need of screen printing Maryland is the location to visit.

This technique is also known by other names. Some of them include screen serigraphy, silk-screen, and serigraph printing. Both singular and multiple colors can be printed using this method. In case of multiple colors, a single color has to be printed at a time and multiple screens need to be used.

Before polyester mesh was invented, this process was predominantly done using silk. That is why names like silk-screen are used to refer to it. Synthetic threads have been adopted more in the screen printing process. However, meshes made of polyester are the most commonly used ones. The final appearance, design, and outcome of the finished work depend on the mesh size used because there are different sizes.

The Song Dynasty in Ancient China was where the first recognizable form of silk-screen appeared. This happened around 960 and 1279 AD. Other Asian countries like Japan later adapted the method and newer techniques were invented. Introduction into Western Europe occurred in the later eighteenth century. However, it was not used largely till when silk became widely available for trade from Asia.

Andy Warhol is often credited with making this process popular as an artistic technique. Other individuals who took part in the popularization efforts by producing pieces that made it to the international level include Michel Caza and Sister Mary Corita Kent. In 1960, Michael Vasilantone created the machine that was capable of multicolor screen printing. The patent for the invention was awarded to him in 1960 after applying for it in 1967, two years earlier and nine years after the discovery.

There are many advantage associated with this method. First, modern automatic presses allow for the rapid production of large quantities. Currently, up to 1800 shirts can be produced with a period of one hour. The speed loading record is at 1805 shirts in an hour. The world record speed is four times greater that the typical average speed for manual loading.

In comparison to traditional printing methods, silk-screen is more versatile. Surfaces do not need to be planar. Also, unlike lithography or etching surfaces do not have to be printed under pressure. Various materials can be printed including plastic, metal, glass, paper, textiles, wood, and ceramics. Different inks can be used for each of the materials.

This technique is applicable on a wide range of materials, an attribute that makes it very useful in various industries. Examples of industries that use it are those that make medical devices, textile fabric, decals, clothing, thick film technology, snowboard graphics, and balloons. Additional industries are signs and displays, printed electronics, and product labels.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment