Screen Printing Terms

Burning an Image

        The process of flashing a screen with a light to develop the image onto the screen

Light Table

        The table that has a Ultra-Violet light inside it to develop our image into the emulsion

Light-Tight Box

        A box that allows no light to enter.  Used for drying the emulsion onto the screen.

Media

        The material that we are working with

Platten

        The thing that we put the fabric on when we screen print our image

Printing Press

        The machine that we use to print our images with.  This machine holds the screen.

Screen

        The frame with mesh that is used to put the image onto a piece of media

Scoop Coater

        The device used to put emulsion onto the screen

Spatula

        The knife-like tool used to place ink onto a screen or taking ink off of a screen

Squeegee

    The rubber thing used in placing ink onto the fabric through the screen

Chemicals Used in Screen Printing

Degreaser

    Used to take the grease and other materials off of the screen

Emulsion

        --The stencil that is put onto the screen to print the image off with.  The emulsion is light-sensitive (especially when it is dry).

        --We use ChromaBlue from Chromaline Products for our emulsion

Emulsion Remover

        --The chemical that we use to remove the emulsion stencil

        --We use EasiWay SUPRA One Step Ink Cleaner and Emulsion Remover

Ink Degrader

        --Used to "break-down" the ink

        --We use CitraPaste from CCI to remove and degrade the inks

        --We may use Mineral Spirits or Paint Thinner to remove and degrade the inks

Plastisol Ink

        --A plastic-based ink that does not dry out until it is cured

        --We use International Coatings Plastisol Inks

Spray Mount Adhesive

        --An adhesive used for screen printing to place your media onto the platen

Toner Aide

        --A spray that helps to darken the printed image (this only works well with laser printed images)