Textile screen printing, my new hobby
I got into textile screen printing a few months ago and devoured a really clear article that finally made me understand the technique. The principle is simple: you push ink through a stencil stretched over a frame, but behind that apparent simplicity lies real craftsmanship.
To get started, you need a frame with a fine mesh, photosensitive emulsion, a squeegee and textile inks. You expose the screen to UV light through a film positive, rinse it, and the design appears in negative. This exposure step is the one that demands the most precision.
What I love about this technique is the result: intense, opaque colours, even on dark fabrics, and a durability that digital printing can't match. On the other hand, it's less suited to very small runs because of the preparation time.
My advice for starting out without breaking the bank: a basic kit costs around €150–400, and you can even use sunlight for exposure on a near-zero budget. Taking online courses also helps a lot to avoid costly mistakes.
Source: Pickles Graphic
To get started, you need a frame with a fine mesh, photosensitive emulsion, a squeegee and textile inks. You expose the screen to UV light through a film positive, rinse it, and the design appears in negative. This exposure step is the one that demands the most precision.
What I love about this technique is the result: intense, opaque colours, even on dark fabrics, and a durability that digital printing can't match. On the other hand, it's less suited to very small runs because of the preparation time.
My advice for starting out without breaking the bank: a basic kit costs around €150–400, and you can even use sunlight for exposure on a near-zero budget. Taking online courses also helps a lot to avoid costly mistakes.
Source: Pickles Graphic
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