Silk Screening At Home

By Author: Peter Wendt
Total Articles: 34
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Silk screening at home is a fun and unique hobby that can even be turned into a small business. Silk screening can be applied to a wide variety of mediums including fabrics, wood and poster board. Create custom designed t-shirts and hoodies, decorate throw pillows and curtains, or spruce up a school project with silk screened posters. There are three primary methods of silk screening. Budget and design limitations will determine which methods is best for silk screening at home.

Silk Screening
Also called serigraphy, silk screening is a method of printing that utilizes woven mesh to support a specially designed ink-blocking stencil. The open areas of mesh formed by the stencil allow ink to transfer to the medium in the desired image or design. A squeegee is used to force the ink through the mesh to form the inked image on the medium- fabric, wood, paper etc.

Methods of Silk Screening at Home
Stenciling is the easiest and most affordable method of silk screening at home. This one-color method is ideal for letters and simple shapes and requires freezer paper, ink, tape, a squeegee and screen. Trace the ...
... desired image onto freezer paper and cut it out. Place the stencil under the screen and apply ink. Use a squeegee to distribute the ink. Remove the screen when done and allow the ink time to dry. Stenciling does allow for some versatility because a variety of stencils can be created and applied using different colors of ink.

Photo emulsion is the next step up as far as cost when silk screening at home. Photo emulsion is usually sold in a kit and allows for a photo copy of the design to be transferred onto a transparency. This method requires a printer (ink jet or laser) but the kit comes with everything else needed- transparency paper, photo emulsion, screen, squeeze and silk screen inks. Photo emulsion silk screening works in the same manner as stenciling but offers a wider range of image options including pictures and more intricate color designs.

Personal silk screening machines are the most costly form silk screening at home and require both a computer and ink-jet printer. This is the most versatile method of silk screening available. Designs are created on the computer and the screens can be used multiple times. Personal silk screening machines are also the easiest to operate and produce the least amount of mess.

Peter Wendt is a writer, researcher and small business owner in Austin, TX. He has a silk screening hobby, but depends on the professionals at http://fastkitpack.com to create branded shirts for his company.