Screen Printing & Letter Press

Prepare your artwork you have to have something to print out onto the
shirt, either created or printed image. The better quality artwork you have
the better the image on the short will be. You want to print one colour at
a time, if it is mulit coloured you need a way to separate those colours so
you can create different screens for your design. This could be done easily
by machines so many could be produced a day as it is preety simple. You
start screen printing by drawing out a design or making one digitally on the
computer. You then convert your image into a stencil like effect using
Photoshop or other similar programmes. You then use paper to trace the
outline of your stencil like image.
The sheet is then put onto a screen which is made from aluminium and wooden frames which is
stuck together with mesh. The frame must be in a dark room and only yellow filtered light is safe to
use. They then place the image onto the screen sticking it with mesh. They then prepare the presser
which consists of base that holds the printing pattern and a number of coloured arms. Depending on
how many
different colours you have effects the amount of coloured arms and stations. Then they press the
pattern down onto the screen. Once the pattern is compressed by the presser use the squeegee to
get rid of any spare liquid or ink. After they have done this they let the design dry for a bit and then
the process is complete the design should be printed onto the product. Screen printing can be a very
quick and inexpensive process if planed and perfected. For example you can you different presser
and screen designs for quick or larger patterns. However larger machines cost a lot more and use a
lot more resources











Advnatages
- Can print a variety of items
- Screen printing very useful commercially
- Can be cheap
Disadvantages
- Has to be a simple design otherwise image will look bad
- Can become warped and uneven
- Most hand stencils are vert fragile and break down faster than emulsion-based processes.
Cost
Screen printing can be cheap around 20 a colour, so the more colours you have then the more
expensive it will be
Equipment
For this you need woven mesh to support an ink-blocking stencil. A squeegee may also be needed
too, for forcing ink through the mesh.


Monoprint
Monoprint is a single impression of an image made from a reputable block. So for example a metal
plate used for etching, a litho stone or wood block. This is unlike most print making, where there are
multiple originals. Monoprints are known as the most painterly method among printmaking
techniques; which can be used to make monoprints. This is mainly used in art galleries and at homes.
Monoprinting isnt that expensive as it only requires wood and paint. Mono printing is a printing
method that only allows you to use it once. This is made up from lines and images this can be made
from wooden metal or plastic blocks. You then dip it into ink or paint and stamp it down to produce
your image
The cost of mono printing is to bad. Much like lino cutting, basic materials are needed. These include
paper, ink, a wooden block and a scalpel. The process of mono printing is slow as precision and time
is key to creating a good final product.
Advantages
- Looks good
- Clever detail
- Gives off a good image


Disadvantages
- Can only be used once
- A lot of skill and knowledge needed
- Can only use one colour everytime
Step by Step guide
- Craft your design out
- Prepare paper and dip template into ink
- Let ink dry and will be complete

Illustrative Examples



Cost
The cost of mono printing is to bad. Much like lino cutting, basic materials are needed. These include
paper, ink, a wooden block and a scalpel. The process of mono printing is slow as precision and time
is key to creating a good final product.
Equipment


You will need a block, metal plate used for itching and ink


Laser Printing
Laser printing is an electrostatic digital printing process that rapidly produces high quality text and
graphics by passing a laser beam over a charged drum to define a differentially charged image. The
drum then selectively collects charged toner and transfers the image to paper, which is then heated
to permanently fix the image. As with digital photocopiers and multifunction printers (MFPs),
laser printers employ a xerographic printing process, but differ from analogue photocopiers in that
the image is produced by the direct scanning of the medium across the printer's photoreceptor.
Hence, it proves to be a much faster process compared to the latter. Laser printing is used mainly in
homes and companies for basic printing and not many artists use it. The cost is quite cheap until
something tehnically goes wrong and needs to be fixed. Laser printing is one of the most detailed
printing you can get. This works from when an electrostatic laser beam shoots down at the charged
drum, the drum then collects the charged toner and burns the image onto the paper cutting into it
leaving the colour and graphics on the paper this is now the most common printing method.
Step by step
- Make sure printer has power
- Find picture of design and press print on file
- Printing tab should appear then select how much you want to print and what orientation
- Laser printer should start printing and then ready at the bottom.

Illustrative Examples







Advantages
- No erreros really occur
- No Human Error
- Very quick process
Disadvantages
- Specialised people needed to fix
- Expensive to run

Photocopy
A photocopier (also known as a copier or copy machine) is a machine that
makes paper copies of documents and other visual images quickly and cheaply. Most
current photocopiers use a technology called xerography, a dry process that uses
electrostatic charges on a light sensitive photoreceptor to first attract and
then transfer toner particles (a powder) onto paper in the form of an image.
Heat, pressure or a combination of both is then used to fuse the toner onto
the paper. (Copiers can also use other technologies such as ink jet, but
xerography is standard for office copying.) Used a lot in offices and schools.
Photocopying can be expensive in the machine itself but also ink and paper. Photocopying is
a very quick process and only takes a few seconds.



Illustrative examples




Step by step
- Switch machine on
- Lift scanning tray and scan document
- Close tray select how many copies
- Scans documents and copys to how many you said
Advantages
- Easy to use
- Good quality
- Very quick process
- Easy access
Disadvantages
- Machine can be expensive
- Running machine may be expensive
- General costs are hard

Stencil Printing


Stencil printing is quite simple, you can do it in multiple ways. You can either print out a
stencil image and cut it out correctly then spray paint over it to create the image onto the
paper, or you can make your own one and cut it out then spray over it. Stencil printing can
be used for clothes such as t shirts and hoodies. And it is also used a lot for basic art, or even
in spare time just for a bit of fun. Stencilling is used for identification, books and more. Its
preety simple how to do it.. heres a step by step guide. A great example of an artist who
does stencels is Banksy who is known for his stencil work



1. Recon

Generally, the application and use of your stencil will dictate what materials will be most
suitable. For example, for indoor work on walls or doors when you have all the time you
need, using adhesive contact may be used as it is easy to cut and prevents any underspray
from occurring as it is stuck completely flat against the surface (thus not needing tape or
anyone to hold the stencil too). However, for work on the streets when time and speed are
all important you will need to cut your stencil out of something more durable, such as a
medium weight cardboard which can just be held against the wall and sprayed through
quickly. Another good technique is to print out
or photocopy your stencil design and have it laminated. This will still be quite easy to cut
and they hold their shape surprisingly well


2. Construction



Once you know where you will be doing your stencil and you have an idea in mind, you need
to begin constructing your image either on paper or on the computer. When constructing
your image it is important to remember the fundamentals of a basic stencil, you cannot
have any enclosed white spaces or islands inside any black areas (because essentially these
black areas are what you will be cutting out).





3. Fortification

Now once you have your image on paper you can either glue it on to some thicker
cardboard with spray adhesive to make it more durable, or get your image laminated which
will serve the same purpose. What you will also find that after a number of sprays the
stencil will harden as the paint layers dry also strengthening your stencil.




4. Cutting



There are a number of things that can be used to cut out your stencil. Stanley knives,
boxcutters, razor blades and scissors can all be used, but in my experience the trusty exacto
knife is the most reliable and the best for achieving fine details. You hold these knives much
like a pencil at an angle of about 50 degrees, and always be careful as most blades for these
knives are extremely sharp. Also be sure to have adequate protection underneath your
stencil to avoid damaging whatever your cutting on

5. The Great Moment

Once you have finished cutting out all the details of your stencil you are ready for its
application. Traditionally with most street based stencils spray paint has been used as a
quick and economical means to apply the image to street walls. Try and use a quality matte
paint as it will last much longer and avoids any unwanted glare and reflections on your
stencil that can occur from using gloss based paints. When applying your stencil to the wall
or wherever you are going to spray it, make sure it is as flat against the surface as possible
to avoid underspray and keep your lines crisp.

Finally, try and remember that the best and most interesting works come about when the
image and its placement on the streets play together, with the architecture and image
communicating as one.








Illustrative Examples





Choose an image or make one yourself (print if necessary)
- Cut out image as precise as possible on the black areas to give precision and higher
quality.
- Once done place over anything you want to print onto.
- Spray over or dab with paint, your choice, in the required areas and you will have a
top quality stencil
Advantages
- It can be reused repeatedly and rapidly produce the same letters or design
- Easy to do
- Can be very cheap
- Doesnt take very long
Disadvantages
- It can be messy
- It can easily go wrong
- The more complicated the image, the harder it will be to cut.