Darkroom: Coating, Drying, Exposing, Reclaiming
What’s the difference between over and under exposure and why is that important?
Overexposure can cause a loss of image detail because portions of the design become too hardened to wash out. During washout, you'll notice that parts of the image won't open, resulting in missing details in your stencil. Underexposure can lead to a
What do I look for when getting an exposure unit?
Choosing the right exposure unit depends on your budget, the level of detail you plan to print, and your production needs. No matter which unit you choose, we recommend selecting one with LED light technology. LED exposure units provide faster, more
I'm a startup, DIY printer, what do you recommend for a light source?
Before choosing an exposure unit, it's helpful to understand the different types of light sources available and how they affect exposure times and stencil quality. Check out this blog to learn about the various bulb technologies and determine which o
Which emulsion should I use?
Choosing the right emulsion depends on your equipment, the inks you're printing with, your experience level, and your darkroom environment. What type of exposure unit do you have?. If you're using an exposure unit without a vacuum or one that uses mu
Why can't I burn my screens correctly?
Screens can be a major pain point for many screen printers. There are a lot of variables that can contribute to a "bad burn", and we'll break some of them down here. If you're having continued issues with burning your screens, and this guide doesn't
How do I figure out exposure times?
Exposure times can be the biggest puzzle for screen printers when they're first getting started. The good news? Once you've got it well dialed in, you won't have to think much about it ever again!. The best way to dial in your exposure unit is with a
How dry does a darkroom need to be?
Your darkroom should be kept as dry as possible to ensure consistent results. Ideally, the humidity should stay below 40%, with 20% or lower being even better. Unless you're using an inkjet direct-to-screen system, there is essentially no downside to
Why do I need a dehumidifier?
If your darkroom, the space where you dry and store coated screens, is too humid, the screens will not be dry enough to properly expose. Screens that are not correctly exposed will experience on-press breakdown of the emulsion and difficulty in recla
What's a hygrometer?
A hygrometer measures both relative humidity and temperature, making it one of the most valuable tools you can have in your darkroom. Monitoring these conditions helps ensure your emulsion dries properly and exposes consistently. Hygrometers are inex
How long do screens need to dry?
A freshly coated screen must be completely dry before it's exposed. Any moisture left in the emulsion can lead to inconsistent exposures and poor stencil quality. Drying time depends entirely on the conditions in your drying area. In a well-controlle
How do I dry a newly coated screen?
For the fastest and most consistent drying, your drying area should have:. The combination of warm air, constant airflow, and low humidity helps moisture evaporate from the emulsion quickly and evenly, ensuring your screens are completely dry before
What's the best way to rinse out a screen?
After exposing your screen and removing the film positive, place the screen in a washout booth or sink in your darkroom. Using a gentle shower-style spray, thoroughly wet both sides of the screen. Allow the emulsion to soften for 10–30 seconds (longe
Do I need to have a pressure washer?
When you're just getting started with screen printing, it's common to buy only the equipment you need to make it work. As you gain experience, you'll discover there are countless tools and upgrades that promise to improve your process. But are they a
How long does it take for a screen to dry in the Screen Room Drying Cabinet?
While the Screen Room Drying Cabinet is an amazing tool for quickly drying screens, it is bringing in air from outside the box. If the air outside the box is humid or full of moisture, it will be difficult for the coated screen to evaporate even insi
Is a dunk tank worth it?
Reclaiming screens doesn't have to mean endless scrubbing, aching muscles, and hours in the washout booth. With the right tools and process, you can turn one of the most time-consuming jobs in the shop into one of the easiest. The Dunk Tank (also kno
How do you use a dunk tank?
Using a Dunk Tank couldn't be easier. Fill the tank with 27 gallons of water and 3 gallons of emulsion stripper, then place up to six screens inside to soak for a few minutes. Once they're ready, remove the screens and rinse them with a pressure wash
How do you reclaim screens?
Reclaiming a screen is completed in just a few easy steps. It's important that all steps are followed though, and will set you up the best foundation for getting a good, clean, accurate stencil with your emulsion. Screens that are not reclaimed or 'p
How can I prevent pinholes and fisheyes?
Having trouble with pesky pinholes or fisheyes in your emulsion? We've got a few solutions for that. To learn more about preventing pinholes, watch this video.
How do you align films on a screen without a template?
You don't have to have a template to align your films, just good registration marks on your transparency, a t-square, and a sharpie. Depending on the screen you’re using, measure the width of the frame on the T-shirt side and mark the center point. I
How do you coat a screen with emulsion?
When you're coating screens, the first step is to make sure you're working in a light-safe area. Once you're ready, follow these steps:. Select the appropriate scoop coater. As a general rule, use a scoop coater that is about 2-4" shorter than the in
What does the round and sharp edges on a scoop coater do?
Most scoop coaters have two edges. One is more rounded, and can be used to create a slightly thicker layer of emulsion for more ink deposit onto your garment when printing. Thicker emulsion layers are useful when printing on sweatshirts and for other
What's the best way to make a screen for water-based printing?
Prepping a screen for water-based inks can be a little more tricky than plastisol. The print deposit is thinner, the ink dries on the screen over time, and the ink can potentially break down emulsion faster than plastisol ink would. Because of this,
How do you clean ink off of screens?
Because plastisol ink doesn't air-dry, it's relatively easy to clean from your screen, even if the screen has been sitting for a while. Start by carding off any excess ink and returning it to your container. Then, lay your screen flat and spray it wi
My print shop is in my home. How do I make an optimal darkroom in the space I have?
When you're working from home, you can set up a darkroom in a closet, bathroom, garage, or just about any other suitable space. No matter how much room you have, you'll want to plan for the same basic needs: humidity control, good air circulation, sc
What size squeegee and scoop coater should I use?
When you are choosing which squeegee and scoop coater to use with your frames, here is a tip to help you!. Scoop Coater -. It's recommend to always going with a scoop coater that's 4" less than the outside dims. So for the 20x24 screen frames, 16" wo