How do I figure out exposure times?Updated 2 days ago

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 21-Step Exposure Calculator. How does it work? It's easy, just place the calculator on the screen, away from any design but still on the same side, make sure it's all got great contact with the screen, and then start an exposure cycle. Most of the emulsions and exposure units we carry have available recommended starting points for burning on our website. They can great a great baseline to start with on timing. Remember, it's a starting point. Depending on the our shop set up, you will have to adjust the time to find the perfect time for exposing that particular screen. 

Once the screen has been exposed, bring it to the washout booth in your dark room. Soak the screen in water in a dip tank or gently rinse it with a hose and let the water soak into it before using a pressure washer. Rinse the screen, and take a look at the calculator. The lucky number you want to hit is seven. If you've hit the seventh mark, it means you're screen is perfectly exposed! If you can wash out past the seventh mark, the screen is under-exposed. If it stops washing out before the seventh mark, the screen is over-exposed. 

Off by a few steps? No worries. The exposure calculator has a handy table that shares how you should adjust your time based off what step you had reached. Grab a new screen, make the time adjustments recommended, expose, and bring it back to the washout booth - hopefully you get a perfect burn on your second try! If you don't, keep adjusting, up in time if it's washing out, down if it's not.