'Can the ScreenMaster mesh be
re-used after a design has been imaged onto it? if so, how many times? how do
you clean them and/or care for them to get longer use?'
The design can not be taken off the screen
and the actual mesh re-used like traditional silk mesh, however the screen
can be removed from the frame, stored and re-used later.
This gives you the added benefit over
traditional silk in that your costs for creating the screen are not then
wasted if you have to reuse the screen for a different design.
Screens are cleaned in cold tap water and
then dry naturally. You can store them on the frame, off the frame rolled
up or off the frame stored flat [in a folder]
How
detailed can the artwork get? how does it handle lettering?
RISO ScreenMaster 70Mesh will image 6pt type and 1pt
lines, plus half tones.
Fine quality is not an issue as you can't go too fine
onto fabrics as you will lose the design in the weave of the fabric.
Personally I don't like going below 14pt type as it just
is too small and no one can read it from any distance - not many people
get that up close and personal with your t-shirt!
Yes screens are easily cleaned and stored for
later use.
You can either leave the screen on the frame
or take it off and reuse the frame, storing the screen in a folder [or in a
tube]. This means if you only print 200, you can
store it and print another 200 next week/ month/ year.
Screens will store indefinitely as long as
they are stored correctly - away from heat.
Another enquiry is cleaning
solutions. I've never screen printed before. So each time I use a mesh stencil
and set it up for a new shirt, do I have to clean it with a solution? If so is
the solution environmentally friendly...as in if I'm in a hurry can I just toss
it out my garage window into the garden without frying plants and flowers?
No, no, no - we don't touch ANY solvents or
chemicals with this process, in either making the screen or cleaning.
The ScreenMaster mesh is supplied with the
thermal film already coated on the back of the screen.
When we image the screen we burn away the film
to expose the design.
When we have finished with the screen you can
not get rid of the design, but you can of course clean it and store it for
later use.
The advantage we have is you can take the
screen on/off the frame so you can reuse the frame for another screen.
Inks are all water based so everything is just
washed up in cold water in the sink - no hi-pressure hosing or washouts.
If you are in a hurry you clean the excess ink
off the screen and throw the frame into a tub of water [where it can sit for
ages] and this will stop the ink from drying in the holes and blocking the
screen. If you are in a hurry and don't want the screen again then of
course just bin it.
Screen printing technique
