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Printing directly onto ceramics i.e. Tiles

Once you have created your screen printing screen in the PRINT GOCCO you can screen print directly onto your materials.

Direct printing technique

Tile jig

Basic screen printing technique

Direct Screen Printing Technique

Create your Screen Printing Screen - Information on this process can be found in the Training section or to see details now - Click here . .

Once your screen is ready, you can begin to print directly onto your materials. The technique is the same as for normal fabric printing, however if you have never screen printed before - do not panic - here is a simple guide to have you printing in minutes.

Tile Jig

A simple jig should be used for all tile printing, such as the Ceramic Tile Jig [S-361] as this will provide a fast, easy, clean and well registered print.

A Tile Jig will hold your Screen Printing Screen and place it above your tile in the same position each time - ensuring each print is placed where you want it!

For one-off prints you can simple place the screen onto the item and perform a print, however once you perform the initial print the colour of the ink will limit your ability to register additional prints by hand.

Basic Screen Printing Technique

1. Once your screen is made, place the screen over some paper ready for a test print

2. Dip an ink knife [wooden or plastic] into the ink and laden the squeegee blade with the ink ready to commence printing

Laden by placing the ink knife against the blade and holding the squeegee still, pull the ink knife downwards - the blade of the squeegee will ‘scrape’ the ink off the ink knife

You can also put the ink directly onto the screen

3. Place sufficient ink onto the blade with an ink knife – about double your normal toothpaste amount [6 to 7mm thick]

4. Lower the squeegee angle to transfer the ink onto the screen and then bring the angle back up ready to print

5. Pull the squeegee across the screen at an angle of approx. 70 degrees

6. Raise the squeegee angle up to 90 degrees to ‘pick up’ the ink and remove from the screen

7. Place the squeegee on some scrap paper and lift your frame in a hinge motion to reveal your print  A hinge motion is used to avoid smudging/ blurring the print [hold the frame on one side] If the print is too light you can lower the frame and print again

Your squeegee should be at approx. 70 degrees and move freely across the screen

  If too much ink is flowing off the outside edges and the print is blurred or heavy, then you are pressing too hard

Once you commence printing you will quickly determine the correct level of pressure and squeegee angle that suits - the prints will tell you what you are doing wrong

Prints too dark, blurred, smudged or not a clear image = pressure too great and squeegee angle too low Prints too light, not a clear image = pressure too light, squeegee angle too high or not enough ink on the squeegee