How do I make a photo emulsion?

How do I make a photo emulsion?

The general idea: After stretching fine-mesh cloth over a wooden frame, you spread a thin layer of photosensitive emulsion on the screen and let it dry. You then take a black image on transparent or translucent surface, place it against the screen, and then expose the screen to light.

What is screen printing emulsion made of?

In screen printing, there are three different types of emulsions, based on the photosensitizers used. Diazo is so-called because it contains benzene diazonium; SBQ-based emulsions make use of Styryl Basolium Quaternary; dual-cure emulsions contain both diazo and SBQ.

What is the photosensitive media used to prepare the screen?

Photo emulsion: A light sensitive chemical that is applied to a screen and used to expose an image onto the screen. Scoop coater: A metal trough used to apply a smooth, even coat of emulsion to an open silkscreen before exposing the image onto the screen.

How do you mix emulsion and sensitizer for screen printing?

The mixing ratio is 10 parts emulsion : 1 part diazo liquid (approximate is okay). Moreover the diazo sensitizer always comes in powder from. You should use warm water to dissolve the powder first.

Do you have to use photo emulsion for screen printing?

Having the right screen printing supplies is vital for a good t-shirt print. Choose either a liquid emulsion (photopolymer, dual-cure or diazo) or emulsion sheet (capillary film) based on your exposure unit and the properties you want (level of detail, exposure time and/or latitude).

What material can be used for screen printing?

Fabric and paper are the most commonly screen printed surfaces, although wood, glass, perspex and metal are also options. Screen printing is favoured as a printing method due to the tactile nature of the resulting print and the saturated colours that it creates with ink.

What is the best material to use for screen printing?

Cotton fabrics Natural fabrics are the ultimate choice for screen printing, as they tend to absorb the ink more readily than man-made fabrics do. Cotton and cotton blends are the most popular choice for most printers and customers as they are soft and permeable, and organic cotton can be even softer again.

How do you apply photo emulsion to a screen?

Make sure you have a dimly lit area to apply the photo emulsion sheet to the screen and a dark location to let it dry before you get started. The photo emulsion sheets are light sensitive so time is of the essence for this part. Using the spray bottle, wet the back of the screen as evenly as you can.

How do you print screen with acetate sheets?

Pro-Tip: To make sure you get a good image on the screen, print two acetate sheets and tape them together to get the ink opaque enough. Take out your screen, carefully pick the corner of the plastic carry sheet up from the emulsion and slowly peel it off.

How do you make a speedball photo emulsion?

Follow the directions listed for your photo emulsion. For the Speedball photo emulsion I’m using here: Fill Diazo Sensitizer bottle 3/4 full with cold water. Shake well. (The sensitizer was a black sludge on the bottom of the bottle, so mixing it thoroughly required lots of shaking and stirring with a chopstick.)

How does water soluble emulsion work on a computer screen?

Where the light is blocked (ie where your black image is placed) the emulsion remains water-soluble. After exposing the screen, you spray down the screen with water, washing off the emulsion only where your image was placed; this clear area is where ink will be pressed through the screen when you print.