Screen printing is an artisan technique that continues to provide unbeatable advantages.
Screen printing is an age-old printing technique, which allows to print on a range of different materials by using a mesh, without loosing quality despite repeated screen printing.
Screen printing is based on transferring ink by means of a tensioned mesh within a frame. This mesh, one for each colour, is previously worked using a varnish that prevents any ink from moving outside the intended printing area (like an offset colour plate). After which, for printing, ink is applied onto the tensioned mesh and pressure is exerted, in such a way that the mesh only prints onto the areas without varnish that allow the ink to pass through.
The main advantage in screen printing is that it allows to print on nearly any surface, from fabric to paper, through ceramic and metal. Silk-screen printing allows to reproduce works of art in exceedingly high quality, create signs, print on clothes, produce advertising awnings, manufacture transfer stickers, decorate bottles, etc.
The second advantage is that it allows for a wide range of touch effects and special finishes that cannot be obtained using any other technique: printing on dark backgrounds, weaves and degradation, metallic (foil), aged, reflective, embossed (high density, puff printing...), suede/leather feel (suede printing), flocking, glitter, frosting, sequins...
Silk-screen printing is a traditional artisan process, and despite there being automated equipment for helping in large runs, the steps to be followed essentially remain the same:
- Adjusting originals and making decisions regarding techniques and finishes.
- Pre-printing: separating colours and filming layouts, taking into account the characteristics of the fabric on which the image is to be printed (thickness, composition), the type of ink to be used, the alignment and the inclination pitch of the weaves, etc.
- Preparing the moulds / printing plates, one for each colour, made of wood or aluminium and polyester fabrics with different weave openings: stretching, degreasing and emulsifying, exposure, developing, retouching and blocking.
- Preparing colours: shade, intensity, viscosity, touch, opacity, etc. in the ink room. Checking the tinting strength and contrasts and corrections.
- Adjusting and assembling the plates in the silk-screen printer, adjusting the angles and pressures of the needles, loading the inks and running tests until achieving the required definition, texture, touch and coverage.
- Manual or automated printing, ink drying in oven.
Come and see us, we're in the centre of Barcelona (Eixample district).
We have offices and digital printing in Barcelona, and we do our offset printing outside the city, to always guarantee the best possible prices.
Do you need a reliable, fast and well-priced printing company?
We specialise in screen printing on a wide range of materials
Reasonable prices and fast delivery!
