sop screen printing
TRANSCRIPT
SOPScreenPrinting
Trainingisrequiredbeforeusingthisequipment.
Reservationsarerequiredwhenusingthisequipment.
NISUSESWATERBASEDINKSANDCLEANINGPRODUCTS
ScreenPrintPricing
ScreenRental
21”x28” $7.00perscreenfor2weeks
23”x31” $9.00perscreenfor2weeks
4”x6” $3.00perscreenfor2weeks
Markyourscreenbywritingyournameandtoday’sdateonapieceofmaskingtapeandadheringittotheshortsideofthescreenframeedgesoitisvisiblewhenstored.TransparencyFilm–0.25₵perlinearinch
Transparencyfilmissoldbythelinearinch.Youarepayingforthenumberoflinearinchesyouremovefromtheroll,notthewidth.Besuretoorientyourimage(s)alongthewidthofthetransparencyinordertousetheleastamountoftransparencyaspossible.Your artboard (in illustrator) should always be 17” wide as that is the width of thetransparency.WaterBasedInk
Basecolor$1.50perounce
Customcolor $1.50perounce
Basecolorsareusedstraightoutofthecontainer.Todeterminehowmuchinkyouwillusefirstweightheentirecontainerandwriteitdown.Whenyouhavecompletedyourprintjobforthedayweighthecontaineragainandpayforthedifference.Customcolorsareyourstokeepforever.Mixyourcolorinastudiosuppliedcontainerandweighyourcustomcolorbeforeyoustartyourproject.Youpayforandtakehomealltheinkyoucustommix.
NIScarriesavarietyoftshirtsinavarietyofcolors.SeeNISstaffforspecifics.
CHEMICALS
PhotoEmulsion:
Alightsensitiveliquidthatisappliedtoacleanscreen.Whenunexposedtolightouremulsionisanarmygreenorbrowncolor.Whenexposedtolightitturnsviolet.Emulsionhasanapproximate1.5hourdrytimebeforeitcanbeusedtoexposeyourimage. Makesuretocleantoplip&sealcontainertightlyandstoreinrefrigerator.
EmulsionRemover:
Achemicalthatremovesthephotoemulsionfromyourscreensoyoucanreclaimthescreen.Toreclaimyourscreen:Spraybothsidesofyourscreenwithemulsionremoverandallowtheremovertositonthescreenfor1minute.ScrubthescreenlightlywithScotchbriteandusethepowerwasherwithCOLDwatertoremovetheemulsion.Aimthepowerwasher4-8inchesawayfromyourscreen.
AdhesiveSpray:Thissprayisappliedtotheplatenandwillhelptoalignyourregistrantaswellasadhereyourmediatotheplatensothatitdoesnotmoveduringtheinkingprocess.
Ink: NISpurchaseswaterbasedinksinavarietyofcolors.
Fornon-customcolors(inkuseddirectlyoutofthecontainer)youpayforwhatyouuse.Forcustommixedcolorsyoupayforwhatyoumix.
ScreenCleaner:
Emulsionremoverisusedwhenyouarereclaimingyourscreenorwhenyouneedtoperformadeepcleanonascreenyouareabouttouse.Placethescreeninthewashstationandspraythescreenliberallywithemulsionremover.Usingascotchbritepadscrubthescreenlightlyuntilyouhaveremovedasmuchinkanddirtaspossible.Rinseyourscreenusingthepowerwasher.
TOOLSANDEQUIPMENTScoopCoaters:
Scoopcoatersaremetaltraysthatdipsensetheemulsionwhencoatingyourscreens.Wesaveallunusedemulsionbyscooping/placingitbackinthecontainer.Makesuretorinseoutthescoopcoater,squeegeesandspatulaswellafteryouarefinishedcoatingyourscreens.WehavemultiplesizesofscoopcoatersatNIS.Choosewhichoneworksthebestforyourimage.
Squeegees: Squeegeesareusedforapplyingyourink.We
havevarioussizes,typesandrigidityavailable.Chooseasqueegeethatwillfullycoverthestencilpartonyourexposedscreen-notnecessarilythewholescreen.
Screens:
NISprovides160meshscreensthatareavailableformemberstorentfor2weeksatatime.Seepricingguideformoredetails.
ExposureUnit: Wehavea32”x48”vacuumexposuretable
thatpullsyourscreentoyourfilmwhileexposing.Thereare3switchesontherightsideofthetablethatcontrolthevacuum,lightandmainpower.MakesurethelightandvacuumswitchesareintheonpositionbeforeturningtheMasterswitchon.Thestandardexposuretimeis5minutes.
DryingCabinet:Whenscreenshavebeencoatedwithemulsiontheymustcureinthedryingcabinetforapproximately1to2hours.Alwaysplaceyourscreenonthemostbottomrackandwellsideupsoyouremulsioniscontained.Youremulsionmustbecompletelydrybeforeburningyourimage.
DryingRack:
Afteryouhavecleanedtheemulsionoutofyourimagewiththepressurewashertorevealyourimage,orhavereclaimedyourscreen,youwillneedtoplaceyourscreentodryonourrackbesidethewash-outbooth.Alwaysplaceyourwetscreenonthelowestrung.Youmayneedtomoveotherscreenstocreatespace.
PressureWasher&WashoutBooth:Ourpressurewasher&washoutbootharelocatedintheartstudio.Donotusesinkstowashoutscreens.Neverplaceanypartofyourbodyinfrontofthenozzleasseriousinjurieswilloccur.
EmulsionStation:
Inthedarkroomthereisadesignatedtablewithaslotforplacingscreenswhencoatingwithemulsion.
FourStationPress:
Thefourstationpresswillallowyoutoprintanywherefromsinglecolortofourcolorprints.Thepresswillallowyoutoadjustprintlocationsup,down,left,&right.Wehavetwosizesofplatensfordifferentsizeshirts.
FlashDryer:
Theflashdryerwillspeedupyourinkdryingprocesstoapproximately90seconds.Afteryourinkhasbeenapplied,placetheflashdryeroveryouritemandletitsetforbetween90and120seconds.Youwillthenbeabletosafelyremoveyourscreeneditemwithoutthepossibilityofruiningitduetowetink.
Step1: CREATINGYOURDESIGN
Thereareanumberofwaysthatyoucanimportafileorimagethatyouwanttoprint.
• CreateavectorfileusingAdobeIllustrator.• Importadesignfromotherdesignsoftware.• Importadesignfromtheinternet.• Mosttshirtimagesarelessthan10”wide.
-Your design must be solid black. If you want gray scale use half-tone and design it in photoshop.
Step2: PRINTINGYOURTRANSPARENCY
• PrintyourimageontheEpson4900LargeFormatPrinterusingthetransparencyroll.
• Yourimagecanbenowiderthan17”dueprintarealimitations.• Yourimagemustbeprintedinsolidblackink.Youwillselectyourfinalimagecolorusingthewaterbasedink.
• Youcandrawonatransparencywithasharpieorpaintaswellascutoutashapethatisopaqueenoughtoblockoutthelightwhenyouareexposingyourscreen
Step3: APPLYINGEMULSION
• Placeyourscreenintheslot,wellsideout
• Selectascoopcoaterthatfitsinsidethewellofthescreenandisslightlylargerthanyourimage.
• Removetheemulsionfromtherefrigerator.• Pouremulsionintothescoopcoater.• Allowtheemulsiontoleveloffinthescoopcoater.• Thescoopcoaterhasathickandathinmetaledgeoneachofthelongsides.Usethethinsidetoapplyyouremulsion.
• Restthethinsideofthescoopcoateragainstthebottomofthescreen.• Tipthescoopcoaterforwarduntiltheblackplasticedgesofthescoopcoaterarerestingagainstthescreen.
• Waitfortheemulsiontorunforwardandiscontactingthescreen.• Applyathinlayerofemulsiontothescreenbydraggingthescoopcoaterfromthebottomtothetopofthescreen,usingafluidandsteadymotion,applyingequalpressureduringtheentireprocess.
• Tiptheemulsioncoaterbacksoonlythemetaledgeisrestingonthescreenandremovethecoaterfromthescreen.
• Iftheapplicationisunevenorhasvoidsyoucanrepeatthisprocess.
• Ifthereistoomuchemulsiononthescreenyoucan“scrape”offtheexcessemulsionusingjustthemetaledge.Youmayneedtodothisonthefrontandbacksideofthescreentoachieveoptimalapplication.
• PlacethescreenwellsideupandinthelowestlocationintheDri-Cab.Youmayneedtomoveotherscreensuptocreatespaceforyourwetscreen.Makesurethedoorisfullyclosedandlatched.Turnonthecabinetifitisnotalreadyon.
• Usingaspatula,scrapeallunusedemulsionbackintotheemulsioncontainerandstorethecontainerinthefridge.
• Immediatelyrinsethescoopcoater,spatula,andanyothertoolsthatcameincontactwiththeemulsion.
• Rinsethesinkthoroughly.• Yourscreenwillneedtodryforupto2hours.
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Step4: EXPOSINGYOURIMAGE
Whenyourscreenisdryyouarereadytoexposeyourimageontoyourpreparedscreen.
• Placeyourprintedimagerightsideup,ontheexposureunit.
• Removeyouremulsioncoatedscreenfromthedri-cabandplacewellsideupontopofyourtransparency
• Whenusingthe4stationpressoraplatenitisbesttoalignyouimagejustbelowthecenterofthescreen.
• Yourimagemustfitintheemulsionarea.
• Lowerthelidoftheexposureunit.
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Thereare3switchesontheexposureunit:
• Thefarleftswitchisthemasterswitch.• Themiddleswitchisforthelights.• Thefarrightswitchisforthevacuum.
• Setthemiddleandtherightswitchestomanual.• FliptheMasterswitchto‘ON’• Exposeyourscreenfor5minutes
• TurnofftheMasterswitch,allowvacuumtoevacuate,liftthelidandremoveyourscreen.
The exposed area of your screen should now be purple. The un- exposed area (image area) should be yellow. If not, find an NIS staff member.
Step5: WASHINGOUTYOURSCREEN
• Rinsingyourscreenisacriticalstep.Ifyoudonotfollowthisprocedureasstatedyoumayruinthescreen.
• Placeyourscreeninthewashoutbooth.• TurnonthepressurewasherandtheCOLDwaterfaucet.• Holdthepressurewashernocloserthan12inchesfromyourscreen,pullandholdthetrigger.Movethewandinslowandconsistentmovements.Ifyougetcloserthan12inchesyouwilldamageyourimageandscreen.
• Yourscreeniscorrectlywashedoutwhenthereisnomoregreen/yellowemulsioninyourimageareaandyouseenothingbutclearmeshintheimagearea.Makesuretolookcloselyatallareasasevensmallamountsofemulsionleftinthescreenwillcreatefailuresduringprinting.
• Placeyourscreeninthelowestpositiononthedryingrackbymovingallotherscreensup.
Step6: SCREENREGISTRATION
• Therearemultiplewaysyoucanprintonyourdesiredobject• 4station4colorpress• Largeplatenboardwithhingedclamps
• Whenprintingsomething14”x16”orsmaller(t-shirt,bag,etc.)usethe4stationpress.
• Spraytheplatenboardwithalightmistofthefabricadhesivespray.
• Slideyourshirtovertheplatenandlineuptheneck,shoulderandsleevestitchlinessoyourshirtiscenteredandsquare.
• Pluginandturnontheflashdryer.• Usemaskingtapetosealtheareasaroundthescreenframewherethereisnoemulsion.Thiswillpreventinkbleedingthroughontoyourmedia.
• Placemaskingtapeacrossthescreenapproximately4”aboveandbelowyourimagetoassistwiththeinkapplicationlocation.
• Placeyourtransparencyonyourprintmediaatthelocationyouwanttoprint.
• Securethescreenintheclampswiththewellsideup.Adjustyourlefttorightpositiontolineupwithyourtransparencybeforetighteningclamps.
• Adjusttheplatenwiththelowerarmknobtomovetheplateninandoutsoitlinesupwithyourtransparency.Liftupontheplatenandtightenknobsothattheplatenwillbelevel.
• WEIGHTHEINKCONTAINERINOUNCESBEFOREPROCEEDING.Writetheweightdownonapieceofpaper.
• Forcustomcolorsyouwillpayforallinkmixed.Fornon-customcolorsyouwillpayforwhatyouused.
• Loweryourscreentothehalfwaypointandplaceyourdesiredinkcolorinalineaboveyourimageandjustbelowthetapelocatedaboveyourimage.
• Selectasqueegeethatisjustwiderthanyourdesign.• Placethesqueegeeata45°onyourscreenwiththeinkbetweenthesqueegeeandimage.Usingtwohands,applyequalpressureonthesqueegeeandpulltowardsyou,stoppingatthetapejustbelowyourimage.
• Flipyoursqueegeesotheedgewiththeinkisnowfacingawayfromyouandpushthesqueegeeawayfromyou.
• Formultipleprintsusethesqueegeetolayathickcoatofinkoveryourprintarea.Thiswillpreventthescreenfromdryingoutbetweenscreenings.
• Placeyoursqueegeeagainsttheframebracketandliftyourscreentochecktheinkapplication.Ifmoreinkapplicationisneeded,repeatthisprocess.
• Placetheflashdryernocloserthan6”aboveyourprintedimagefor90to120seconds.Theinkshouldbedrytothetouch.
• Whenyourprintisfinished,removeyourprojectfromtheplaten.Ifyouareprintingmultiplescontinueprintingtherestofyourprints
• Topermanentlysettheinkonatshirtorfabricitem,placeitinaclothesdryerfor20minutesonhighheatbeforewashing.
Step7: CLEANINGYOURSCREEN
• Scoopallexcessinkfromthescreenandplaceitbackintothecontainer.• Weightheinkcontaineragain.Documentthisnumberalongwiththeweightpriortoprinting.Youwillpaythedifference.
• Forcustomcolorsyoupayforalltheinkyoumixed.• Removealltapefromthescreen.• Wipeanyremainingexcessinkfromthescreenwithapapertowel.• Placescreeninwashstation.• Turnonpowerwasherandcoldwater.• Holdpressurewashernozzletwofeetfromscreenandremoveexcessink.Thiswillpreventexcessivesplashing.Whenmostoftheinkhasbeenremovedmovethenozzlenocloserthantwelveinchesfromthescreenandusingslowandsteadymotions,removingtheremainingink.Youmayneedtoflipthescreenandwashtheback.
• IfthereisalotofinkresidueremainingyoucanusetheBlueMacstainremover.Applyaconservativeamountdirectlytothescreenandscrublightlywithascotchbritepad.
• Rinseagainusingpowerwasher.• Placeyourscreenonthelowestrungofthedryingrack.Youmayneedtomoveotherscreensup.
• Rinsesqueegees,spatulas,andanyotheritemsyouusedinthesink.• Thoroughlyrinsethesink.• Thoroughlyrinseoutthewashstation.Clearthedrainbyremovingallchunksofink,emulsionandanyotherobjects.
• Turnoffthepowerwasherandthewater.Placethewashernozzleinthesinktodrainoffthewaterline.
Step8: RECLAIMINGYOURSCREEN
Screensarerentedfortwoweeksatatime.Attheendofthetwoweeksyoumayeitherrenewyourrentalorcontinuetousethescreenorreclaimyourscreenandreturnitforothermemberstouse.
Duringyourtwoweekrentalperiodyoumayreuseyourscreenwithyouroriginalimageasmanytimesasyouwish.
Duringyourtwoweekrentalperiodyoumayalsoapplynewimagestoyourscreen.Everynewimageapplicationrequiresa$2.00emulsionapplicationfeedueatthetimeofapplication.
Toreclaimyourscreen:
• Placeyourscreeninthewashoutbooth.• SpraybothsidesofyourscreenwithEmulsionRemoverandletitrestforoneminute.
• Lightlyscrubthescreenonbothsideswithascotchbritepad.• Turnonthecoldwaterandpowerwasher.• Holdthenozzlenocloserthan6”fromthescreen.• Usingveryslowandfluidupanddownmotions,sprayyourscreen.Yourspeediscorrectwhentheemulsionisbeingremovedinasinglepass.
• Re-applyemulsionremoverandsprayscreenuntilalltheemulsionhasbeenremoved.
• Someareasmaynotremoveeasily.Applymoreemulsionremover,BlueMacstainremover,andflipthescreenaroundsothatlargechunksofemulsionarebeingpushedoffthescreenratherthanthroughthescreen.
• Placeyourscreenonthelowestrungofthedryingrack.Youmayneedtomoveotherscreensup.
• Thoroughlyrinseoutthewashstation.Clearthedrainbyremovingallchunksofink,emulsionandanyotherobjects.
• Turnoffthepowerwasherandthewater.Placethewashernozzleinthesinktodrainoffthewaterline.
Step9: CLEANUP
• Wipedowninkbottlesandstoreincloset.• Cleanandputawayallsqueegees&spatulas.• Storeadhesivespray,maskingtape,tapemeasure,etc.onthescreenprintingcart.• Unplugandputawayflashdryerandextensioncord.• Wipedownworkareas.• Rinseoutsinkandwashstation.• Mopfloorandputupwetfloorsign.