Fundamentals of Textile Design 3(2+1)

Lesson 29: Printing methods

Screen Printing

Originally this technique was referred to as silk-screen printing because the screens were made of fine, strong silk threads. Now polyester, nylon and metal screens are available. Because the material has tiny spaces between the yarns in the weave, the dye is forced through these tiny spaces to form the design with the help of a rubber squeeze. The design is made on the screen with other than design area covered with a resist material that does not allow the dye to pass through. The prepared screen is placed flat on the fabric placed on the screen printing table and the dye is applied with the squeeze by two persons standing on either side of the screen table. Similar to block and roller printing, each screen is utilized to print only one colour of the design. This flat screen printing can be completely manual or mechanized. Screen printing is also done as that of roller printing where the flat screens are replaced with the roller on the machine. The chief advantages of screen printing are that the colours are brighter, cleaner than are possible with roller printing and the design repeat can be much larger.

It is possible to have designs consisting of squares, circles and ovals. On a knitted fabric, such as jersey, screen printing- flat and rotary, transfer printing is the only printing method that can be used.