I’m currently doing a screen printing course at Putney School of Art & Design and although I’ve posted about screen printing before, I’ve picked up a few tips that I thought might be worth sharing. Now that I’ve progressed into printing in multiple colours, this is a great way of making sure each colour is ‘in register’ (lined up) with the colours you’ve already printed. You set up as normal, but place a sheet of acetate over what you’re printing onto and create a hinge down one side using parcel tape.
(Another useful tip that you’ll notice I’ve done above is to affix a tiny piece of masking tape to each corner of your template just to hold it in place.)
Print as normal onto the acetate and then line up your print underneath so that the colours you’ve already printed, in this case the yellow background and large brown leaves, are positioned correctly in relation to the colour you’re about to print and have just printed onto the acetate, in this case the smaller red-brown leaves.
Once you’ve done this you need to make some place holders. Stick four layers of masking tape on top of each other lined up against a straight edge. Cut the length into three pieces and use these to mark one corner and the long edge of your print. This enables you to put down every subsequent print in exactly the same place.
Once you’ve got your print in the right place, you can remove the acetate by opening it at the hinge…
…and then you can print directly on the print underneath, safe in the knowledge that you can just fold the acetate back over to check the positioning on the next print.
This is colour three on a set of prints that will hopefully end up with five or six colours, so I’ll share some more picture s when they’re finished.
Further reading for the especially geeky:
- http://minimocha.blogspot.com/2011/12/screen-printing.html
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wogKeYH2wEE
- here’s one I made earlier :: screenprinting
- http://www.facebook.com/fpsad
Lovely screen print! Super simple x kat
Thanks for your comment, Katrina. I did go on to add more leaves in more colours, but I kept a couple at this stage, because I liked their simplicity. Happy New Year! x
I do love screen printing, I did quite a bit at Art College but sadly none since. Etching is also quite good as it varies the more prints you do making each one unique, and it’s a bit of a work out!
Heidi, You should definitely take it up again – it’s so much fun! I’ve never done etching, would definitely like to give it a try. I’m currently making my own ink stamps, which I’m guessing it a similar process?? Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment x
Love this… your leaf prints are so pretty! and great use of the colours. I’m doing a printmaking class at the moment but I’m yet to get to three colours 😉
Looks fun! – would you recommend the Putney School of Art & Design?
I’m thinking of doing a course, but they’re pricey, do you think it’s worth it? x
Jeni,
For what you get I think they’re very well priced compared to alternatives. I would definitely recommend them. The quality of not only the teaching, but your fellow students is incredible – you’ll learn so much just from being there. And get involved with the Friends too – great lectures. Get in quick once registration opens though, because they get booked up very quickly. Tell me how you get on!
Katie x