by Crimethinc. Workers' Collective
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You might have to make a negative of the image. Some self-serve photocopiers have this function; if not, ask the people behind the counter at a photocopy shop to do it.
Basically, whatever is black on your starting image will be the printing area on your finished screen. Whatever is black will be ink.
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Preparing an Image
You can get straps and plastic
latches for clothes and bags free off
shopping carts that feature seatbelts
for children.
You need to consider what color ink you will use on what color fabric or paper before determining whether the image should be printed or should be formed out of negative space. It is very important to get this right, especially when dealing with pictures.
Next, make a transparency of the image?^you might have to ask for help from the people behind the counter again. Make sure the black parts are dark. For larger designs, you may need to tape two or more transparencies together; if so, be precise.
Making a Screen
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16.3
Screenpr'mting 45^
This is a job for two. Acquire a frame. You could buy one already made, but what are
l^J you, a consumer? Reuse old frames, cutting canvas off
them if need be, or dumpster wood that you can cut to size. Worst-case scenario, buy wood at a hardware store or lumber yard, and have them cut it for you. Miter the corners by cutting the ends at 45-degree angles (figure 16.i). This will make a super-sturdy frame.
Staple the frame together on every side that you can. Try to do this on a level surface: the frame must lay totally flat. Stretch the screen mesh over the frame. You will need approximately two inches extra to work with on every edge, so keep that in mind while cutting. Have one person stretch and the other staple. I have found the best way to staple is by stapling alternating sides {figure 16.2). This enables you to stretch the screen evenly. Put in one staple every inch and a half or so the first time around. Leave the corners for last. You should stretch it so tight your fingers start to hurt. Once you've stapled around the frame once, go around a second time. This time, stretch the screen tight between every two staples with your thumb, pointer, and middle fingers, and add another staple {figure 16.3). Last, stretch and staple the corners. Feel the screen; it should feel tight with no bumps or slack. Wherever these appear, repeat stretching and stapling.
When the screen is totally stretched, you can trim the extra mesh around the edges, but leave at least 1/4" from the staples so the screen won't tear.
Prepare a darkroom. It needs to be pretty dark, but a crack of light here or there is all right. 1 use my closet. Set up the fan in the darkroom so that it can blow on your screen when you put it in there.
This next step you can do with the lights on, but you must work quickly because the mixture you are about to make will become hght-sensitive as soon as it starts drying. For screens sized to print one or two shirts at a time, mix 4 tablespoons of photo emulsion and I tablespoon of sensitizer in the bowl. For larger, smaller or multiple screens, you judge how much emulsion you will need?the ratio of emulsion to sensitizer will always be 4 to I. Make sure the emulsion is well mixed. Apply the emulsion to the screen with a spoon and squeegee (figure 16.4). It will be messy. Squeegee the firont and the back of the screen evenly. Go over it repeatedly to work the emulsion into and through the screen. Find a balance between too thick and too thin?this will come with practice. Try to prevent the emulsion from seeping under the frame; if it does, it will drip down later. You can leave the edges bare and cover them with masking or packing tape later, if you like.
Lean the screen against a wall in the darkroom to dry, with the fan blowing on it. Leave the room with as little light exposure as possible, and wait about 15 to 25 minutes before flipping the screen to dry the other side. In another 15 to 25 minutes, carefully feel the screen to see if it is dry. If it is wet anywhere, wait longer.
Applying Photo Emulsion
16.4
Setting Up Your Light
While the screen is drying in the darkroom, set up your lamps. Set these up so that the
