Prepress Screens

Mesh, stretching, stencils, exposure, and troubleshooting from soup to nuts.

Title	Author	Description
Capillary Film & Application Methods	Denise Breard	Denise describes the most common methods of mounting cap film.
Capillary Film Washout Troubleshooting	Denise Breard	Learn the causes and solutions to washout issues with cap film.
Exposure FAQs	Denise Breard	Denise answers common questions about exposure.
Fundamentals of Stencil Selection	Denise Breard	Learn about various stencil types, and how to select the most appropriate stencil for your process.
Getting the Most from your Direct Emulsions	Denise Breard	Optimize the durability of your stencil, along with improving resolution and reclaimability.
Mesh Preparation and Reclaiming	Denise Breard	Follow these simple steps for proper mesh preparation and reclaiming.
Screen-maker Responsibilities	Denise Breard	A guide to the skills, scope of knowledge, and capabilities you should be able to expect from your stencil technician.
Stencil Sawtooth Prevention	Denise Breard	Look at the underlying causes of stencil sawtooth, and learn methods of prevention.
Effective Use of the Exposure Calculator	Denise Breard	Clear instructions on using the Color Change Method of reading the Exposure Calculator.
Winning the War Against Screen Breakdown	Denise Breard	Highlights of preventing premature screen breakdown.
Screen History	SPTF	Use this form to track the life of a screen. Especially valuable for retensionable frames.
Effects of Drying Temperature on Screen Tension	Dawn Hohl
Using an Exposure Calculator: Determining the Degree of Resistance	Laura Unterbrink	Which exposure test provides the best indication that the stencil has achieved its highest resistance? Here's a comparison of the six most common methods.
Process Color Screen Mesh	Joe Clarke	Unknown parameters a lack of awareness, a lack of consistency day-to-day and shop-to-shop, and a lack of quality feedback from the printer to management, or to the mills may be the most debilitating parameters in the screen print plant.
Work Instructions Links	SPTF	SPTF Work Instructions can help you train every employee with the skills they need for on-the-job success. Our proven techniques are based on over 15 years of process research. They will help your new employees become productive workers in less time and at less cost to your company.
The Measuring of Screen Tension	Messerschmitt	An in depth look at how tension affects many variables in screen printing.
High Tension Low Elongation Precision Woven Screen Mesh: Quantifying the Technical Modifications and Benefits	Schall	Analysis of low elongation mesh. Topics include plain vs. twill weave, advantages of low elongation, handling and loading procedures, and proper tension levels.
Factors Influencing the Choice of the Correct Mesh Count, Print Quality & Improvement in Screen Manufacturing	Peyskens	Factors that determine the proper fabric and mesh count for a given print job. The effect of poorly tensioned screens. Optimal tension levels. What fabric manufacturers can offer to improve quality.
Influence of the Stencil Fabric on the Thickness of Ink Deposit & Consumption of Inks	Scheer	Influencing factors of the stencil fabric as it relates to ink deposit thickness and ink consumption. Describes a simple way to calculate an approximate value for the thickness of ink deposit or ink consumption.
All Metal Printing Screens	Kosloff	Explanations of the various types of metal fabrics for screen printing. Topics include stainless steel, combination, brass, photomechanical electroforming and rotary screens.
The Influence of Relatively High Tension to Synthetic Mesh: Technical Points	Messerschmitt	Influences of high tension on synthetic mesh. Questions answered: Does compression of the thread intersections (knuckles) under tension result in a decrease in fabric thickness? Does the individual aperture increase in size due to stretching? Does a bowing frame cause variation of mesh aperture?
High Tension Screens and the Quality of the Printed Image	Caza	Advantages and disadvantages of high tension screens. Theory and practical information about screen fabrics as well as their weaving and handling. Techniques for achieving high tension screens.
The Truth About High Tension Screens	Boothe/Brendle	Information on the benefits of high tension screens.
The Ultimate Screen for Close Tolerance Screen Printing	Messerschmitt	Variables to consider when the technical quality of the print is of utmost importance. Offers numerous considerations in creating the ultimate screen.
The Correct Stretching of the Stencil Fabric in Screen Printing	Scheer	Requirements for the correct stretching of screen mesh. Discussions on stretching apparatus, manufacturer suggested tension levels, maintaining tension levels, measuring elongation, and measurement by a defined pulling force.
An Updated View on Screen Fabric Handling for Quality Screen Printing	Peyskens	Reviews the considerations for proper handling of screen fabric during preparation. Developments in screen mesh. Discussions on fabric behavior.
Mesh Pretreatment & Degreasing	Bolding	Addresses concerns with mesh pretreatment and degreasing. Illustrations on recommended pretreatment and degreasing techniques, various pretreatment applications, and degreasing applications and precautions.
Screen Making Basics: Stencil Selection & Application	Pfirrmann	Covers most modern stencil materials and explains the correct application methods.
Stencil Systems Review	Busby	A review of stencil systems including knife-cut, direct, and capillary. Each section provides information on considerations for imaging and processing.
Stencil Preparation: Elementary	SGIA Staff	Frequently asked questions on stencil systems, different types of stencils that can be used, fabric considerations when selecting a stencil system, “sawtoothing”, and differences in stencil systems.
Knifecut Stencil Film	Tullai	Proper techniques for knifecut stencil films. Topics include fabric preparation, adhering the film, drying the screen, appropriate inks, and stencil removal.
Hand-Cut Stencil Films/Knifecut Stencil Films	Bolding	Recommendations for handcut or knifecut stencil films.
Solvent Adhering Hand-Cut Films	Ulano	Addresses some of the common issues with solvent adhering hand-cut films, why they happen and what to do about them.
Mounting & Adhering of Indirect Photostencils	Autotype International, Ltd.	Recommended mounting and adhering techniques for indirect photostencils.
A Recent Advance in Direct Photostencils	Balfour	Developments in dual cure photostencil technology.
The Direct Indirect Stencil System	Orr	Procedure for making a screen using the direct/indirect method. Offers benefits and considerations for this process.
Improving Stencil Performance Through Technique & Better Plant Facilities	Thomas	Improving stencil performance by improving the techniques of stretching, mesh preparation, stencil mounting, exposure, washout, spotting and retouching, and screen storage. Offers a schematic layout for an ideal stencil department.
Exposure of Photostencils (Indirect and Direct/Indirect)	Bolding	Examines the influence of exposure upon the life and quality of the indirect and direct/indirect photostencil. Also considered are some of the problems encountered during exposure and the selection of light sources.
Exposure Systems for Screen Making	Maher	Overview of the many different types of exposure systems including the sun, carbon arc, fluorescent lamps, pulsed xenon, mercury vapor, and metal halides.
Correct Exposure Time of Stencil and Equipment Limitations	Pfirrmann	Tips on how you can figure out correct exposure time and get the quality you want.
Causes of Serration Phenomena in the Contours of Direct Emulsion Stencils & Edge Definition of the Print	Scheer	Causes and effects of the serration phenomenon are discussed in detail to help the screen printer in selecting the best solution to overcome serration when using direct emulsion.
Washout	Autotype International, Ltd.	A look at stencil washout after exposure. Includes discussions on washout practices and equipment, effects of water pressure, sprays, washout time and water temperature on indirect stencil systems, direct or direct/indirect stencil systems, chilling of indirect gelatin stencils, and water filtration.
The Effects of Inadequate Screen Wash Out	Smith	A look at one of the processing variables in screen making: Inadequate screen washout.
The Rz Value: A Concept in Screen Quality Evaluation	Pfirrmann	Explanation of Rz value, how it is determined, and the variables that control it.
Drying, Blockout & Retouching	Autotype International, Ltd.	A look at screen drying, blockout, and retouching. Offers advice on issues to avoid as well as tips to reduce retouching.
Stencil Removal	Bolding	A breakdown of the applications used for the removal of various stencil systems.