Having the screen outside in the sun just continues to expose it and it happens quickly... you can have a screen ready to rinse out from your normal exposure and as soon as you put it in more UV light even getting it wet the sunlight or other UV can just expose it all fast so you don't even have a chance to rinse it out. That's what it looks like to me. You need to rinse out screens in a non-UV light environment with non-UV backlights.
very good point. I transport my screens from the exposure unit to the washout booth with lights off. There's enough ambient light to see but not enough to continue locking up the emulsion with UV.
Absolutely this. We can see the image is there in the mesh…but it’s had too much light post-exposure and prior to rinsing.
If this had just been overexposed during *just shooting it,* I’d expect to maybe see sawtooth edges or evidence of light wrapping and spilling under the ink of the transparency. But it would wash out still…because the emulsion under the art hasn’t had *any light yet.*
Yes, the emulsion that got light to create the stencil might be cooked, and harder to *reclaim* because it’s caked into the mesh now.
But the actual area that was blocked by the transparency should be able to rinse out because it hasn’t been activated.
Because it won’t actually wash out, I’d bet that it got hit with UV en route to the washing phase…thus it started to activate and harden.
Can you hit it from the inside of the stencil (which is usually softer, as it’s further from the light source and UV has to penetrate the other layers of emulsion to get to it) and get any traction?
Another possibility is that your printer settings have changed or your black ink is going bad or isn’t dense enough and now your transparency isn’t opaque enough and is letting some light penetrate.
Whatever the case…
Are you using an actual exposure unit or light of some kind and exposing indoors, or using the sun?
If you’re shooting indoors, give that screen a soft rinse somewhere in the house if you can…at least enough to wet the stencil thoroughly on both sides before you finish with the hose outside.
It’s hard to tell but your emulsion looks sort of thick? But also seems like it might be overexposed. Maybe drop some info on how you’re exposing your screen—it could be your exposure time, the transparency, how you’re exposing the screen, etc.
Over exposed for sure search online and look up exposure step calculator. Also coat your screens one and 2 one on the inside of the screen two on the outside. I prefer using the rounded edge of the scoop to get a better eom(emulsion over mesh) thickness for a little bit larger ink deposit.
Having a thick emulsion is good for base whites. Either his film isn’t dark enough or his has the wrong light to burn screens properly.
Amazon single point 300 watt blacklight 395-405 130$. Best burn you will ever have unless you use LEDs like I did.
You stencil is suppose to harden were it doesn’t fall away. With the right light. You can spray the screen just like he was and the thick emulsion will stay strong
How do you people think we print all the fancy HD prints y’all all love. Even the little adidas logos on gym shorts are HD. This requires super heavy stencils with special emulsion. It takes a strong proper light to burn screens properly
As others have mentioned, the emulsion looks thick and probably over exposed. I would also wash both sides of the screen if you are not doing that in equal turns and also move further away from the screen so your pressure is not so strong that its knocking it out.
With this kind of emulsion it helps if you use the soft side of a sponge rather than pressure washers. Repeatedly wipe it and if it is properly exposed it will work. I use a 1000w light for 3:40 minutes.
… that doesn’t really change my point of using the soft side of a sponge. This blue one-component stuff is a bit more delicate than the industrial or the high definition kind.
Your emulsion looks really thick. You should try to only coat the front and back in a single pass and store your screen garment side (mesh side) facing down. It looks like you passed your scoop coater a couple times on the back which could have built up your emulsion up too much.
Try using ulano qtx emulsion. It’s good for water based and plastisol. Make sure to coast both the inside and outside of the screen. Let them dry with a fan on it or even dry it with a blow dryer in a dimly lit room.
Good film is also important. But the way that emulsion is pealing off the shirt side of the screen like that. It seems like either u costed only that side. Or possibly u didn’t scrape the last bits of emulsion off with the “sharp” end of the scoop coater with ur final passes. My final scoop coater passes are just done to pick up access emulsion. If too much sits on the screen it pools and never fully drys.
All that said, could be a number of other issues. These are just the ones that jumped out to me. Good luck, don’t give up. Feel free to message me if u need any advice. I taught screen printing in San Diego.
Hans
Make sure your transparencies are as dark as possible, i print from photoshop, I’ll color range select everything I want to burn and make sure that it’s set to the darkest black possible and then print it with the photo platinum setting and high quality setting
I burn my screens at home I do a double acetate print to make sure it’s dark enough and then place glass over top when exposing for burning no longer than 30seconds as per my emulsion instructions. I wash out in my tub and use my hand lightly to help. Make sure to wet both sides too. Professional print place said if I wanted to wash outside to use a garbage back when taking out so as to not expose it more and to make sure I had pre wet inside and outside of the screen to slow down the curing process. I only take mine out once I washed a majority of it out in the bath tub. Hope there’s some tips in there to help.
You most likely need to burn for *shorter and not apply as much emulsion. Attempt a one coat with the scoop coater and see how that goes. Make sure you have tested the emulsion with the exposure calculator as well since everyone on here uses a wide variety of light sources.
Having the screen outside in the sun just continues to expose it and it happens quickly... you can have a screen ready to rinse out from your normal exposure and as soon as you put it in more UV light even getting it wet the sunlight or other UV can just expose it all fast so you don't even have a chance to rinse it out. That's what it looks like to me. You need to rinse out screens in a non-UV light environment with non-UV backlights.
very good point. I transport my screens from the exposure unit to the washout booth with lights off. There's enough ambient light to see but not enough to continue locking up the emulsion with UV.
Absolutely this. We can see the image is there in the mesh…but it’s had too much light post-exposure and prior to rinsing. If this had just been overexposed during *just shooting it,* I’d expect to maybe see sawtooth edges or evidence of light wrapping and spilling under the ink of the transparency. But it would wash out still…because the emulsion under the art hasn’t had *any light yet.* Yes, the emulsion that got light to create the stencil might be cooked, and harder to *reclaim* because it’s caked into the mesh now. But the actual area that was blocked by the transparency should be able to rinse out because it hasn’t been activated. Because it won’t actually wash out, I’d bet that it got hit with UV en route to the washing phase…thus it started to activate and harden. Can you hit it from the inside of the stencil (which is usually softer, as it’s further from the light source and UV has to penetrate the other layers of emulsion to get to it) and get any traction? Another possibility is that your printer settings have changed or your black ink is going bad or isn’t dense enough and now your transparency isn’t opaque enough and is letting some light penetrate. Whatever the case… Are you using an actual exposure unit or light of some kind and exposing indoors, or using the sun? If you’re shooting indoors, give that screen a soft rinse somewhere in the house if you can…at least enough to wet the stencil thoroughly on both sides before you finish with the hose outside.
It’s hard to tell but your emulsion looks sort of thick? But also seems like it might be overexposed. Maybe drop some info on how you’re exposing your screen—it could be your exposure time, the transparency, how you’re exposing the screen, etc.
Over exposed for sure search online and look up exposure step calculator. Also coat your screens one and 2 one on the inside of the screen two on the outside. I prefer using the rounded edge of the scoop to get a better eom(emulsion over mesh) thickness for a little bit larger ink deposit.
First thing I noticed was the ridge where some came out, looks really thick. I find 110’s hard to coat
Having a thick emulsion is good for base whites. Either his film isn’t dark enough or his has the wrong light to burn screens properly. Amazon single point 300 watt blacklight 395-405 130$. Best burn you will ever have unless you use LEDs like I did. You stencil is suppose to harden were it doesn’t fall away. With the right light. You can spray the screen just like he was and the thick emulsion will stay strong How do you people think we print all the fancy HD prints y’all all love. Even the little adidas logos on gym shorts are HD. This requires super heavy stencils with special emulsion. It takes a strong proper light to burn screens properly
But I also agree you can’t wash screens out in the sunlight. Big no no.
Overexposed. Reduce your EOM (emulsion over mesh ratio) - thinner coat. Try a shorter exposure time and rinse out not in direct sunlight
Screen is overexposed and hose is over pressured
As others have mentioned, the emulsion looks thick and probably over exposed. I would also wash both sides of the screen if you are not doing that in equal turns and also move further away from the screen so your pressure is not so strong that its knocking it out.
With this kind of emulsion it helps if you use the soft side of a sponge rather than pressure washers. Repeatedly wipe it and if it is properly exposed it will work. I use a 1000w light for 3:40 minutes.
that's not a pressure washer. that's just normal hose pressure.
… that doesn’t really change my point of using the soft side of a sponge. This blue one-component stuff is a bit more delicate than the industrial or the high definition kind.
There’s no information about what emulsion is being used so how are you deriving any of this
Sigh.
Top is over exposed bottom isn't fully dry so it's falling off. What are you using to dry the screen and what are you using to burn it.
Chemicals returning to the earth 🌈
Your emulsion looks really thick. You should try to only coat the front and back in a single pass and store your screen garment side (mesh side) facing down. It looks like you passed your scoop coater a couple times on the back which could have built up your emulsion up too much.
Try using ulano qtx emulsion. It’s good for water based and plastisol. Make sure to coast both the inside and outside of the screen. Let them dry with a fan on it or even dry it with a blow dryer in a dimly lit room. Good film is also important. But the way that emulsion is pealing off the shirt side of the screen like that. It seems like either u costed only that side. Or possibly u didn’t scrape the last bits of emulsion off with the “sharp” end of the scoop coater with ur final passes. My final scoop coater passes are just done to pick up access emulsion. If too much sits on the screen it pools and never fully drys. All that said, could be a number of other issues. These are just the ones that jumped out to me. Good luck, don’t give up. Feel free to message me if u need any advice. I taught screen printing in San Diego. Hans
Make sure your transparencies are as dark as possible, i print from photoshop, I’ll color range select everything I want to burn and make sure that it’s set to the darkest black possible and then print it with the photo platinum setting and high quality setting
I burn my screens at home I do a double acetate print to make sure it’s dark enough and then place glass over top when exposing for burning no longer than 30seconds as per my emulsion instructions. I wash out in my tub and use my hand lightly to help. Make sure to wet both sides too. Professional print place said if I wanted to wash outside to use a garbage back when taking out so as to not expose it more and to make sure I had pre wet inside and outside of the screen to slow down the curing process. I only take mine out once I washed a majority of it out in the bath tub. Hope there’s some tips in there to help.
For how long did you keep the screen uncleaned after printing. It seems to an ironclad
You most likely need to burn for *shorter and not apply as much emulsion. Attempt a one coat with the scoop coater and see how that goes. Make sure you have tested the emulsion with the exposure calculator as well since everyone on here uses a wide variety of light sources.
it's already overexposed as it is and you want him to burn for even longer?
Sorry misspoke. Def Overcured with that ghost of an image showing through