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screen printing => Screen Making => Topic started by: RichNation on November 08, 2015, 09:42:30 PM

Title: Emulsion question.
Post by: RichNation on November 08, 2015, 09:42:30 PM
I am new to screen printing so take it easy on me if this is a dumb question. Also, after searching the forum for a few I did not run across this question.

Right now I have a 16"x20" Ryonet UV screen exposure unit along with 20"x24" - 156 mesh screens.

For a printer I have the Epson 1430 with Rite Film WP Positives, but I do not have any RIP software.

When I exposed the screens, the emulsion was really hard to spray off (emulsion that was behind the print-out). I'm not sure
if that means I exposed to long or perhaps my ink is not dark/opaque enough.

Any information would be appreciated.
Title: Re: Emulsion question.
Post by: Colin on November 08, 2015, 10:08:48 PM
Do you have a stouffer strip/exposure calculator?
Title: Re: Emulsion question.
Post by: RichNation on November 08, 2015, 10:31:56 PM
Yes I do have a strip. I think that I messed up the results by spraying to much water, I'm not really sure how that part of the procedure actually goes.
Title: Re: Emulsion question.
Post by: Frog on November 08, 2015, 11:18:31 PM
Go down to the fourth or fifth post in this thread. I posted some links that may help.
http://www.theshirtboard.com/index.php/topic,8148.msg153067.html#msg153067 (http://www.theshirtboard.com/index.php/topic,8148.msg153067.html#msg153067)
Title: Re: Emulsion question.
Post by: RichNation on November 08, 2015, 11:59:52 PM
Frog, thank you for the links. I am checking them out now.
Title: Re: Emulsion question.
Post by: RichNation on November 09, 2015, 08:45:20 PM
Looks like the issue was with my prints. After changing some settings in Illustrator I got really nice dark prints and the problem went away.

I suppose that means the print wasn't opaque enough and the UV lite was burning through the print and curing the emulsion.
Title: Re: Emulsion question.
Post by: Frog on November 09, 2015, 09:01:22 PM
Looks like the issue was with my prints. After changing some settings in Illustrator I got really nice dark prints and the problem went away.

I suppose that means the print wasn't opaque enough and the UV lite was burning through the print and curing the emulsion.

That'll certainly do it. Up to a point, that's pretty easy to check by holding your positive up to a light source and checking.