screen printing

Definition

Method in which ink is applied directly to the surface to be printed (substrate). The image to be printed is photographically transferred to a very fine fabric (the screen) such that the non-printing areas are blocked off and the fabric serves as a stencil. The ink is wiped across the screen to pass through the unblocked pores and reach the substrate. For each color to be printed a separate screen is prepared and the process is repeated. It is more suitable for curved shapes (such as bottles and cups), non-porous surfaces (such as ceramics and metals), and short print runs. Also called serigraphy.