SilkScreenRestoration

=Silk Screen Restoration:=

===Silk screens, as the screenprinting page shows, are the tools implemented to create designs on shirts, bags, etc. The downside to silk screens is that the actual material to make them cost about $10-15, and to get your own made costs $20-35. If you make your own once, and restore it, you can make a virtually unlimited amount of screens. ===

The materials needed include: - Your screen - A photo-emulsion removing chemical (this can be found at most craft stores, a bottle for about $8 can be used to restore about 8 different screens) - A nylon paintbrush, or any bristle brush made of a moderately soft material (metal will tear the screen, a very soft brush will not be effective in scrubbing)

Step 1:
Acquire the screen you want to restore. This screen can be an error screen (A mistake in the burning of the screen) or an undesired screen (an old design, etc.)

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Spread the emulsion-remover with your paintbrush, or if you have a steady hand you can pour the chemical directly onto the screen itself. Make sure to generously coat both sides of the screen with the remover.=====

Step 3:
Scrub like you're getting paid for it. You need to make sure EVERYTHING is off of the screen. You will probably see some residue of the previous screen, or if this is a screen that has been used multiple times, you will be able to see every single image that has ever been on the screen. From the screenprinting process, dark spots on your image block out light. You might think that the dark spots on the screen will mess up your future image. A test to prevent this would be to hold the screen up to the light. If you can see light through the ENTIRE screen, then your screen has been properly cleaned.

Be sure to thoroughly wash the screen; if you let the chemical dry it burns the image onto the screen permanently, if you try to do a new screen with the chemical on it the emulsion will be dissolved while you apply it.

Now you can follow the screenprinting process to burn your image into the screen and continue this until your screen falls apart from wear and tear of the screenprinting process.