DIY: How To Burn a Silkscreen and Print at Home

(jazzy electronic music)

You don't have to be a struggling punk band

to screenprint your own merch.

Here's how to whip up some serious swag at home.

First off, let's talk materials.

You're going to need the following:

Blank silkscreen, pre-stretched,

a squeegee, photo emulsion, ink,

a 150-watt bulb, and painter's tape,

rags, and if you want, clamps, and a red bulb.

Lamps, a black sheet or fabric or paper,

gloves and an apron,

transparency paper for printing your image, and, of course,

a t-shirt or canvas bag that you want to print.

All right. Step 1.

Coat the screen with photo emulsion,

and make sure to do it evenly on both sides.

When exposed to light, the emulsion hardens.

The image on the transparency will block light

from that part of the screen

so the emulsion can flake off in the shape of your design.

Leave the screen to dry in a pitch-black room.

This will take a couple hours.

Go ahead and print your image on the transparency paper.

Now it's time to set up your rig.

Lay the black sheet over your work area,

and blast the 150-watt bulb on the table.

Now, position your transparency on the screen,

and let it burn.

This will take about 45 minutes.

Once it's burned, rinse with cool water.

The emulsion should flake off to reveal your image.

Now, we print.

Pour some ink on the screen, and use the squeegee to

swipe over it with even pressure at a 45-degree angle.

Do this again, left to right, and up and down,

over the image.

All over the place, really,

but be careful not to move the screen.

Now, carefully lift the frame, and pull out your swag.

Pretty awesome, right?

Repeat as you see fit.

All right, look at you. You're more than ready

to start your own struggling punk band.