History
The History of Screen Printing
Screen printing is a very old technique for image reproduction. It is based on the use of a stencil to block the flow of ink on the areas that are not supposed to be printed.
The use of stencils is know from ancient times. There are records of its use in the decoration of Egyptian tombs, in Greek artifacts and in the production of signs during the Roman period.
From the III century AD, this technique was improved in China when silk started to be used as a support for the stencil. This is why the artistic use of screen printing is known as serigraphy (seri = silk, graphy = writing).
In the middle ages, the negative of the image was hand painted with bitumen. This technique was used for making military flags, identifying armed forces such as the crusaders.
In the XIX century in Japan, the silk fabric started to be stretched and fixed onto a wooden frame and the images produced with wax. This evolution allowed the reproduction of finer details.
During the XX century many technical innovations were incorporated. The brushed were replaced by rubber squegees, the photographic process for stencilmaking was created, new materails were made available and the silk fabric was substituted by more advanced synthetic materials with better weaving process.
With the development of new types of emulsion, it became possible to achieve higher levels of image resolution and definition. Better frames, new inks and automatic printing presses are now widely used.
All this technical improvement has led to new applications. There are today important markets in industries such as electronic, ceramic, automotive, communications, glass and many others. Some industries that have been using screen printing for a long time are becoming more technical oriented seeking improved quality and productivity, for example the textile industry.
Due to its versatility, screen printing continues to grow with the aid of new materials, markets and processes that are continuously being developed. For the people that have initiative and creativity and understand the principles of this printing process, there are infinite possibilities to be explored.