This tutorial is designed to give you a basic overview of the screen
printing process in general, a list of the minimum necessary supplies
to screen print, and finally, specific information on the operation
of your Teeshirtprinters.com screen printing press. These durable, affordable
presses are the perfect introduction to the screen printing industry,
and the natural choice for established shops seeking to expand their
capabilities without giving up a lot of space or capital. Schools will
love the safety and ease of operation.
Section A – Historical Overview of the Origin of Screen Printing
You may have noticed that the terms ‘Silkscreen printing’ and ‘Screen printing’ are used interchangeably in discussing the printing process where ink is forced through a stencil onto the printed product. Screen Printing is the correct term for the process as it exists today. The term ‘Silkscreening’ is so ingrained into the industry that it is still used and understood, however. The reason we say ‘Screen printing’ today is simple: Silk is very rarely used as the screen material today.
The exact date of the invention of screen printing is not known; however, the Japanese had been printing decorative patterns using a stencil process said to have inspired various inventors who played a part in developing commercially viable screen printing. Examples of Japanese stencil printing establish that stencil printing in Japan was widely used by the mid 1200s A.D., so in the author’s opinion, this marks the beginning of screen printing, although there are indications that it was being used as early as 960 A.D.
In the early twentieth century, screen printing was being developed by several individuals and companies, independent of one another’s efforts. The first patent issued for a screen printing process was issued in England, to Samuel Simon, in 1907. The invention of the first mechanical silkscreen press, in 1920, came at just the right time. Wood block and flexographic printing were the most common processes for wallpaper decorating until the 1920s, when the love of Victorian patterns made the wallpaper industry grow exponentially. The new screenprinting technique offered a cheap, fast and efficient way to make artistic wallcoverings. The demand for screen printed wallpaper cemented the process in American industry and is one of the major reasons for the success of the screen printing industry.
For practical purposes then, we can say that screen printing became a part of American Industry in 1920 and grew rapidly from there. The Japanese invented it, the British perfected it, and the Americans made it commercially viable on a large scale.
