Printing Accessories

Every screen printing job starts here. Mesh selection is the first technical decision you make for any print because it determines ink deposit thickness, detail resolution, and print opacity. We stock the full range from 34T to 165T to cover everything from heavy plastisol deposits to fine halftone work.

Match mesh count to your job. 34T-43T for heavy ink deposits on dark garments, 62T-77T for general textile printing, 90T-120T for fine text and halftone work, 120T-165T for process colour and photographic detail. Stretch mesh at the correct tension. Under-tensioned mesh causes registration problems and image distortion. Use a tension meter, don't guess. Yellow mesh for exposures with fine detail to prevent undercutting from UV light bouncing off the white threads.

Store stretched screens vertically in a rack, away from UV light and dust. Unstretched mesh rolls should be kept in their packaging until needed. Mesh loses tension over time, so screens left stretched for months without use may need re-tensioning. Don't stack coated screens face-to-face. The emulsion will stick.

High-definition screen making for jobs that need crisp edges and consistent stencil thickness. Process colour work, fine text, and halftone printing. Indirect process produces a more uniform stencil thickness than direct emulsion coating, which depends heavily on the operator's coating technique.

Expose the film emulsion-side down on your UV exposure unit. Exposure time depends on your light source, so run a step-wedge test to find the optimal exposure for your setup. After exposure, wash out with warm water (35-40°C) until unexposed areas clear completely. Transfer wet stencil to a degreased, wet mesh, emulsion side to the print side of the screen. Squeegee firmly from the inside to remove water and ensure full contact. Let dry completely, then peel the polyester backing.

Refrigerate unused film at 4-8°C in its original light-proof packaging. Shelf life is typically 12 months refrigerated. Don't freeze it because ice crystals damage the gelatine coating. Bring to room temperature before use to prevent condensation on the film surface.

General-purpose screen making. Suits most commercial screen printing jobs. Capillary film is popular in Indian print shops because the application process is faster and more forgiving than indirect transfer. Good for medium to fine detail work.

For capillary film, apply it to the print side of a wet, degreased mesh. The wet mesh draws the emulsion into the mesh openings by capillary action, hence the name. Smooth the backing from the squeegee side to ensure full contact. Dry with the print side facing down so gravity assists the emulsion distribution. Once dry, peel the backing, expose through your positive, and wash out.

Store in a cool, dry, dark place. 12-18 months shelf life if kept in original packaging away from UV light and humidity. In Kerala, consider storing in an airtight container with silica gel packets to control moisture.

Every single screen print ever made used a squeegee. The blade is the point of contact between ink and substrate. Its hardness, edge profile, and condition directly determine print quality. Different jobs need different durometers.

65-70A durometer is general purpose. Handles most textile and graphic printing. 50-60A (soft) for heavy ink deposit on textured substrates. 75-90A (hard) for fine detail, halftones, and UV inks. Square edge for general printing, round edge for heavy deposit, bevelled edge for fine detail. Print angle should be 60-75° from the screen surface. Sharpen the blade every 5,000 impressions. A dull edge rounds over and gives inconsistent ink deposit.

Store blades vertically or hanging. Never rest them on the edge, which creates a flat spot. Keep away from direct sunlight and solvents when not in use. Solvent exposure softens polyurethane over time. Clean immediately after use because dried ink on the blade is difficult to remove without damaging the edge.