Screen printing — Art, 14–17
Screen printing pushes ink through an open stencil on a mesh, making repeatable images one colour layer at a time.
Idea
In screen printing, a mesh screen carries a stencil: blocked areas stop ink, while open areas let it pass onto paper, fabric, or another surface. You pull a squeegee across the screen to press the ink through. Each colour usually needs its own stencil and carefully aligned pass.
Why
A single hand-painted image is difficult to reproduce exactly, while a carved block may limit the surface or detail. Screen printing solves the need for strong, repeatable images on many materials. It developed from stencil processes and became important for posters, clothing, publishing, and political communication.
Worked example
To print a two-colour leaf, draw the black outline and green interior as separate shapes. Make two stencils and mark the paper with registration guides. Print the green layer and let it dry. Align the second screen with the guides, print black, then lift the paper: small shifts create a visible double edge.
Common trap
People often assume that every colour can be mixed freely on one screen. That is reasonable because painting usually lets you blend colours directly. In screen printing, each stencil controls where a colour lands, so careless alignment or transparent overlaps can change the intended colour and blur the image.
Use
Screen printing is used for posters, T-shirts, album covers, art editions, signs, and some electronic circuits. Artists value its flat, deliberate colour and the small differences between hand-pulled prints. It suits repeated images, but it is less practical when every copy must contain a completely different, detailed painting.
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