Screen printing screen or silk screen
A silk screen is a tool composed of a frame on which a fine mesh, traditionally made of silk or nowadays of nylon or polyester, is stretched. This mesh contains areas that are permeable and impermeable to the passage of ink or ceramic engobe. By pressing the coloring medium with a squeegee through the mesh, the design is transferred to the surface of the piece, whether it is a tile, plate, cup or any other ceramic object.
Screen printing makes it possible to reproduce complex designs, repetitive patterns or even detailed illustrations with high precision. This is especially useful in the industrial or semi-craft production of tableware, tiles and decorative pieces, as it ensures uniformity, consistency and speed in decoration.Interesting Fact
The introduction of silkscreen printing in ceramics made possible the democratization of designs previously reserved for expensive handcrafted productions. Thanks to this technique, complex patterns, images of works of art or landscapes could be reproduced en masse, greatly expanding the aesthetic variety of commercial ceramics.Helpful Tip
Be sure to match the viscosity of the engobe or ceramic ink to the mesh of your screen. Too thick a consistency will make it difficult for the color to pass through, while too fluid a consistency will cause spillage and loss of sharpness in the design. Pre-test and clean the screen regularly to maintain print quality.
