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How to Align Silk Screens for Different Colors

Silk screen stencils can be aligned for printing different colors using a manual rotary screen printing press. These printing presses have four to six clamps arranged on a metal wheel mounted to a stand. Each spring loaded clamp functions as a print head, holding a silk screen. A metal arm holds a flat printing surface that each silk screen can be lowered to in turn for printing. The key is to print each color in the proper position relative to the others to create a multicolor print.

Things You'll Need

  • Silk screen stencils (images with a multicolor design and registration marks)
  • T-square
  • Sharpie marker
  • Rotary T-shirt printing press
  • Spray adhesive
  • Test fabric or newsprint
  • Screen printing ink
  • Squeegees
  • Tape
  • T-Shirts or paper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Check your silk screen stencils for your multicolor print job to be sure that the image is centered on each of them. Ideally, an image for each color in your design has been put on a separate screen with registration marks showing.

    • 2

      Use a T-square and a Sharpie marker to draw both a horizontal and vertical center line on the printing area, or shirt board, of your press. Pull down a clamp into the print position, making sure it clicks into the registration notch. Place the silk screen in the clamp that defines the design most clearly. Often this is the black ink screen. Look through the screen to the print area and center the design relative to the center lines you drew. Tighten the clamps snug but not too tight. Lift the clamped silk screen from the print area.

    • 3

      Spray a mist of spray adhesive on the printing area. Place a piece of test fabric or newsprint on the printing area. Pull the first silk screen down to the print area and be sure it clicks into the registration notch. Put the designated ink color into the screen and print it with a firm pull of a squeegee. Lift the screen. Check to be sure the registration marks printed along with the graphic.

    • 4

      Bring down a second clamp next to the first one and notch it as before in the registration notch. Put the second screen from your multicolor job into the clamp. Match up the registration marks on the second screen with the printed ones then tighten the clamps to snug. Bring the second screen up, then back down to check that the registration marks will still line up. Adjust if necessary. Add the second color of ink and print with squeegee. Lift the screen.

    • 5

      Repeat Step 4 with each silk screen stencil remaining in the design. Use the proper color ink for each screen. Once all the screens are set up, put a piece of tape on the back of each registration mark on all screens so they don't print during the job. Proceed to printing your job, adding spray adhesive before every two or three prints to hold your paper, shirt or fabric to the press during multicolor printing.

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