Ink coverage on a screen print is either "on" or "off," meaning flow cannot be controlled to create gradation or changes in value. Choose an image that is high in contrast. Line drawings make successful silkscreen prints. Because the ink is applied thickly to the screen, large solid areas can trap too much ink and become goopy on the print. Break up solid sections with graphic patterns such as checkers or stripes. Benday or halftone dots can be used to substitute for tonal gradation, as in the work of the artist Roy Lichtenstein. Similarly, avoid fine details, as small areas will dry quickly and clog the screen.
Silkscreen prints are built-in layers of one color of ink at a time. Each color in the print will require a separate screen or for the screen to be thoroughly washed and dried before re-use. Simplify your image to a limited color palette. Monochromatic schemes will take minimal effort and have a dramatic effect. Complementary color schemes make dynamic screen prints as the two opposite colors interact within the image. Overlap primary color layers to create secondary tones without a separate screen. Keep in mind that some ink will have a lower opacity than others when you plan your layering. For example, yellow ink will be more transparent than blue ink and so should be layered second to create green.
Silkscreen printing can be done on a variety of materials as long as they are absorbent of the ink. Rough, thick paper such as watercolor paper is ideal for a screen print. Custom invitations and greeting cards are popular silkscreen projects because multiples are easy to produce. Create covers for editions of a homemade book or a set of calendars to give as holiday gifts. Big surfaces can be covered quickly with a large screen, making the process ideal for over-sized artwork such as concert posters or party banners. Take advantage of the silkscreen's exact reproductions to create patterns that would be difficult to make by hand.
Fabric is also well suited for screen printing. Silkscreening has long been used to create T-shirts. Make customized shirts to match traditional paper prints. Adorn aprons, tote bags and other garments with silkscreen. Print on bolts of fabric and then sew prints onto throw pillows or hang as wall tapestries. Smooth, unfinished wood is tolerant of ink. Create custom tabletops and cabinetry by printing on wooden surfaces and then coating in varnish.