What is Silkscreen Printing

Almost all industries utilize silkscreen printing methods to print a design onto a product. This technique has been used for a long time. Besides, it developed from simple stenciling to a fully merchandized printing technique.

There are various types of silkscreen printing. Among them is serigraphy. Serigraphy is mostly utilized by textile printing and art companies. Silkscreen printing is a cost-effective solution to extend brand awareness by using various promotional products.

Screen Printing Process

Silkscreen printing possessed two main steps: (1) preparing the screen mask, (2) doing the printing.

• Stretch a screen mesh over a wooden or aluminum frame. It should be matched the printed paper box size.
• The screen mesh is applied with a photosensitive substance coating.
• Use a positive mask to enclose the parts to be printed like the images and texts. Expose the screen mesh to the UV light.
• After the screen mesh is being flushed with water, the printing part coating is washed away.
• The screen mask is achieved when it is inspected and dried.
• Place the screen mesh on the top of the corrugated box to be printed.
• The paper box surface is being touched with the mesh momentarily. And the ink transfers to the paperboard by proceeding a squeegee or blade across the mesh.

Silk Screen Printing Advantage

• Low-cost for big-quantity printing
• Cost-effective when less color of inks is required (example: one or two colors)
• The designs such as the fine lines and small text are very detailed.
• Highly flexible, ideal for use on various materials such as wood, metal, cotton, glass, plastic, etc.)
• Extremely durable
• Can be reused and kept
• Minimize lead times for frequent orders
• Thin and light

Common Types of Ink Used in Screen Printing

Plastisol Ink

Plastisol ink is flexible, durable, and thick. It can provide a plain graphic detail. This type of ink is easy to mix and comes in various colors. It performs well in different methods of screen printing, designs, and equipment.

Due to its high-density and low viscosity, the plastisol ink is free from coiling and allows it to work with pulpy printers.

Water-based Ink

Using water-based ink in silk screen printing is very easy compared to plastisol ink. The ink is soaked into the fabric’s fiber, allowing the print to have a softer and more solid feels.

This type of ink is semi-transparent. It requires matching colors to develop a uniform look around the garment.

Discharge Ink

This type of ink is accessible in water-based and plastisol inks. When using it, the ink detaches the fabric’s color and replaces it with its pigment. Discharge inks are suitable for cotton materials.

Screen Printed Paper Box

At Golden Idea, most of our paper boxes are UV or litho-printed. However, when it comes to paper packaging made of kraft paperboard, specialty paper, or thick paperboard, we use the silkscreen printing process.