Serigraphy

The term serigraphy (a combination from the Latin “seri” for "silk", and the Greek “grafein”, which means "to draw" or "to write") is the name given to this technique because the first substrates were made of silk. This technique can be used to print on any substrate or surface, since it allows the ink to deposit through the openings of the fabric.
It is used in the industrial sector (mainly for printing T-shirts, ceramic, glass, CDs, etc.) or in art, where it is important for the artist to draw directly onto the screen.

Once the selected subject has been transferred or drawn onto screen (through various techniques)
the ink is placed inside the screen and spread using a rubber blade, passing through the openings and depositing on the chosen substrate. Upon completing the print, the screen can be cleaned and reused.

Let's take a look at the history of serigraphy. It seems it was first used by the Phoenicians and then in China
and from there to Japan, where silk screens were used with the application of lacquers to cover the weaves of the fabric.
With global modernisation, serigraphy immediately became widespread and used by everyone. Right now, it is starting to suffer the competition of inkjet machines that allow short runs.

TECHNIQUES - there are several ways to prepare a serigraphic stencil. The simplest and most creative one is to draw it directly on paper or film and stick it onto the screen or to draw directly on the screen with waterproof materials. A more complex technique involves drawing an image with a fluid, wait for it to dry and then coat the entire screen with waterproof material. Once dry, wash with water and the areas covered with fluid will be clean and cleared for the ink passage, leaving all the other areas covered.
The greatest advantage of serigraphy is that you can print on any material.
Even multi-colour serigraphs use as many matrices as colours.ù

EMULSION - one of the most common techniques is based on photographic emulsion.
The image is decomposed in its various colours onto acetate paper.

DETAIL WORK - The printing screen consists of a fabric stretched on a metallic screen onto which a photosensitive emulsion is spread. Once it is spread, it sets by means of an ultraviolet light.
Thanks to a vacuum system, the film with the drawing to be made is placed in contact with the gelatine and exposed with a strong light.
The screen containing the matrix is washed so as to remove the emulsion from the parts that were not exposed to light. These parts correspond with the image to be reproduced and from which the ink will flow.
Once the entire screen is dry, it is installed onto an automatic, semi-automatic or manual machine, the colour is poured and a squeegee (a special rubber blade) is pressed down to let the ink pass through the weaves of the fabric on the underlying substrate.