Stencil printing method
This is
also, one of the oldest methods of printing but it is not used to any great
extent. Really speaking it is not a printing process at all as the color is
applied to the fabric not by impression as in block or roller printing but by
brushing or spraying the interstices of a pattern cut out from a flat sheet of
rental or waterproof paper or plastic sheet or laminated sheet.
A stencil is prepared by cutting out a design tram a fiat sheet of cartridge
paper, metal, or plastic, with a sharp-pointed knife.
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Stencil printing
Stencils
made from a thin sheet of metal are costly and less easy to cut with accuracy and
more difficult to handle than those made from cartridge paper.
Metal
stencils are durable but are liable to damage during working because of their
thinness.
It is
not possible to cut a perfect circle or a ring or any other complete outline on
a stencil plate which if cut, would fall
out of the pattern at once leaving a spot. To
prevent this, some form of a tie' is used to link such shapes to the main
stencil.
The
outlines of a pattern are, therefore, broken at convenient points by cutting
the stencil partially; the uncut portions serve as 'ties' to support the inside
parts.
Sometimes
hair is used to hold to the main. Design those parts or areas that would
otherwise fall out.
The
ties strengthen the stencil and form an essential feature of the design.
Procedure: In actual practice, the stencil is laid perfectly flat on the fabric
to be printed and the color paste is then brushed through its perforations
with a brush.
The plate is then lifted when the pattern appears on cloth as a colored silhouette
corresponding with the cutout! Parts of the stencil.
In
patterns with two or more colors. A separate stencil is required for each
color as in block printing.
The cloth is stencil printed throughout in one color first and then the other
colors are printed. Every repeat can be colored differently desired.
The
color can be brushed, dabbed. Sponged, or sprayed by means of a spray gun
through the stencil lo.obtain different elects.
Further,
different colors can be applied to different Paris of the stencil and then
blended together with a sweep of the brush before the stencil is removed.
Such
effects are obtained by block or machine printing. The method is mainly confined
to the printing of wall hangings, decorative panels, curtains, bedspreads, table
cover3, cushion covers, etc.
Any
kind of color can he used a lot the paten in this method. Oil colure is often used for heavy, woolen goods, velvets, jute cloth, buckram, etc.
Ever. Water Colors that can be used for lighter
goods is fast! colors are not required.
Advantages of Stencil Printing:
1. the method is simple to operate and does not require elaborate or expensive equipment; the cost of production is low.2. The stencil
plates can be cut rapidly and can be used with prolix in executing small orders
for which the expense of block cutting would be prohibitive.
3. A
great variety of graded color effects can be obtained from one stencil by blending
different colors or different parts oil the stencil with one stroke of the
brush; suction effects cannot be obtained by other methods
4. Any
kind of color can be used in stencil printing including oil colors and watercolors,
other methods of printing do not permit the use of such colors,
Disadvantages of Stencil Printing
1. Complete
rings or circles, as well as unbroken lines, cannot be obtained by this method;
the designer's freedom is, therefore, limited;
2. The process involves manual work and is, therefore
laborious
3. The method is not suitable for large-scale production.
