Editing Screen printing (section)

{{Short description|Printing technique}}
{{Distinguish|Print Screen|screen painting}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=November 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022|cs1-dates=y}}
[[File:TeeshirtCopyleft cadre.jpg|thumb|A silk screen design]]
{{History of printing}}

'''Screen printing''' is a printing technique where a mesh is used to transfer [[ink]] (or [[dye]]) onto a [[Substrate (printing)|substrate]], except in areas made impermeable to the ink by a blocking [[stencil]]. A blade or [[squeegee]] is moved across the screen in a "flood stroke" to fill the open mesh [[aperture]]s with ink, and a reverse stroke then causes the screen to touch the substrate momentarily along a line of contact.  This causes the ink to wet the substrate and be pulled out of the mesh apertures as the screen springs back after the blade has passed. One colour is printed at a time, so several screens can be used to produce a multi-coloured image or design.

Traditionally, silk was used in the process. Currently, synthetic threads are commonly used. The most popular mesh in general use is made of polyester. There are special-use mesh materials of nylon and stainless steel available to the screen-printer. There are also different types of mesh size which will determine the outcome and look of the finished design on the material.

The technique is used not only for garment printing but for printing on many other substances, including decals, clock and watch faces, balloons, and many other products. Advanced uses include laying down conductors and resistors in multi-layer circuits using thin ceramic layers as the substrate.