Advantages of screen printing

The printing industry offers a variety of printing methods to suit different types of material, print runs and quality. The technique that is used for the largest number of substrates and offers great versatility is screen printing. Let's find out what this technology is all about and check out its greatest advantages.

What is screen printing?

Screen printing technology involves the use of a printing mould in the form of a special screen stretched over a frame, consisting of a material with the appropriate flexibility and strength, which is prepared by hand, using a plotter or photochemically filling those holes that are to overlap the unprinted area. During the printing process, the printing mould covers the substrate to be printed and the ink is spread over the mesh with a movable squeegee, making contact with the material where the mesh has been left exposed. Screen printing machines can be manual devices, used for small print runs and unusual surfaces, as well as semi-automatic or automatic. For multi-colour printing, they are equipped with several tables.

Why use screen printing?

Screen printing allows printing on virtually any substrate and in a wide variety of formats. This includes paper, cardboard and board, as well as wood, metal, plastic, as well as ceramics and textiles. On the plus side, good quality prints can be produced, including multi-colour prints. It is important to have good colour saturation, as well as special effects such as gilding. Thanks to the right choice of inks, prints made using this technology also prove to be durable, withstanding repeated washing in the case of textiles or exposure to sunlight or increased temperatures. Screen printing can be used for a variety of print runs - even for single prints, and its cost will usually be relatively low and usually competitive with alternative technologies. Importantly, the process from design to finished print can be carried out very quickly.