How to Achieve Screen Printing on Glass

How to Achieve Screen Printing on Glass

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Glass, as a component of architectural decoration, is flat, transparent and easy to clean. After screen printing, the patterns on glass are exquisite and beautiful. It is becoming more and more common in architectural decoration and greatly satisfies people's aesthetic needs. 
Screen printing is a technique for printing pictures directly onto the surface of glass. Screen printing can also be used to apply preservatives or other materials to parts of the glass surface that would otherwise be damaged by etching or polishing. It is also possible to print specific inks directly onto paper to give an etched or matte effect.
Now, let's delve into how to apply paint to glass using screen printing techniques. Read on!



What is screen printing?
Screen printing is a technique that uses screens, inks and squeegees to transfer stenciled images onto a flat surface. Fabric and paper are the most common screen printing media, although professional inks can also be used to print on different materials, including glass. The simplest method is to create a stencil on a fine mesh screen and then use ink to force a design through it to be printed on the surface beneath yours.
While the printing process is usually identical, the way stencils are made varies depending on the material used. Stencil printing can be accomplished in a variety of ways, including:
1. Covering an appropriate portion of the screen with masking tape or vinyl.
2. Attaching the stencil to the screen with a screen protector such as glue.
3. Using a photographic emulsion to create the stencil, which is subsequently developed in the same manner as a photograph.
Screen printing designs may use a single color of ink or a combination of multiple colors. For multi-color stuff, colors must be applied on different layers, using a different stencil for each ink.



Why use it?
The fact that screen printing can produce vibrant colors even on darker materials is one of the reasons it is so popular. Ink or paint is also layered on the surface of the fabric or material, giving the print a pleasing tactile feel.
This method is also popular because it allows the printer to easily reproduce the design multiple times. Since a single stencil can be used to reproduce a design multiple times, it is ideal for making copies of the same garment or item.
 Beautiful color graphics can also be produced using specialized equipment and professional printers. While the complexity of the process limits the number of colors a printer can use, it does allow for more vivid colors than can be achieved with digital printing alone.


Components of screen printing machine and their functions
As a screen printer, you need the right equipment for the job in order to create clean, crisp prints. Therefore, we will go over each screen printing machine and how they function in the printing process.


Screen printing machine
Many printers choose to use the press because it allows them to print a large number of items in a short period of time. In addition, because the press keeps the screen in place during the printing process, it is easier for the user to change the paper or the item being printed.
Manual, semi-automatic and automatic presses are the three types of presses available. Manual presses are labor-intensive because they are manually operated. Semi-automatic presses are partially automated, but still require manual intervention to change the object being pressed, while automatic presses are fully automated and require little to no manual intervention.


Ink
The ink is pushed through the screen and onto the printed substrate to produce a color impression of the stencil design.

Screen Printing
Screen printing is done by laying a thin mesh fabric on a metal or wooden frame. Originally, this mesh was made from silk threads, but now polyester textiles have replaced it, offering the same performance at a cheaper cost. The mesh can be customized in width and number of threads to match the roughness of the surface or fabric being printed, with smaller gaps between threads for more detail in the print.

Water absorbing steak
The absorbing pick is a long wooden, metal or plastic handle with a rubber blade fixed. It is used to force the ink through the screen and onto the printing surface. Printers usually choose a squeegee that is roughly the same size as the screen frame, as this will provide greater hedging.

Washing Station
Screens must be cleaned after each use to remove any traces of emulsion so they can be reused for subsequent printing. To eliminate emulsions, some larger printers use vats of special cleaning solutions or acids, while other printers use sinks or sinks and electric hoses to clean screens easily.


How to achieve screen printing on glass?
Screen printing flat glass glazing is usually 240 mesh, with 220 mesh being the most commonly used screen printing mesh for glass screen printing.
Glass printing screens are the same as those used for traditional screen printing. The type of screen printing fabric chosen is based on the purpose of the print. For high-precision fine glass products, 300 to 360 mesh is required. Polyester and nylon synthetic screens can be used for infrared stamping glazing prints. This form of screen printing is widely used because it is cost effective for a limited number of glass screen printing types.
Below are the steps to complete screen printing on glass.


1. Create design
First, the design that they want to appear on the finished product is printed onto a transparent acetate film. This will be used to create the template. Now, when you choose this design, you will also need to consider the design of the glass bottle. This will not only help you create the design of your choice, but also help you create a design that fits your product bottle.

2. Prepare the screen
Now, the mesh screen is selected according to the complexity of the design and the thickness of the glass being printed. After that, a light-reactive emulsion is applied to the mesh screen, which hardens when exposed to bright light.

3. Exposure lotion
The design was then transferred from the acetate sheet to the emulsion-coated screen, which was then exposed to very strong light. Because the emulsion is light-hardened, the area of the screen that is shaded by the design remains liquid.
If the final design contains more than one color, a different screen must be used to apply each layer of ink. To create a multi-color item, the printer must use his or her artistic abilities to design each stencil and align them correctly to achieve a flawless final design.


4. Wash off the lotion and make a template
Once the screen has been exposed for a certain amount of time, the parts of the screen that were not designed to be hidden will harden. Any emulsion that has not solidified needs to be carefully washed off. The design is clearly printed on the screen, allowing the ink to pass through.
After the screen has dried, you can make any necessary changes to ensure the imprint is as close to the original design as possible. The stencil is now complete and ready to use.


5. Prepare the printing glass
Afterwards, the screen is mounted on the printing machine. Below the screen, the glass to be printed is placed flat on the printing plate.
While there are manual and automatic printers, most commercial printers today will use an automatic rotary rotary printing press (feel free to do so, by the way), which allows multiple independent screens to work simultaneously. This type of printer can also be used to apply various color layers in quick succession for multi-color printing.


6. Press the ink on the glass through the screen
The screen is placed on the printing plate and lowered. Once the ink is applied at the top, a squeegee is used to drag the ink along the entire length of the screen. This forces the ink through the exposed areas of the stencil, leaving an impression of the design on the glass below.
If you want to produce many pieces, you can lift the screen and place a new piece of glass on the printing plate. After that, repeat the process.
Once all the glass has been printed and the stencil has done its job, the emulsion can be removed using a specific cleaning solution so that the grid can be reused to make a new stencil.


7. Dry the glass and check the finished work
Afterwards, the printed glass is dried, the ink is "repaired" and a smooth, non-fading surface is given. Before handing over to the new owner, you should inspect the finished glass product, check it properly and clean it to eliminate any residue.


Conclusion
Now you have a clear understanding of how screen printing on glass is done. You can start slowly by getting glass bottle samples and doing it at home. Otherwise, hire a professional glass bottle factory to do it for you. At Aromapacking, we value your satisfaction and have a great team of people who deal with our customers. Contact us to get a great deal.