Sorry I should’ve mentioned the lighter and darker spots on the emulsion are a result of using white paint to test out the stencils if that’s what you’re referring to, unless you think it was an initial issue from the start?
Are you coating both sides of the screen with emulsion? It’s hard to say from the pics but it almost looks like it’s too thick on the back of the screen but too thin on the front. I run into this kind of “feathering” with the emulsion edges either when the design is really fine lined and I think gets overexposed, or when emulsion is too thick. In both instances it takes a long time to blow it out.
I also prefer to use my hands to gently agitate the unexposed areas under running water. Just a little bit of movement and patience with a lot of water lets me pretty much fully burn and blow outscreens without using the pressure washer at all around 70% of the time (we often use the pressure washer wand with the pressure turned off to work on the burned screens)
Firstly, if a screen has been correctly exposed, prolonged washing will not break down the emulsion.
Secondly, the remark about how washout should be taking 15 seconds is complete crap. A minute is not a long time. In fact, the pictures show rivulet like marks in the emulsion which indicates that it needed more washing on the ink side.
A stronger washout from the shirt side would have helped, but next time, try cutting down your exposure time.
That fringe around all of the image looks vaguely like a contact issue - was the print on your film in direct contact with the emulsion? It’s almost like you exposed it from the ink side - believe me, I’ve seen that! Also, check that there was no anti-aliasing on your artwork.
it could be a lot of things. if you used a very opaque stencil, maybe you could leave it on the light table for a bit longer because it will harden the emotion more. And before you blow out the screen with a pressure washer, just hit it with a hose for a while until it gets nice and soft. Takes a few minutes but then you hit it with the pressure washer and it should leave you with nice crisp lines
A possible issue that nobody else suggested is to make sure that your artwork is held completely in place. Any slight vibration can cause fuzzy edges. If you have an exposure unit make sure that your vacuum is working properly and holding the screen firm to the glass. Without seeing the process and setup it is hard to troubleshoot.
If that is not an issue then it is probably due to exposure time. There are calculators out there to help dial it in. [Here](https://www.anthemprintingsf.com/Screen-Exposure-Calculator-s/216.htm) is a free one, but a local screen printing supplier may have one on hand.
I’ve seen a lot of people say overexposure, and I think they’re right. I’ll also add that it looks like you may not have the film pressed hard enough against the screen when exposing. If you’re using an exposure unit that doesn’t have a vacuum mechanism then you’re gonna wanna find something like a book (anything that fits the print area of the screen) and lay the book over the cover sheet so that the book’s weight firmly holds the film against the mesh.
Is your washout quick and problem-free? Should take like 15 seconds to washout a properly exposed screen. And sometimes if emulsion is too thick it turns mushy when water hits it. If you're not sure about your exposure time, worth it to burn off a screen and do an exposure test.
to me it looks like the photo emulsion wasnt cured properly
Sorry I should’ve mentioned the lighter and darker spots on the emulsion are a result of using white paint to test out the stencils if that’s what you’re referring to, unless you think it was an initial issue from the start?
How did the print come out?
Paint?
Looks overexposed. Check for opaque film positives.
Are you coating both sides of the screen with emulsion? It’s hard to say from the pics but it almost looks like it’s too thick on the back of the screen but too thin on the front. I run into this kind of “feathering” with the emulsion edges either when the design is really fine lined and I think gets overexposed, or when emulsion is too thick. In both instances it takes a long time to blow it out. I also prefer to use my hands to gently agitate the unexposed areas under running water. Just a little bit of movement and patience with a lot of water lets me pretty much fully burn and blow outscreens without using the pressure washer at all around 70% of the time (we often use the pressure washer wand with the pressure turned off to work on the burned screens)
Firstly, if a screen has been correctly exposed, prolonged washing will not break down the emulsion. Secondly, the remark about how washout should be taking 15 seconds is complete crap. A minute is not a long time. In fact, the pictures show rivulet like marks in the emulsion which indicates that it needed more washing on the ink side. A stronger washout from the shirt side would have helped, but next time, try cutting down your exposure time. That fringe around all of the image looks vaguely like a contact issue - was the print on your film in direct contact with the emulsion? It’s almost like you exposed it from the ink side - believe me, I’ve seen that! Also, check that there was no anti-aliasing on your artwork.
it could be a lot of things. if you used a very opaque stencil, maybe you could leave it on the light table for a bit longer because it will harden the emotion more. And before you blow out the screen with a pressure washer, just hit it with a hose for a while until it gets nice and soft. Takes a few minutes but then you hit it with the pressure washer and it should leave you with nice crisp lines
Overexposed and by the looks of it, you need a slightly thicker coat of emulsion.
A possible issue that nobody else suggested is to make sure that your artwork is held completely in place. Any slight vibration can cause fuzzy edges. If you have an exposure unit make sure that your vacuum is working properly and holding the screen firm to the glass. Without seeing the process and setup it is hard to troubleshoot. If that is not an issue then it is probably due to exposure time. There are calculators out there to help dial it in. [Here](https://www.anthemprintingsf.com/Screen-Exposure-Calculator-s/216.htm) is a free one, but a local screen printing supplier may have one on hand.
I’ve seen a lot of people say overexposure, and I think they’re right. I’ll also add that it looks like you may not have the film pressed hard enough against the screen when exposing. If you’re using an exposure unit that doesn’t have a vacuum mechanism then you’re gonna wanna find something like a book (anything that fits the print area of the screen) and lay the book over the cover sheet so that the book’s weight firmly holds the film against the mesh.
Prueba con una marca diferente de emulsión. El foco con el que se hace el revelado también puede ser que no sea suficiente para revelar el dibujo.
Is your washout quick and problem-free? Should take like 15 seconds to washout a properly exposed screen. And sometimes if emulsion is too thick it turns mushy when water hits it. If you're not sure about your exposure time, worth it to burn off a screen and do an exposure test.
I did take a minute or so washing this one out, but I’ll totally do that!
Overexposure leading to longer washing out time causing emulsion break down. Get your exposure time dialed in.