Exposure Lamps
I take my newly constructed screen with the emulsion I've prepared. After I let it dry, I pick up the screen and locate the image I'll be using. I plan to go outside and expose the screen the natural way, with the sun. To my surprise, however, as I open the door I realize that it is just beginning to rain. 'No screen printing today, then...'
Not if I have an exposure lamp. Exposure lamps or units are useful for preparing a screen for screen printing. Though we can use the sun, it is difficult to control the amount of UV ray exposure that the screen is getting. Sometimes it may be too little and the emulsion will wash out in unintended areas, other times it may be too much and you'll end up baking the emulsion directly onto the screen-which is not good. Other times the weather just won't allow it.
To build an exposure lamp is actually pretty simple. All you need is some PVC pipe, a 500 watt halogen work light, a saw, and a power drill, all conveniently found at your local hardware store. Below is a video that gives more in-depth information on how to build one...
Following the instructions in the video, I created this:
Not bad. For someone who is mechanically challenged. It even stays upright.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 comments:
Post a Comment