Silkscreening

[TheOriginalGT40]

With more time on my side since closing down my model business earlier this year, I have returned to another of my favourite pastimes which is art.

The following is a work in progress piece of artwork that I will develop further into a series of Silkscreen prints of various motor racing idols, legends and general characters of the sport and cars/bikes in general.



Initially it was for my own personal pleasure but some friends have seen some of my initial works and thought they'd be worth reproducing, which of course the silkscreen process lends very well too.

I admit to using modern technology to develop my concepts, but I then revert to tradional ways to finalise the work using silkscreen processes which gives the work a quality and texture that digital printing can't match.

I have done some research and I appreciate that there are some companies who simply take very simple monotone or multitone prints and zap through digi printers but I have seen the work and the finish is not what I feel is right, even when they digi print onto canvas. Too commercialised and with that comes a less human touch to the final work.

Just interested to know what people might think of this work I'm experimenting on, btw the size of this work is 2ft square.

Regards in advance of any advice

Edited by TheOriginalGT40 on Friday 8th June 20:58

[Golfman]

I print canvases for a company that wasn’t happy with previous results using cheap digital printers with water based inks. I agree there is crap out there and I wouldn’t put up with it myself!

Screen printing can give some very good results and may be worthwhile considering when you require 100+ of the same artwork.

If you need any advise on GOOD quality digital printing give me a shout.

[Robatr0n]

I agree with the above, if you find a really good digital printer for your work (who want rip you off!!) then you will see good results but a good quality screen print is very hard to beat.

I am in the silk screen printing industry and if ever you want to ring up and enquire about costs/process of the work just call the number on the website (which can be found in my profile).

[TheOriginalGT40]

Thanks for the comments guys. I am not interested in the digital route, as mentioned above.

I'm building my own silk screen frame to produce my own prints, so if I was to think about doing more to sell then this is the route I would be taking.

[lanby]

How about a process called Dye Sublimation?

This actually dyes into the threads of the fabric rather than printing on to it
and gives far superior colour depth and quality finish to Silk screen printing,
and can work with different fabrics (currently Satin, Silk, Canvas (fabric not
paper!) and Suede, which all give different finishes and effects, depending on
what you are after.

If you'd like to see some samples of the quality get in touch and I'll sort something
out for you, you won't be disappointed or send me an image and we'll do a sample print.

As for size we do up to 1.5m x 1m in house so 60cm x 60cm is no problem (framed or unframed).

And there is no cleaning of the screens to worry about!!

[TheOriginalGT40]

lanby said:

How about a process called Dye Sublimation?

This actually dyes into the threads of the fabric rather than printing on to it
and gives far superior colour depth and quality finish to Silk screen printing,
and can work with different fabrics (currently Satin, Silk, Canvas (fabric not
paper!) and Suede, which all give different finishes and effects, depending on
what you are after.

If you'd like to see some samples of the quality get in touch and I'll sort something
out for you, you won't be disappointed or send me an image and we'll do a sample print.

As for size we do up to 1.5m x 1m in house so 60cm x 60cm is no problem (framed or unframed).

And there is no cleaning of the screens to worry about!!

Thanks for the feedback, however I wish to print onto paper rather than fabric, including canvas, so this process is not for me. Cleaning screens is not an issue for me, it's all part of the process which gives the final print that unqiue and 'hand-made' feel to it.

[drivin_me_nuts]

.. I print onto Canvas regularly - use an Epson 9800 and print off around 20ish 44" canvases a month. I have found the variety of inkjet canvases varies a lot - if you do intend to print onto Canvas then you will have to test drive quite a few and make sure you ICC profile each one at least twice!

Also get a really good water based varnish as the results can be absolutely stunning.

[TheOriginalGT40]

drivin_me_nuts said:

.. I print onto Canvas regularly - use an Epson 9800 and print off around 20ish 44" canvases a month. I have found the variety of inkjet canvases varies a lot - if you do intend to print onto Canvas then you will have to test drive quite a few and make sure you ICC profile each one at least twice!

Also get a really good water based varnish as the results can be absolutely stunning.

I think my previous reply reads wrong as I do not intend printing onto canvas, only paper, so still intend going down the silk screen printing route.

[SuperKartRacer]

Nothing wrong with digital print if you use the right kit, it's better than screen and cheaper.....

http://www.incadigital.com/products/Flatbed/Onset....

Just cost us 1.5 million ;-)

[TheOriginalGT40]

SuperKartRacer said:

Nothing wrong with digital print if you use the right kit, it's better than screen and cheaper.....

http://www.incadigital.com/products/Flatbed/Onset....

Just cost us 1.5 million ;-)

Agreed, nothing wrong with digital print if you are looking for picture perfect results everytime on runs of 1000's of items.

However, as an artist, I like working with the natural materials the very beauty of silk screening means that each and every print is unique. No two are the same and each has that finish that I'm looking for.

[SuperKartRacer]

TheOriginalGT40 said:

SuperKartRacer said:

Nothing wrong with digital print if you use the right kit, it's better than screen and cheaper.....

http://www.incadigital.com/products/Flatbed/Onset....

Just cost us 1.5 million ;-)

Agreed, nothing wrong with digital print if you are looking for picture perfect results everytime on runs of 1000's of items.

However, as an artist, I like working with the natural materials the very beauty of silk screening means that each and every print is unique. No two are the same and each has that finish that I'm looking for.

Also agree, but thought you meant for production work. As an artist myself *3D animator* films/games I agree 100%. Have any samples? maybe I could help, we also do hand silk prints as well as samtek production work. And for sure digital is just another tool in the artists box that offers unlimited creative control.

Edited by SuperKartRacer on Wednesday 20th June 08:40

[TheOriginalGT40]

SuperKartRacer said:

Have any samples?

I'm still at the experimental stage to see what level of detail I want/get in the final piece.