Preparation is key
Looking to create an exposed screen? Hopefully, you have already created your artwork and printed your transparencies, now we have to prepare your screen prior to applying the Photo Emulsion.
What you need 🧰
For this stage, you'll need a Screen, either wooden or aluminium, our Hunt The Moon Mesh Prep / Degreaser, a soft sponge and access to a washout area.
Grab them here:
Using Mesh Prep / Degreaser
Whether you have purchased a new screen or plan on using an existing one for your Custom Screen Exposure, we'll need to degrease your screen. Degreasing is a really important step as a clean degreased screen will allow for; smooth blemish-free emulsion, better emulsion adherence onto the mesh, easier exposure and washout and much sharper prints.
For example: Without having degreased the screen you may be having problems with your Photo Emulsion such as it not coating well on the screen, fish eyes and blemishes in the coat.
Using Mesh Prep: Mesh Prep/Degreaser will remove any grease, dust and dirt that may be on the screen. It's surprising how dirty the cleanest-looking screen can be!
Top Tip: Watering the Mesh Prep/Degreaser down a bit. It is quite concentrated. You can go 2:1 with water but keep it full strength if the screens are dirty.
How to apply 🧽
1. Wet the screen to be treated with cold water.
2. Apply a small quantity of the Mesh Prep/Degreaser to both sides of the screen. Rub with a brush or sponge in a circular motion.
3. Allow to stand for a few minutes.
4. Hose or wash off with copious amounts of cold water. Note: Do not use hot water, as this may block the mesh.
5. When you think you have washed off all the degreaser, rinse it again until there are no bubbles. Do this on both sides as the Mesh Prep/Degreaser gets right in the mesh, particularly around the staples and corners.
Let it dry ✨
Let it dry in a clean dust free place. It must be fully dry before you coat the screen, so be patient. Do not be tempted to dry it with a fan or hair drier. This will recover it with dust.
