Screen printing, also known as silkscreen or serigraphy printing, is a printing technique widely used in industrial applications to apply ink or dye onto fabrics, boxes, cups, plates, posters, food packaging and more.

The Screen Printing Process

Screen printing involves using a stencil to apply ink or dye to the desired surface. The basic screen printing process involves the following key steps:

- Screen Making: The first step is to create a screen that will act as the stencil for applying the ink or dye design. The screen maker coats a fine mesh screen with a photo-emulsion resist and exposes it to a film positive of the desired design. After developing, the photosensitive coating hardens in the open areas and washes out in the blocked areas. This leaves the mesh open in the design areas to allow the ink/dye to pass through.

- Set Up: The art file is mounted on an exposure unit or light table and the coated screen placed emulsion side down over the art and exposed to light. After developing, the unexposed emulsion is washed away exposing the open mesh in the design area.

- Ink Deposition: On the printing table, ink is applied to the open mesh areas of the screen with a squeegee. Excess ink is scraped off after passing over the mesh leaving ink deposited in the open screen areas.

- Print Run: The substrate (fabric, box, plate etc.) is placed on the printing table and the screen lowered onto it. Ink deposited in the open screen areas is transferred onto the substrate. Multiple print stations can print additional colors on the same pass.

- Curing/Drying: Heat and pressure may be applied to cure or dry the ink/dye onto the substrate depending on the application and ink type used.

screen can produce thousands of prints before needing to be re-coated, adding to the cost-effectiveness of screen printing for mass production volumes.

Common Industrial Applications

With its ability to print high-volume runs with little per-unit costs, screen printing sees widespread applications across industries. Some of the most common industrial uses of screen printing include:

Apparel Printing

The apparel industry is one of the largest adopters of screen printing technology for decorating T-shirts, caps, uniforms and more with designs and logos. Rotary screen printers capable of continuous high-speed production are commonly used. Water-based inks are favored to avoid harming the garments.

Signage & Graphics

Both indoor and outdoor signage along with vehicle/bus graphics commonly use screen printing. The durability of UV-cured inks make screen printing ideal for applications exposed to weathering. Large format printers can print designs over 3-meters wide.

Packaging Printing

Food/beverage packaging, corrugated boxes, folding cartons and labels all leverage screen printing for product branding and safety information printing. Materials like paper, plastics and metal foil laminates can be printed on at high volumes.

Ceramic & Glass Decorating

Screen printing is widely used in the application of designs, logos and decorations onto plates, mugs, tiles and glassware. UV-curing glass inks withstand high temperatures during firing. Rotary and linear printers meet production demands.

Labels & Decals

self-adhesive labels for product identification use ink systems formulated for specific label substrates like paper, vinyl, polyester and PET. Digital technologies now also complement screen printing in this field.

Emerging Applications

The versatility, artistic freedom and cost-efficiency of screen printing continues enabling new applications. Some emerging sectors integrating screen include:

3D Printing Supports - Screen printable compositions act as supports/break-aways for 3D printed models, enabling new geometries.

Conductive Inks - Used in printed electronics, sensors and smart packaging/textiles by screen

printing conductive materials like silver, copper and carbon inks.

Digital Hybrid Processes - Combining digital pre-press with automated screen printing attachments for on-demand short runs without screens.

Large Format Textiles - New textile applications like awnings, banners and outdoor fabrics utilize the ability to print meters wide.

Sustainability Practices

While screen printing outputs can involve toxic inks/solvents depending on the application, the industry is progressing sustainability practices:

- Water-based Inks - Safer alternative to solvent-based inks, now widely used for apparel and many packaging applications.

- Low/No VOC Ink Systems - Regulatory pressures drive the development of ink technologies emitting lower volatile organic compounds.

- Recyclable Materials - Screen printers partner with brand owners procuring raw materials crafted from recycled content where applicable.

- Energy Efficiency - New generation LED UV curing helps reduce energy use versus older mercury lamp technologies.

- Waste Management - Best practices focused on minimizing ink/solvent waste sent to landfills through recycling or waste-to-energy programs.


After centuries of evolution, screen printing stands as a highly productive and cost-efficient graphic application process. Through ongoing technology advances and sustainable best practices, screen printing will continue enabling creative designs and branding solutions across mass-produced goods and newer industries for decades to come. Its artistic versatility coupled with industrial scale production capacities reinforce screen printing as a print process here to stay.

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