Steps in making a reduction print

original sketch

The first step was to make a sketch of the image that I wanted to print. This will be the actual size of the finished print. I scanned my sketch and centered and glue sticked  it onto a sheet of print paper (Stonehenge, 100% rag, in ivory, cut to 7 x 9 inches). This will go nicely into an 8 x 10 frame.

I placed the sketch on my screen bed and set registration guides. Then with the transparent screen lowered over the sketch, I painted the complete block of the print area with screen drawing fluid. That is a  water soluble fluid that acts as a resist to the blockout. A strip of mat board under the screen keeps the screen separated from the sketch.
I painted around the areas that would stay the paper color. Everything that is blue will be printed.

I rounded the corners of my print.

Registration is of primary importance in multicolored printing.

1.     It is not hard to achieve almost perfect registration by having the original image to be printed on a sheet of print paper that you have cut for the edition. It could be drawn right on the print paper or mounted onto a sheet of print paper with a glue stick.

2.     The image should appear about in the center of the screen.

3.     Tape the print paper onto the screen bed with a couple of pieces of masking tape.

4.     You will need three rectangles of cardboard for registration guides. The cardboard should be a just little thicker than the print paper. Cereal boxes and other packaging could be used.

5.     Use glue stick to cover one side of the cardboard guides.

6.     Place the guides onto the screen bed so that they butt up to the print paper at the ends of the longer side of the print paper.

7.     Put masking tape over the guides – not too close to the paper. You don’t want the tape to extend where the guide and the paper meet.

8.     Be sure that there is glue under the guide at the edge where it butts up to the paper so that the paper will not slide under when setting it in place for printing.

Every time that you put a sheet of print paper into the guides it will be in the right place for good registration.

This works for reduction printing with one screen and for prints made with multiple screens.

First color printed

I chose a light red for the first color. I mixed transparent base with red fabric screen printing ink directly from the jar.

Every piece of print paper was printed with this color. I will show you how I completed my print in future posts. 

I choose to make a reduction print as this will be what I will be teaching at the Power House in October. For more information about the class, click here.