By Celeste Hawkins
This is for those who have ever pondered how unique works of art eventually arrive on a t-shirt, tea-towel or any number of other materials. Liz from Super Special Screen Printers in Melbourne has sent me this photo diary to give us a sneak peak at their process! The t-shirt artwork has been designed by Melbourne based illustrator and designer Ashley Ronning.
Enjoy!
1. Choosing the right screen for the job. Screens vary in size and mesh count so it’s important that the screen is suitable for the type of work you are printing.
2. Printed positives: artwork has been separated and is printed ready to be exposed onto screen.
3. Exposure unit and coated screens. Screens are coated with UV sensitive emulsion so when they are exposed to the UV rays the emulsion that is exposed hardens and the emulsion that is behind the positive screen stays soft and washed out.
4. Washing out the emulsion that wasn’t exposed to the UV light
5. Mel is checking to make sure all the emulsion has been washed out and the ink will print perfectly through the design.
6. Mixing inks! We match colours to our pantone swatch books to make sure they are accurate.
7. Action shot of Stewart printing the base layer of the t-shirt print. There are 6 other colours!
8. Close up of the final back front of the design.
9. Front and back view. Artwork by Ashley Ronning for Super Special!
Super Special Pty Ltd
411 Francis St, Brooklyn
VIC 3012 Australia
Freecall: 1800 1 PRINT
Phone: +61 3 9399 3888
