This final print was supposed to be a very simple two colour print, combining vinyl stencil in tight register with a linocut image. As I began to draw up the planned water surface effects I realised I would need to push the method of using this material to its limits; especially the aim of making a stencil that could be easily washed clean and re used, but also was easy to strip from the screen to reclaim it.
The key tracing was then transferred to a sheet of Oracal 651 matt finish (in reverse of course) again using carbon paper. And I began the deceptively tricky business of cutting and ‘weeding’ the stencil.
Again sticking to my self-imposed brief of making a print with ‘kitchen’ facilities, I used a screen press made from simple hinges fixed to a piece of reclaimed melamine laminated board (a kitchen cupboard in fact!).
However it was here that I again met the most significant limitation of this method.
I have mentioned before the problem of the actual physical thickness of this vinyl material when used as a stencil. Because of the need to print with fine meshes (120 – 140T, to keep the quantity of water based ink going on to paper to a minimum) the physical squeegee pressure and angle required to get a clean print requires both considerable strength and experience. This stencil, with its narrow lines and sharp angles, pushed the possibilities to the limit and I had to reject 4 of the 15 sheets I began with. On coarser meshes (e.g. for fabric printing) or with simpler, more rounded shapes, it would not be a problem.
But I did end up with a nice little edition of 10: 'Floating'; Linocut and screenprint; 50 x 25 cm.
Pros
- Makes accurate clean stencils that are easily attached to mesh.
- Solvent adhesive resists water based inks and careful washing out.
- Peels from (especially when damp) mesh extremely easily to reclaim screen which can be washed with detergent and degreased with rubbing alcohol ready for a new stencil.
- Range of imagery/shapes limited to what can be traced and hand cut with a knife
- High squeegee pressure required to empty mesh completely of ink along edges and in small and narrow open areas.
- Screens must be entirely free of greasy/inky residues for firm attachment of smaller and thinner areas of stencils
- Careful cleaning of left over ink from print side of the screen only required to avoid accidental removal.