Screen Printing Forum

how about this then: do you agree that transparencies can be created using an inkjet printer onto acetate? the guy who runs the print centre here says they won't work. i was wondering if that's what the problem is when i can't get my prints to work. somebody... please... help me?

thats a trick question...

You can use and inkjet on some kinds of transarencies... BUT your inkjet more then likely is NON-POSTSCRIPT so you wont be able to do any halftones (shading)
Why dont you post an image of what you are trying to print?

god it's so complicated...


here's the image, as you can see it doesn't have any half tones. while we're at it, do you know if a halogen lamp has UV in it? [/img]

The design you have below can be printed by probably most if not any inkjet. Use settings like "Highest Quality", "Dark", "Transparency", etc. and run a piece of clear film thru your inkjet and you'll probably get a good positive.

As far as using a halogen light to expose your screen, yes, you can, BUT....halogen is among the poorest sources of UV light and therefore, takes a longer time to expose your screen. The highest source of man-made UV light is from a carbon-arc lamp, and then next in line would be a Metal-Halide lamp, then unfiltered blacklight florescent tubes.

What kind of "acetate" are you using (if you are printing it yourself)???

People sometimes print 2 of the same images and overlay them to get a better blackout.

yeah, that image is easy cause there are no halftones.
Any inkjet will work and should be REALLY DARK if you you have the correct film.