Having a stencil break down during a print job is every screen printer’s worst nightmare. The good news is that there’s an easy way to combat stencil breakdown. Using an emulsion hardener keeps screens at peak performance.
There are lots of emulsions out in the world of screen printing. The most common two types are presensitized and diazo mixed, or dual-cure emulsion. Which emulsion is best? That answer depends on the type of shop and darkroom setup. Here’s a guide to both types of emulsion.
To get a solid stencil, printers need to use a high-quality emulsion. The screen printing market is saturated with all kinds of emulsions. With three options, Baselayr makes emulsion simple. One of those options is Baselayr Long Lasting Emulsion. To learn more about why a screen printer would use this emulsion, the inks it can handle, coating tips, and dialing in exposure times, continue reading.
Screen printing exposure units have used a variety of light sources — UV, halogen, metal halides, etc. LED bulbs have now become the standard light source for exposure units. Why the shift? LED bulbs have many advantages due to their wavelength and energy usage.
Baselayr makes emulsion simple. Instead of looking at 10 or 20 different emulsions, Baselayr offers three to select from. It’s much easier for a printer to decide which emulsion would work best for their print shop. This article will outline the various factors that determine which emulsion will best fit a shop’s needs and environment.