Silkscreen printing

"THE RANGE of application of screen printing is very wide," said Dr. Romeo Manalad -- artist, photographer, screen printer, lecturer, chemist, manufacturer of screen printing equipment and son of the late Wagas Manalad who pioneered in the screen printing business in the country as early as the 1920s.

"Screening is celebrated," Dr. Manalad said, "because, in addition to paper, it can print on just about any material you can think of, from glass to fabric."

Although its publication use is limited, screen printing provides unique opportunities for special covers, packaging, T-shirts, posters, banners, outdoor billboards and the like. This, despite the advent of computerized laser printing technology which prints faster and is less labor-intensive.

He explained: "Ang advantage ng computer is that when it comes to artwork, it makes the artist's work easier and faster. What the artist can do in a week, the computer can do in thirty minutes. Computerization helps the industry in the execution of graphic designs. Sa actual printing, computer cannot replace silkscreen printing. Although fast, the computer does not produce colors and images as sharp, clear and vivid as screen printing does."

Basics of screen printing

Screen printing is a stencil process in which color is forced through the meshes of a silk or organdy screen onto the material to be printed.

"The three things you need are printing frame, mesh fabric and stencil," said Dr. Manalad.

Printing frame consists of four essential parts: the frame itself, the clear hinges and the baseboard. Inside dimension of the frame ranges from 9 in. x 12 in. to 3 ft. x 15 ft., depending on the size of the image or design.

Screen, usually silk or organdy, is attached to the frame with coire staple driven over thin cardboard strips to strengthen the grip of the coire on the screen.

Stencil is a sheet of celluloid, cardboard, or other material in which the desired artwork has been cut. Three types of stencils used in screen printing are hand-cut paper stencil, hand-cut film stencil and photographic stencil.

Hand-cut paper produces flat and one-color images only. Film stencil, though handcut, can produce multi-colored images, if you know the right technique of mixing colors with one push of the squeegee. On the other hand, photographic stencil is characterized by its great accuracy and fidelity to detail that it prints the exact image of the original photo.

Also called serigraphy, stencil printing or screen process of film printing, screen printing involves five stages: art preparation, screen preparation, ink mixing, printing and finishing.

Starting your own screen printing business

"You can start with P5,000; you don't even need a motor or any electrical equipment because you can start with manual application," Dr. Manalad said. "The kit, which we sell for P980, already includes the frame, mesh fabric, stencil and squeegee. The rest will go to the ink which will be the consumable item. If you know how to mix your own ink, your production costs will be minimized further."

He added, though, that the most important tool that an entrepreneur can have is technical expertise which gives you the edge in the market. "The possibility with screen printing is endless, if you know how. If you are capable of doing a job that your competitor is not capable of, you can command your price. Creativity and quality equals profits. To do that, you should have a lot of know-how."

"To survive in the industry," Dr. Manalad disclosed, "you've got to have a quality job because it is the one that dictates the success of the business. Other than that, you've got to have good management and marketing skills. You've got to have a dynamic name that sounds successful."

Marketing

"First of all, print a sample," he advised. "This is the first thing that your customer would like to see before hiring your expertise. Siyempre, 'pag nakita niya and he's impressed, you have built up the confidence of the customer that you're capable of doing what he needs and wants."

"The first customers you can have are friends and relatives, until such time na 'yung sample mo will be talked about and word-of-mouth will do the marketing for you," he added. Manalad said you can earn as much as 250%, if you're good enough. "If you're consistent with the quality of your work and innovative in your applications, you can profit as much as twice your costs. If it's something that your competitors can't do, you can earn a net income of 250%. Your business will certainly grow. You don't even have to hustle for a job. Palaging may kakatok sa iyo."

Seize opportunities

Screen printing is one business that has proven to be profitable because of its myriad applications like textile, decal, advertising and promotions, industrial and container decoration.

The textile industry, for example, is one of the major markets of screen printing. Not only t-shirts but aprons, jackets, hats/caps, bags, and towels use the technology as well.

The second biggest market is decal, the transfer of design from a special type of paper to other materials with the use of a substrate. Examples are the "Push" and "Pull" signs on store entrances, school logos, and bumper stickers.

In advertising and promotions, screen printing is widely used in the production of point-of-purchase materials like calendars, posters, rulers, ballpens, key chains, stationeries, etc. Industrial applications, too, are in step with the growth of machinery and electronics. As innovations in radio and television grow, so does the demand for cases, dials and controls which can only be marked through screen printing.

The future of screen printing is something that cannot be predicted, Dr. Manalad stressed. "Every month, every year, new methods and new applications emerge. Parang it's a God- given technology that everybody has the opportunity to use." *

Rochelle has been working in the field of publicity, advertising and corporate publications for ten years now. When office work is light, she finds time to research about business opportunities that abound in the Philippines. You may email the author at trade@philippinestoday.net.

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