Printing Techniques: Screen Printing

As much as I like the look and feel of letterpress, it is through screen printing that I can really approach poster sizes.

Like letterpress, screen printing is one-color-at-a-time—meaning that spot colors are the norm, registration of multiple colors becomes a challenge, and photo-realism isn’t the goal.

As this exhibition poster shows, colors can be varied and mixed as the prints are made, offering a world of creative possibilities.

And, contrary to popular belief, screen printing is not just for t-shirts!

The “Fire Escape” image is great example of a photograph-inspired design used in both letterpress and screen-printing work I’ve created.

Each has its own character, its own mood. But both work.

The single-color letterpress line-art rendition is based on a photograph, while the editioned four-color screen print is larger and more vibrant.

The “Pipes 1” print is another example of multi-color screen printing. Again, based on a photograph, but “reinterpreted” through screen printing.

And a couple of earlier screen-printing ideas.

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