Silkscreen printing - with pictures!

Problems with Blogger on the move often meant

no pictures or too many.  So here is the process

of silk screen printing from white cloth to the

finished product

Stacks of screens, with permanently printed patterns

The print table - yes, it was dark with

visible fumes.  No health and safety here.

Printed cloth

At the end of the line

washed cloth ready for drying

Drying on frames, around 10ft tall with

racks to accommodate the print run

All dried and ironed ready for dispatch

Piles of small silk screens for use in 

packaging - bearing the manufactures

details and others with clients address.

After a little research, it appears that silk

screen printing is over taking the traditional

block printing.  It is easier, quicker and

pays well.  Consequently small block

printing units are closing down.

The silk screen process churns out metres

of cloth in minutes.  Unfortunately many

chemicals are involved.  Combined with the

concentration of printing activities this has

triggered a high level of pollution.

  

I think, however, there are still small

communities who carry on making the 

traditional prints.  It is a far more labour 

intensive operation.  Maybe this takes

place in villages on the outskirts of 

the town.  Their textiles, in rich blues,

reds and yellows, are still much in 

demand apparently, though probably

produced to order.  I shall have to

continue my search next visit.