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Thermofax Silk-Screen Stenciling
Technique for Printing More than One Color & for Textured Surfaces By Sonja Lee-Austin © Copyright 2005 |
- For fabric, tape or pin fabric to your printing table or a piece of cardboard or foam core so that it lies flat. This will not be necessary for printing on paper.
- Place Thermofax where you want your Thermofax image on the fabric or paper with smooth screen side down.
- Use a hard-bristled brush such as a stencil brush to brush paint through the screen. Move brush back and forth in one direction for a cleaner print. For fabric, you may need to use more pressure with your brush to press paint through the Thermofax screen. Paper will require less vigor. To use more than one color, either use one brush per color or carefully dry your brush after washing it in your water cup. Practice is a good idea so you figure out the pressure that works for you.
- Hold Thermofax screen in place at one corner and carefully lift up the screen with the other hand to peak to see if your image has printed clearly.
- If your image is clear, lift off the Thermofax screen. If your image did not print clear enough, carefully lower screen back into place, add a little more paint along the top of the screen, and pull squeegee across the screen a second time.
- Continue on to make more prints with your Thermofax or wash it before the paint dries in it by rinsing with water and carefully rubbing paint away with your fingers or a soft sponge. Hang to dry or blot with a towel. (Scrub brushes may scratch the smooth screen side. Soaking Thermofax in water will also ruin it.)
