Here’s A Brief History of Screen Printing

The realm of t shirt printing has been ever-expanding and ever-popular in the current world. It is not difficult to understand why custom t shirts are all the rage among the youth right now - they are cool, trendy, and durable. In order to understand the phenomenon, here’s a sneak-peek into the history of screen printing.

Usually, screen printing involves placing a fine mesh screen, which is stretched tightly over a wooden frame, above a piece of paper. Then colour is forced through the screen with a rubber blade called a squeegee. Usually the screen is made of silk, hence the name silk screen printing. However, as cotton, nylon or metal can also be used, the more inclusive term is screen printing. Some professional artists prefer to use the term serigraphy to differentiate between artistic screen printing and that of commercial printing.

A primitive form of screen printing using stencil templates has already been documented in 10th century China. However, the term “screenprinting” has been derived from the silkscreen of a wise old man, Vincent Byrne, in the late 19th century, a member of the Royal Society of Fine Arts. He was a pioneer of the screen printing method, which is still one of the most popular printing methods today. These forms of silk screen printing, such as the orientation of images and the use of stencil images, were truly groundbreaking in terms of the artistic expression of the times. 

It seems that Europeans did not start using screen printing until the 18th century and only then became fully aware of it. This occurred after screen printing fabrics had become more widespread internationally and the use of screen printing in the United States in the early 18th century. Moreover, the first printing plant in the United States, the first in New York City. and the second in Chicago, were all located in one place.

It was the breakthrough that was achieved through experiments with an emulsion that sensitizes chromium salt with a photo-reactive stencil, that really progressed the process of screen printing. They would prove to be the basis for the development of photoreactive screen printing templates as we know them today. What we didn't know at the time, was how deadly the toxin-based emulsions used for stencil burning were and how much they cost.

Eventually it was popularised by American Pop artists like Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg, and Andy Warhol, as well as other contemporary art movements. These artists chose the medium of screen printing because it allowed them to maintain bold, bright colours when reproducing their works. Boldly colourful and novel, screen printing has become one of the basic techniques of postmodernist art.

As the process, material, and equipment for screen printing became easily accessible, achievable or improvisable over the years,it evolved into one of the most efficient and cost-effective printing methods imaginable. Today, screen printing is a dominant way in which custom t-shirts are processed, both on a personal and bulk order basis. 

If you wish to attain a custom tee to flaunt to your squad, all you have to do is finalize a colour palette and a design that appeals to you the most. Then on, put the design forward to an experienced custom apparel company, and you're good-to-go!