YouTees: Chroma-Blue Screen Burn Test: 2 of 2 (screen printing)

When you try a new emulsion, you should do a screen burn test . In this video I am showing the results obtained with Chromaline: Chroma-Blue screen emulsion.

the test was done with three screens.

The first screen was a 110mesh-- exposed in bright sunlight for a period of 2 and 1/2 minutes. It took about 2 minutes(after setting wet on both sides for 1 minute) to completely wash the stencil out with a garden hose nozzle at about 10/12" from flat side of screen. screen came out perfect; with no pinholes, but can be considered to be an 'over-burn' because:

the second screen(a 124 mesh) was sunlight exposed for 1 and 1/2 minutes; washed out in about 30 seconds(after setting wet on both sides for 1 minute)and had no emulsion slick on the inside(farthest from light source)screen surface. No pinholes. I consider 1 and 1/2 minutes to be a good bright sunlight exposure(Oregon)time...although it may be possible to go less. I got 60 to 70 second sunlight exp. in Denver(summer) with other emulsions. Either way...the sun can save you time over synthetic light sources. use it when you can!

Third screen was a 110 and was exposed in strips varying from 6 mins to 1 minute; under a 500 watt halogen 'shop lite'; light 19" from glass(with a fan to keep glass from overheating). Results as explained in video. 2 and 1/2 minutes seems to be the good time under the halogen if exposing a film with 'iffy' image opacity. I would not expose over 3 minutes even with an excellent film positive as anymore seems to be over-burn...not an issue with a good film, except it wastes time if you have many screens to burn.
ALSO: I always hit both sides of a screen for about 20 secs each right before I place a screen on my table to burn. the drier the emulsion AT TIME OF BURN...the better image resolution and faster burn. Hard to quantify exactly but the little extra time is worth a better screen...right???

remember to wet both sides of the screen and let soak for a minite BEFORE you walk out into sunlight to wash out. wash out from BACK(flat side)only as that is the most stable side of the burned screen. Washing out from the inside(well side)or with too much force can ruin a screen that would have washed out fine...if washed correctly. Do not blast image areas with water to open!...you may get lucky or NOT. Precheck art work to correct opacity issues and/or adjust your burn time for optimal results given the integrity of your film(as spoken of in vid).

Once you have this test done you can make some safe estimations on times for different meshes. for example since 2 and 1/2 minutes (halogen)on a 110 is good...then it follows that a finer mesh(less emulsion thickness for the UV rays to expose)can take less time. It won't be much less if going from 110 to 124, but , for example, a 175 may need just two minutes to adequately expose. Make notes until you are SURE you can remember what you did when it works out very well.
Now that I have established a burn time foundation with this test...I know what I need to do with any screen I want to expose...either by sunlight or halogen.

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[CUSTOMIZEDMYSHIRT]

THANKS I JUST USED THIS EMULSION TODAY...ITS EASY TO RECLAIM...BUT I'M STILL WAITING YOUR FINAL FEEDBACK.

[YouTees]

@CUSTOMIZEDMYSHIRT I have continued to use this emulsion and have found NOTHING to complain about. Great stuff! whether i use it on 110 mesh level res imagery or 230 mesh level imagery...it coats/exposes and rinses as nice as i could ever want. and that is with a 500 watt halogen light!(for those who think you 'gotta' have a black light system to get a good image burn...no...you don't.) CromaBlue is really a great emulsion.

[YouTees]

@CUSTOMIZEDMYSHIRT final feedback?

[mercurynoah]

I need help with my yudu. Every time i rinse the screen to get all of the emulsion off were the image was. The whole emulsion sheet just starts to wash off. I dont know what im doing wrong. i followed all the steps. I havent been able to get anything to stay on the screen after exposing it. the moment i go to rinse its all gone. Please help

[YouTees]

@mercurynoah See my videos on the YUDU and you will know what I think about such marketing schemes. I cannot help you with YUDU. If I did what they did or sold what they sold, I'd be to ashamed to leave my house, let alone talk about SP. I hope you understand why I cannot start being a 'YUDU tech' !? I will do some more vids on for comparitive purposes...but you need to contact those 'highly trained screen printers'(hee!!!)at YUDU. Tried that yet?

[YouTees]

Thanks...it is just so much easier to learn your emulsion burn characteristics up  front with a screen test like this, so you don't have to wonder...especially on those days when the Gods of Screen Printing show no mercy and the screen ABSOLUTELY HAS to be right the first time. aka: 'Rush' job.

[blackfootkids]

Thanks!

[NewAgeDirector]

Great video keep up the good work.

[hellorodney]

another excellent tutorial,,,thanks so much

[Dave51262]

Lee - Thanks! It is great to learn from someone who knows. Thanks for sharing great information. Are you using the CP-Tex or Magna Cure UDC-HV Chromaline Blue?

[raze75]

thanks so much- im testing the emulsion out now- ill let you know how it goes :) thanks again for all the useful info.. so many people leave out so much info!