Steps of Silkscreen Printing for Lunfeng Acrylic Panel

2025-07-18

Silkscreen printing is a flexible, time-honored method widely employed to transfer detailed patterns onto acrylic panels, finding use in signage, decoration, and industrial settings. Thanks to its blend of accuracy and sturdiness, it’s perfect for creating vivid, long-wearing graphics. Here’s a breakdown of the the following steps involved in silkscreen printing for Lunfeng Technology acrylic panels:

Designing
Start by crafting designs with vector software such as Adobe Illustrator, which allows for scaling without losing clarity. These designs are then printed onto transparent film to serve as stencils (positives). For prints with multiple colors, each color layer requires its own separate film to make individual screens.
Screen making
A fine mesh screen (usually made of polyester or nylon) is coated with a light-sensitive emulsion. The mesh count, ranging from 110 to 230 threads per inch, depends on how complex the design is—higher counts for intricate designs, lower ones for bold graphics. After coating, the screen is dried in a dark place. The film positive is laid over the emulsion-coated screen, and both are exposed to UV light. This exposure hardens the emulsion everywhere except where the design on the film blocks the light, forming a stencil. The screen is then rinsed with water to wash away the unhardened emulsion, revealing the stencil.
Preparing the acrylic surface
The acrylic panel’s surface must be spotless to ensure the ink adheres properly. Clean it using isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth to get rid of dust, oils, or any leftover residues. For textured or curved acrylic sheets, it’s important to test how well the screen works with the surface beforehand.
Setting up the printing press
The acrylic sheet is fixed onto the printing press bed using clamps or vacuum suction. The screen is positioned above the sheet, and for multi-color prints, precise alignment (registration) is ensured. The off-contact distance—the gap between the screen and the sheet—is adjusted (typically to 1/8 inch) to prevent smudging.
Begin printing

First, select the right ink: options include solvent-based, UV-curable, or acrylic-specific inks, depending on the project’s requirements.
Pour the ink onto the screen above the design area. Use a squeegee to spread the ink evenly across the screen (flood coating) to fill the open mesh.
Hold the squeegee at a 45-degree angle and apply steady, even pressure to transfer the ink through the screen onto the acrylic. For multi-color designs, let each layer dry before moving on to the next.

Ink curing
Proper curing is key to ensuring the ink adheres well and lasts.

For solvent-based inks: Let them air-dry for 10–15 minutes first, then dry them at 120–150°F for 20–30 minutes.
For UV inks: They cure immediately when exposed to UV lamps.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding temperature and time to avoid the ink cracking or peeling.

Quality check and finishing touches
Examine the acrylic panel for flaws like bubbles, streaks, or misalignment. Test the ink’s adhesion by gently scratching the edge of the print with a fingernail. If necessary, add a clear acrylic laminate to shield the design from scratches and fading caused by UV rays.

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Steps of Silkscreen Printing for Lunfeng Acrylic Panel

2025-07-18

Designing
Start by crafting designs with vector software such as Adobe Illustrator, which allows for scaling without losing clarity. These designs are then printed onto transparent film to serve as stencils (positives). For prints with multiple colors, each color layer requires its own separate film to make individual screens.
Screen making
A fine mesh screen (usually made of polyester or nylon) is coated with a light-sensitive emulsion. The mesh count, ranging from 110 to 230 threads per inch, depends on how complex the design is—higher counts for intricate designs, lower ones for bold graphics. After coating, the screen is dried in a dark place. The film positive is laid over the emulsion-coated screen, and both are exposed to UV light. This exposure hardens the emulsion everywhere except where the design on the film blocks the light, forming a stencil. The screen is then rinsed with water to wash away the unhardened emulsion, revealing the stencil.
Preparing the acrylic surface
The acrylic panel’s surface must be spotless to ensure the ink adheres properly. Clean it using isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth to get rid of dust, oils, or any leftover residues. For textured or curved acrylic sheets, it’s important to test how well the screen works with the surface beforehand.
Setting up the printing press
The acrylic sheet is fixed onto the printing press bed using clamps or vacuum suction. The screen is positioned above the sheet, and for multi-color prints, precise alignment (registration) is ensured. The off-contact distance—the gap between the screen and the sheet—is adjusted (typically to 1/8 inch) to prevent smudging.
Begin printing

First, select the right ink: options include solvent-based, UV-curable, or acrylic-specific inks, depending on the project’s requirements.
Pour the ink onto the screen above the design area. Use a squeegee to spread the ink evenly across the screen (flood coating) to fill the open mesh.
Hold the squeegee at a 45-degree angle and apply steady, even pressure to transfer the ink through the screen onto the acrylic. For multi-color designs, let each layer dry before moving on to the next.

Ink curing
Proper curing is key to ensuring the ink adheres well and lasts.

For solvent-based inks: Let them air-dry for 10–15 minutes first, then dry them at 120–150°F for 20–30 minutes.
For UV inks: They cure immediately when exposed to UV lamps.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding temperature and time to avoid the ink cracking or peeling.

Quality check and finishing touches
Examine the acrylic panel for flaws like bubbles, streaks, or misalignment. Test the ink’s adhesion by gently scratching the edge of the print with a fingernail. If necessary, add a clear acrylic laminate to shield the design from scratches and fading caused by UV rays.

Metal Dome Membrane Switch

PET Membrane Switch

Flat Membrane Switch

Waterproof Membrane Keypad

LED Membrane Keypad

FPC Membrane Switch

Backlight Membrane Switch

Membrane Switch Overlay

Capacitive Membrane Keypad

Silicone Rubber Keypad

Graphic Panel Overlay

Acrylic Front Panel

Aluminum Nameplate

FPC Flexible Circuit Board

Capacitive Touch Panel

Resistive Touch Panel

Silver Sticker Label

Metal Dome Membrane Switch

PET Membrane Switch

Flat Membrane Switch

Waterproof Membrane Keypad

LED Membrane Keypad

FPC Membrane Switch

Backlight Membrane Switch

Membrane Switch Overlay

Capacitive Membrane Keypad

Silicone Rubber Keypad

Graphic Panel Overlay

Acrylic Front Panel

Aluminum Nameplate

FPC Flexible Circuit Board

Capacitive Touch Panel

Resistive Touch Panel

Silver Sticker Label

Steps of Silkscreen Printing for Lunfeng Acrylic Panel

Steps of Silkscreen Printing for Lunfeng Acrylic Panel

Steps of Silkscreen Printing for Lunfeng Acrylic Panel

Steps of Silkscreen Printing for Lunfeng Acrylic Panel