Today I wanted to share a snip-it from Shirley Goodwin's Screen Printing workshop. If you have never screen printed before, it is easier than you think and you really do not need much to get started. Check out what Shirley has to tell us about Positive and Negative images.
Positive and Negative Images
You may have used this sort of thing in your fiber art. You can make a single image, or multiple images. Either way, you need to cut the shape out carefully so that the piece you cut out is in good condition. It is easier if you print both images at the same time.
For my example, I freehand cut a fish on freezer paper with my craft knife. It is an odd looking fish, but never mind. I then ironed both positive and negative pieces to the screen alongside one another.
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When you are doing a positive/negative print like this, there are two important things to note.
- use plenty of paint - and I mean plenty. It has to cover the whole background of the positive print.
- use extra protection on your printing surface because of the extra ink. It has a tendency to bleed through the fabric onto your surface, which will cause problems for the next thing you print. I found I needed to use several layers of newspaper under mine. You can peel off the top page and throw it away as required.
... Shirley Goodwin
More About Screen Printing for Quilters: Create your own designs and discover the joys of being able to screen print your own fabric. Explore how screen printing can provide color and texture to your quilting and textiles without the need to use traditional methods. This is a fun and easy class, suitable for all levels. Please note: This class is NOT about printing t-shirts and does not cover traditional commercial-type screen printing methods. Discover more...
