Cut Paper Stencil Method

This is the first video of Speedball’s How-To Screen Printing Series, which takes you step-by-step through the 3 methods of Screen Printing. In less than 7 minutes, this instructional video shows you from start to finish how to complete the first screen printing method, the Cut Paper Stencil Method. From learning how to create a stencil to watching how a squeegee is pulled, you will be screen printing in no time! Check out Speedball’s Beginner Paper Stencil Kit for everything you need to get started.
Featuring Brian Garner. Video + Edit by Alex Maness & Jim Haverkamp.

[@ethanthereenactorguy4829]

Thank you Mr. Speedball, my girlfriend was confused by the vague instructions until we found you! God bless Mr. Speedball!

[@dewanAtilano]

thanks mr speed balls

[@jaimesantiago9352]

Best explained video!....Awsome teacher!

[@speedball_art]

Thanks so much! We love Brian and agree that he is the best!

[@farkaslukrecia]

thank you!

[@huesoo9827]

Thank you for posting this video. I purchased the screen printing set you used and have been intimidated to try it out for 3 years. Tried it the other day on T-shirt and may have pulled to hard. Black shirt showed through the peacock blue ink. So I appreciated the tip on 1-2lb of force as well as the tip to keep screen from drying.

[@speedball_art]

We're happy to read that you're giving printing a try! If you have continued issues that you'd like to troubleshoot, we'd love to help--please just contact our technical team at [e-mail] to review further. Thanks!

[@work2gather]

21 OCT 2020 -- Nice to see a video on simpler ways to silk screen... getting all the equipment and screens and inks is costly... this helps with experimenting and getting to know the process. Cardstock seems like a great idea.

[@speedball_art]

thanks so much for tuning in! we always want to make the techniques as accessible as possible and hope you enjoy this variation on the technique! happy printing!

[@gasperlaizer9684]

That's good

[@ijitech]

It was best ❤️🇧🇩

[@michaeltuzun6262]

What would you suggest is the best way to clean the screen afterwards? And is an impression of your design being left normal?

[@speedball_art]

we would recommend cleaning the screen with warm soap and water after you are done printing. we recommend doing this prior to the ink drying in the screen, however, it is perfectly normal for some staining to occur on the mesh and that will not negatively impact future prints at all.

[@carolynsantos6832]

Thanx for this informative video. I just read thru the instruction booklet that came with my kit; watching the video helped "bring it to life" for me. What are your thoughts on using a cutting machine to create a cardstock stencil? I have the Speedball Toolkit and a positively unholy amount of cardstock! My hope is to make screenprinted t-shirts.

[@speedball_art]

So happy that this is helpful to you. We will continue creating content that’s informative and inspiring!

[@carolynsantos6832]

@@speedball_art thanx again! I did have that question about using cardstock to create my stencil. Is that feasible?

[@speedball_art]

@@carolynsantos6832 it is possible depending on the type of the cardstock! We don't have testing data on this combination but would love to hear your experiment results!

[@elliemay7323]

I feel like you CAN get some fairly detailed designs with the stencil method - you just need a bit more practise. I remember at a craft course I was at, someone cut out the whole Starbucks logo and it came out on the t-shirt really nicely! It's just a bit less suitable for if you want to use your template for several different things. Another way to get more detail is use a bit of carefully cut tape underneath paper to keep it in place on the screen - that would be really helpful if you were trying to make eyes or the insides of letters etc that aren't attached to the main design, or your design involved bits of paper that would usually flap about a lot or crease. If you're just doing some casual screen printing for, say, a single t-shirt, that's something to try!

[@speedball_art]

Those are some really cool tips! Thanks for sharing!

[@swtxvi3txhuni]

Ty I need to practice and I will use paper. My hoodie came out a bit too thick on one side 😩 it was my first time

[@speedball_art]

pulling a squeegee is absolutely an art that takes practice, so testing on paper is a great way to get more experience prior to moving to your fabric project. we know you can do it!

[@ZionJude]

do I use the graphic side of my squeege or the fabric side on t shirts?

[@speedball_art]

you will use the textile/fabric side of the squeegee when printing on things like t-shirts, canvas totes, etc.

[@bfyre1]

PEOPLE GET YOU SOME TYPE OF VINYAL CUTTER FOR THIS METHOD YOU WELCOME. THIS WAY IS VERY TIME CONSUMING

[@christine.b3202]

Hi I am looking to start a t-shirt business which kit do you recommend to start with ? Thank you .

[@speedball_art]

The kit you start with will be driven by what kind of designs you have in mind. If you plan on using very basic images, the Beginner Paper Stencil Kit will be idea. If you plan to do more painterly imagery or designs that require photographic detail, something like our Intermediate or Advanced All-in-One Kits will be better. Also, if you plan on using a vinyl cutter to create your stencils, the Beginner Screen Printing Craft Vinyl Kit would be the best place to start!

[@rld4187]

what would you recommend doing or using if you wanted to keep the “holes” in certain letters such as A or R ? i noticed in the kit there is an example provided where the design says “Big guy” but the g is completely solid because the circle in the middle of the letter g was taken out during the printing process. In my design i’d like to keep the letters as they are. Any advice?

[@speedball_art]

On letters that have a hole, you can either use a stencil in the same design style that is used for store-bought lettering (where the letter is broken into slight segments allowing for the hole in the letter to appear) or you can use the alternative methods of screen printing, either Drawing Fluid + Screen Filler or Photo Emulsion Methods to create more complicated lettering designs that would not require any alteration at all. If you need more information, please contact us at [e-mail]. Thanks!

[@speedball_art]

Many individuals opt to download stencil templates for letters or shapes like this to incorporate them into the design without having to leave the void like we've chosen to with our "Big Guy" shirt. Clip Art is a great place to start if you can download and print at home. If not, your local craft retailer will have a range of great options in their stencil aisle!

[@c2757]

Yes. When I saw the original artwork I thought the cat was going to be an outline so I was waiting to see how the inner 'cat' was going to be masked, which it never was. It turned out to be just a silhouette. I am planning to use repositionable spray adhesive to fix the centres of my letters to the screen. I guess you have to spray the glue on the stencil - not the mesh or the glue will block the mesh where it doesn't want to be blocked. The other thing which I have been told but which never seems to be mentioned in video tutorials is that there needs to be a gap between the stencil and the substrate. I have a screen where the mesh is flush to the bottom of the screen so I think I have to attach something to keep the screen 1/8th inch off what I'm trying to print on. From what I can see, in your video, your screen has the mesh inset by the correct amount. Is that right?

[@natalienicolehill10]

Does paper weight matter? Is regular printer paper fine, or is a heavier paper recommended?

[@speedball_art]

Great question! Speedball Screen Printing inks will work well when printed on a range of paper types and weights. We do encourage artists to test the inks on their paper prior to doing large runs, however. For creating your stencil, we would recommend Bienfang's Graphic 360 paper (which is included in the kit that is featured in this video). For the heatsetting process, we recommend copy paper.

[@jaimesantiago9352]

Awsome work!..very well explained!

[@michaelsrowland]

why do you use the screen? can this also be done straight on the paper?

[@speedball_art]

The screen is an important element to keeping the paper in place during the printing process and is one of the best ways to ensure for even and consistent coverage with the ink. Additionally, the screen is very helpful when printing on fabric using a stencil.

[@michaelsrowland]

where did you get the squeegee?

[@speedball_art]

Brian is using our Red Baron™ squeegee that is featured in a range of Speedball's screen printing kit. If hoping to do the paper stencil method shown here, we'd recommend our Beginner Paper Stencil Kit. This kit provides the best introduction to screen printing by way of the paper stencil method of screen printing and includes (1) each of the following: 10”x14” Speedball Wooden Screen Frame; Red Baron™ Squeegee; 4oz. jar of Speedball Fabric Screen Printing Ink (Black); Bienfang® Graphics 360™ Paper Pad; Craft Stick; Utility Knife; Speedball Screen Printing Instruction Guide. We have more information on all of our kits on our website at SpeedballArt.com > Product Lines > Screen Printing > Kits. Please feel free to contact us at [e-mail] if there are any other questions you might have about any of our products!

[@hajpenol2911]

How to cut?

[@speedball_art]

Brian is using a hobby knife to cut away the image that was created. This tool is included in the Beginner Paper Stencil Kit Speedball offers or available at a range of craft stores.

[@lilmoldavite]

Dotn waste your time whit this just do the normal way if you want to be professional about it

[@speedball_art]

We're proud to provide content for individuals across a range of project types to inspire artists across experience levels to try screen printing in their homes, classes and studios. We've found that this method is a great way to introduce the fundamentals of screen printing by way of stencils, and is a great price point for those just starting out or teachers trying to stretch their budgets.

[@wanfarahwanzainuddin7850]

Thank you for your encouraging reply to OTRXKZ rude statement. Your video is awesome and I enjoyed watching it. I appreciate art creators you are a positive energetic bunch. I started getting into card making and hope to someday progress to more ambitious projects

[@carolynsantos6832]

Nahhh, not a waste of time. This was the first video I've ever watched about screenprinting. Thus, to me, this IS the "normal way." I have no plan to be "professional about it;" rather, to start a new hobby! Comments like yours aren't helpful.

[@pompompurinsbutthole]

not everyone has access to professional equipment, whether money wise or their city just doesn’t have one. i’m lucky to have access to one in my community college and in my city, but money’s tight at the moment and i won’t be able to use the lab in my college once my printing class is over. this video is very helpful to me because i won’t always have access to professional equipment. maybe think about other people in different situations before saying things like this?