16-12
SILKSCREENING PRINTING FOR MAKING POSTERS
In community health work, a low-cost method of printing posters and shirts can be a
big help.
If health workers learn to make and use a simple silkscreen during their training,
those who want to can construct similar ones for use in their villages. The silkscreen
described here has been made by village health workers and works well.
SILKSCREEN:
Making the screen
• wood about 5 cm. (2 in.) wide
• screws or nails
• silk or very fine nylon cloth (see
p. 16-14)
• small nails or tacks
• glue or paint that resists water
• a smooth board for the base
• hinges
1. Make a wooden
frame. Then
stretch the silk
tightly over it
and tack it
down.
Printing copies
• stencils (see p. 16-14)
• adhesive tape or sticking plaster
• ink or paint (see next page)
• squeegee for spreading the ink
(see next page)
1. Write or draw on the stencil,
and tape it to the bottom of the
screen.
Place paper or cloth to be printed here.
2. Spread glue
or paint on the
edges of the
screen that
will not be
covered by
the stencil.
That way
ink will not come through.
3. When the screen is dry, turn the frame
over and attach it to the base with hinges.
2. Pour a little ink at one end of the screen.
3. In one firm, even motion, spread the ink
acros the screen with the squeeqee.
Lift frame and take out copy to dry.