| Screen printing as a method of dying, was first | | | | pre-sensitized emulsion chemicals are available for |
| practiced in China. The art was developed around | | | | building photo-reactive stencils. |
| 1000 AD. Eventually the method was adopted by | | | | In 1928, Joseph Ulano discovered the method of using |
| Japan and some Asian countries. They added their | | | | lacquer-soluble material for stencils used upon a |
| own modifications to the original method and | | | | removable base. The stencil material was carved and |
| introduced block printing and certain manual painting | | | | stuck against the mesh to produce prominent print |
| tricks. | | | | patterns. |
| Screen printing was mainly introduced to the western | | | | By this time screen-printing was quite popular in fabrics |
| continents by some of the Asian countries in the late | | | | industry. And the technology was eventually adopted |
| 18th century. However, the method was not so popular | | | | by artists too. For them it was a conveniently |
| in the European countries. But the situation changed | | | | repeatable medium that helped them in replicating |
| with the introduction of silk mesh. Silk mesh was | | | | designs and blends without much labor. |
| merchandized from the east. Thus a profitable outlet | | | | At present, the printing technique is popular in |
| for screen printing was discovered. | | | | commercial printing as well as fine arts. Screen printing |
| In England screen printing was patented for the first | | | | is extensively used for printing posters, CDs, t-shirts |
| time by Samuel Simon in the year 1907. It was primarily | | | | and hats, ceramics, paper, wood, polyethylene, and |
| used as a medium to print exquisite wall papers, silk, | | | | metals. |
| linen, and other expensive fabrics. Different types of | | | | In the 1930s, the technique was named as Serigraphy |
| screen printers came into existence; however, in order | | | | by a few artists who later on went on to create the |
| to gain competitive dominance, quality printing | | | | National Serigraphic Society. The purpose was to give |
| techniques were kept secret from the outside world. In | | | | a different identity to this age old printing method. |
| those days, several screen printers that worked on | | | | According to Printer's National Environmental |
| photo-reactive chemicals utilized actinic light based | | | | Assistance Center screen printing is perhaps one of |
| cross linking. They used compounds like traits of | | | | the most resourceful printing processes ever |
| sodium, potassium, ammonium chromate etc. These | | | | developed. All the raw materials used in this type of |
| chemicals were combined with gelatin and other types | | | | printing are readily available and inexpensive. |
| of glues. | | | | Over the years, modern printing techniques were |
| Scientists in those days experimented different | | | | developed but they couldn't replace the application of |
| chemicals to improve the printing technology and | | | | screen printing which is far more vibrant and artistic in |
| quality. They experimented with salt sensitized | | | | its make and finish. It is still used extensively in printing |
| emulsions to create photo-reactive stencils. | | | | contemporary styled posters, flyers, album covers etc. |
| Commercial screen printing makes use of sensitizers | | | | Consequently, the demand for quality screen-printing is |
| which is far safer than bichromates used in the olden | | | | on a rise irrespective of the competition. |
| days. At present, different types of user-mixed and | | | | |