The techniques we've shown so far for using Thermofax screens have mostly been one color techniques. You may be wondering - how do they print t-shirts and other products with multiple colors? While the commercial process is a bit different from Thermofax screens, there are ways to use multiple colors with screens, and that is our topic for this 6th week of quilt camp. We'll look at ways of blending colors and designs that use more than one screen. So let's get started.
One way to use multiple colors in a design is to create images with multiple parts - for example, an image that has both "fill" and outline, or one that has both a positive and negative component as the following pictures will show.
This is a 2 part screen for a black-eyed Susan - one screen for the petals and one screen for the center and outline. Print the petals first and allow to dry, so the outline will print on top. Sue's print is above, Elizabeth's is below.
Elizabeth is printing on a background created with breakdown printing, another printing process we'll talk about in a later post. Her tips are to print off the edge, and don't worry about getting a perfect match when you do a 2-screen print like this.
Here's another flower, this time there's a rectangular outline which creates the negative image (empty space) and then a second screen for the flower itself (positive image).
Above, the positive image is printed over the negative.
These are Sue's finished prints. Hmm...how did those pink flowers end up yellow? Short answer, she didn't like the original color combination so did another! The yellow center on the right print was added with a paint brush.
You can also use multiple colors on the same screen that will blend as you print, and change slightly with every succeeding print.
Here Sue used yellow and red for some leaf prints. You'll get the most distinction between colors on the first print. After that, they will blend as you print to form new colors. So carefully consider your color choices.
Can you tell which is the first print from the paint photo above?
Elizabeth printed a zebra with two colors - gold from Artistic Artifacts at the top and navy blue from Pro-Chem at the bottom. Her background here is also a breakdown print.
Another way of incorporating multiple colors in a print is by using water soluble crayons like those shown below - Derwent Inktense color blocks and Reeves Water Soluble Wax Pastels.
For this process, start with the screen placed on top of parchment paper (freezer paper would work too). Apply the color to the screen just by coloring over it. Then place your screen on the fabric you wish to print on.
Matte medium is the product needed to make the print. Place a line of the medium across the top of the screen and squeegee across it the same as you would with paint. The medium dissolves the color and prints it through the screen onto the fabric.
The print on the left is done with the Inktense blocks, the fish on the right are done with the Reeves water soluble pastels. The use of the matte medium adds a little bit of stiffness to these prints, but heat setting with the iron removes most of it. This method gives you more control over the color placement. The colors will blend a bit where they overlap, but not as much as using multiple paint colors.
Have fun trying these methods and products to add multiple colors to your prints. If you see screens you like in this series of posts, look for them in our Etsy shop. If you don't find them there, feel free to send us an email at pgfiber2art@gmail.com and let us know what you are interested in; we only have about half of our screen catalog in the Etsy shop, but are happy to add upon request.
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