Silkkipainoon

Silkkipainoon, Finnish for silk screen printing, refers to a printing technique in which ink is deposited onto a substrate through a mesh screen that has been coated with a stencil to block certain areas. The stencil creates the image or pattern, and ink passes only through the open parts of the screen.

Process and materials: A screen made of nylon or polyester is stretched in a frame. The image areas are sealed with a light-sensitive emulsion and then exposed to a film positive or digital image; unexposed areas are washed away to create the stencil. The screen is mounted, aligned with the substrate, and ink is applied with a squeegee, dragged across the screen to force ink through the open mesh. For multicolor prints, separate screens and color registration are used for each color layer. Inks commonly used include plastisol and water-based formulations, with curing or drying steps to fix the print. Substrates range from textiles (such as T-shirts) to paper, wood, metal, and glass.

History and terminology: Modern silk screen printing developed in the 20th century, building on earlier stencil-based methods from East Asia. In art contexts, the technique is frequently called serigraphy. The method is valued for its ability to produce bold colors and opaque fills on a variety of materials.

Applications and advantages: Silkkipainoon is widely used for apparel, posters, fine art editions, signage, and decorative objects. It offers strong color, durability, and versatility across substrates, though setup can be time-intensive for very small runs and precise color alignment is required for multi-color work.