Make the screen
Mesh & screens
Mesh count controls how much ink goes down and how much detail the screen can hold. Tension and prep decide whether the screen prints the same way twice.
In short
- 156 is a common all-round count for plastisol spot color; go lower for heavy deposits, higher for detail.
- Tension matters as much as count. About 20 N/cm is the minimum safe tension for most counts.
- Abrade new mesh once, lightly. Degrease every screen before coating.
In this guide
- 01Frames: wood, aluminum, retensionable
- 02Mesh counts by job
- 03Mesh color and thread diameter
- 04Tension
- 05Prepping mesh
Sources for this guide (18)
- Vastex, Screen frame information
- ASI Central, Wood vs. aluminum screen frames
- SPSI, Feeling the tension
- ScreenPrinting.com Help, How do I pick the right mesh count?
- ScreenPrinting.com, Which mesh count is right for me?
- ScreenPrinting.com, Everything you need to know to print an underbase
- Atlas Screen Supply, Mesh count chart
- Avient, PAGEJ100 Crystalina tech data sheet
- Dragonfly Colors, Mesh selection in screen printing
- International Coatings, Catalyst 900 (nylon)
- Vastex, Mesh information
- Screen Printing Magazine, Tensioning screens for smoother setups
- Chromaline, Causes of pinholes during screen making
- Catspit Productions, Proper emulsion performance
- Avient, Print technique guide, 2023 (PDF)
- ScreenPrinting.com Help, What’s considered good mesh tension?
- Impressions, Troubleshooting screen printing (2018)
- Ink Kitchen, Why out of register? Let me count the ways
Where sources disagree, the page says so.