Silk Screening | Squeegees, Inks, Photo Emulsion, and Screens

To start silk screening you will need a screen, squeegee, printing ink, a flat printing surface and either stencils or photo-based screens. Our Silk Screening collection brings these core supplies together, including screens, squeegees, Speedball accessories and Tri-Art Silk Screening Base for mixing with acrylic colours. For inks, many printers choose water-based colours from the Impressions Block Printing Ink collection, and if you want to explore more studio tools you can also browse the wider Printmaking collection and Art Supplies – Printmaking section.

Yes, many of the inks and tools in the Silk Screening collection are suitable for both textiles and paper. Water-based Impressions Block Printing Inks are formulated for block printing and screen printing on paper and selected fabrics, and you can choose dedicated paper from our Paper and Pads collection when you are printing posters or art prints. For t-shirts and fabric projects, look for screens, meshes and additives that mention textile use, or mix Tri-Art Silk Screening Base with acrylic colours as described on its product page.

Tri-Art Silk Screening Base is a water-based additive designed to turn acrylic colours into smooth, durable screen printing inks. You simply mix it with compatible acrylic paints to improve open time, printability and wash-fastness on paper and selected fabrics. Learn more on the Tri-Art Silk Screening Base product page, then pair it with screens, squeegees and accessories from the Silk Screening collection. This is a great option if you already love specific acrylic colours and want to bring them into your printmaking alongside dedicated inks in the Impressions Block Printing Ink collection.

Lower mesh counts like 85 mesh are ideal for thicker inks, metallics and bold designs with fewer details, while higher mesh counts hold finer lines and small text. In the Silk Screening collection you will find options like the Speedball 85 Monofilament Printing Screen and 85 Monofilament Silkscreen Roll, which are well suited to textile and studio printing. Beginners often start with a mid-range mesh and then experiment with different counts as they refine their technique, using inks from the Impressions Block Printing Ink collection or mixed acrylic colours.

The Silk Screening collection is designed for both beginners and experienced printers. If you are just starting, ready-to-use tools like Speedball Speed Screens and simple hinge systems such as the Screen Printing Base Unit Hinge Pack make setup easier while still giving you studio-quality results. As you gain confidence, you can expand into additional screens, emulsions and inks from the Printmaking collection and Impressions Block Printing Ink collection.

It is best to clean water-based inks while they are still wet, using cool water and a mild brush or cloth to avoid driving pigment deeper into the mesh. After printing with inks from the Impressions Block Printing Ink collection or mixes made with Tri-Art Silk Screening Base, rinse your tools and screens from the Silk Screening collection promptly, then let them dry completely before storage. Products like Speedball’s screen cleaners and fillers, found within Art Supplies – Printmaking, can help remove stubborn residues and extend the life of your mesh and frames.

Yes, many artists layer relief prints and screen prints together for rich, mixed media effects. You might carve and print a background using blocks and tools from the Lino & Block Printing collection, then add text, patterns or imagery on top with screens and squeegees from the Silk Screening collection. Water-based inks in the Impressions Block Printing Ink collection are formulated for both block and screen printing, which makes it easy to keep your colour palette consistent across techniques.

To deepen your silk screening skills, you can explore books like Print Workshop for hand-printing techniques, and keep an eye on upcoming workshops and events listed on our Art Classes Kingston page. These resources pair perfectly with hands-on practice using screens, squeegees and inks from the Silk Screening collection and complementary tools in the broader Printmaking collection, all available online or in-store at Art Noise in downtown Kingston.