The darkroom is the heartbeat of your print shop. From screen prep to reclaim, small improvements in your workflow can make a huge difference on press. In this post, we’re breaking down three practical, shop-tested tips from seasoned printers that will help you coat, expose, and reclaim more efficiently.
1. Tape at an Angle from Lee Stuart of Rogue Lab
When applying film to screens, many printers slap tape on straight. The problem? It becomes nearly impossible to remove cleanly after exposure. It rips, shreds, and sometimes damages the film or screen.
Lee’s fix: Apply your tape at a slight diagonal angle. This gives you better leverage for removal and allows it to peel off in one clean motion. It’s a simple tweak that saves time and frustration in every screen cycle.
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2. Use a Template to Protect Your Edges from Jeff Mcguire of Evergood Merch
Those overexposed, crusty screen edges? They’re a nightmare to reclaim and often lead to premature screen degradation. Jeff Mcguire from Evergood Merch shared a technique that solves it.
Jeff's solution: Build a reusable template for your exposure unit using light-blocking tape.
The template blocks UV exposure around the screen’s perimeter, keeping your edges clean and unexposed. Here’s what it helps with:
- Faster, easier reclaiming
- Prolonged screen life
- Accurate placement of film and artwork
If you reclaim regularly, this one change can shave serious time off your weekly workflow. Combine that with quality screen printing emulsion for even cleaner results on press.
3. Shield Your Spray Zone from Dallas of Opake Screen Printing
We've all been there: reclaiming a screen with discharge or water-based ink and accidentally blasting ink specks all over your shirt or workstation. Dallas from Opake Screen Printing has a no-mess solution.
Dallas' tip: Place an old 110 or 86 mesh screen over the one you’re reclaiming. It acts as a splash guard while still letting pressure through. No more surprise splatters. Just a cleaner station and fewer ruined garments.
If you want to streamline this process even further, explore using a bigger washout booth or dip tank system to reclaim screens more efficiently, with less mess and chemical exposure.
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Why These Tips Matter in Your Screen Room
Every improvement in your screen making process has ripple effects across your entire shop. Cleaner edges mean faster reclaim. Smarter tape application reduces wasted film and wasted time trying to clean it off. Blocking overspray keeps your environment (and your garments, others screens, etc.) cleaner so you get the best results and reduce down time cleaning.
As your shop grows, these small changes add up to major gains in efficiency and consistency. Whether you're just getting started or fine-tuning your system, building strong darkroom habits gives you a stronger foundation for quality prints. Make sure you're using the right screens and frames for your workflow to get consistent results every time.
Empower Your Print. Build Your Dream.
Need to dial in your darkroom? Check out Baselayr darkroom tools & equipment to improve your exposure, coating, and reclaim workflow from the ground up.