The Textile Artist's Studio Handbook

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(Fogra 39) Job:02-28051 Title:RP-Textile Artist Handbook

03-C66286 #175 DTP:225 Page:112

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(Fogra 39) Job:02-28051 Title:RP-Textile Artist Handbook

#175 DTP:225 Page:113

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(Text)

PRINTINGThe TexTIle ARTIs T 's sTudI o hANdbook

112

HOW TO:

Create a

Repeat Design

There are simpler ways to create a repeat design

on the computer; however, understanding this

basic technique and theory is important for your

general knowledge and ability to create success-

ful repeat prints. Remember, this is not necessary

to learn, but it is important to comprehend how

you can create a stencil to print in various colors.

Tools:

• 8" x 8" (20.3 x 20.3 cm) white paper, scissors, and

assortment of drawing utensils

Instructions:

1. Draw a simple design so part of it goes off the

paper. Don’t start with anything too elaborate. [a]

2. Cut your paper in half vertically to create two 8 x

4 (20.3 x 10.2 cm) pieces. Take the left half and

move it to the right side of the right half. [b]

3. Look at your image now. What do you see hap-

pening? What do you need to draw to complete

the image you started? What holes do you see,

and how would you use the new negative space?

Continue drawing.

4. Now cut these in half, horizontally, to create four

4 x 4 (10.2 x 10.2 cm) pieces. Move the two bot-

tom pieces to the top of the other two pieces.

Again, what do you see? What needs to be done

to complete the image? What does the negative

space look like? [C]

5. Now move the two right-hand quarters to the left

side of the left quarters. Observe how your image

has changed. Continue drawing, as needed. [D]

6. Move the top two quarters back down to the

bottom. You are back at the starting point. What

does the paper look like now? [E] You have now

created a print design for repeat screen printing

that should be (hopefully!) seamless (meaning you

can’t tell where it begins and ends).

7. You can use this image to create a stencil, with

either the cut stencil method (opposite) or by

burning the layers onto screens using photo emul-

sion (page 117). Each color you use will need to be

its own layer. Keep your first attempt at a repeat

design very simple so that your registration is not

too difficult (page 106).

8. This specific “how to” is about creating a design

image, not a stencil. You can use this repeat im-

age however you like; you can even send it away

to be digitally printed!

PRINTINGTHE TEXTILE ARTIS T 'S STUDI O HANDBOOK

112

CB

ED

A

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(Fogra 39) Job:02-28051 Title:RP-Textile Artist Handbook

03-C66286 #175 DTP:225 Page:112

104-121_C66286.indd 112 3/27/12 9:00 AM

(Text)

PRINTING

113

The TexT ile ArT isT 's sTudio hAndbook

HOW TO:

Make a Hand-

Cut Stencil

Using hand-cut stencils is fast and simple and

will keep the screen printing process low mainte-

nance. We encourage you to explore this in great-

er depth than what we have here. One of our

favorite resources is Printing by Hand by Lena

Corwin. In this book, Corwin covers all the ways

you can print by hand at home using very simple

techniques that don’t require special equipment.

Tools

• Stretched screen (for screen printing), contact

paper, X-acto knife, self-healing cutting mat

Instructions:

1. On the paper side of your contact paper (not the

peel-off side), draw your design with a pencil.

Keep in mind that floating parts, such as the

center of the lowercase e, are lost at times. With

contact paper, though, you can stick that part

back on the screen.

2. Place your cutting mat down with contact paper

over it. Cut out the stencil with the X-acto knife.

3. Peel off the back of the contact paper and adhere

it to the front of the screen. This stencil will remain

intact for a good number of passes before the pa-

per falls apart or starts to peel off. It's so easy! See

page 106 for applying ink or dye and printing tips.

P RINT ING

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THE T E X T ILE ART IST 'S STUDIO HANDBOOK

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