Exposure Calculator

By AllStarT-Shirts2013 on Dec. 06, 2013

I am a new screen printer and I am having trouble burning screens. The emulsion is coming off but not easily and not in all of the areas that are intended.

I have purchased a new Vastex E1000 exposure unit and we are using 110 mesh screens.

I have read that an exposure calculator will take most of the guess work out of the amount of time needed to expose a screen. Where can I purchase one and what is the cost of this device?

Ghostwork Ink's picture
Submitted by Ghostwork Ink on Tue, 12/10/2013 - 17:04

AllStarT-Shirts2013 wrote:
I am a new screen printer and I am having trouble burning screens. The emulsion is coming off but not easily and not in all of the areas that are intended.

I have purchased a new Vastex E1000 exposure unit and we are using 110 mesh screens.

I have read that an exposure calculator will take most of the guess work out of the amount of time needed to expose a screen. Where can I purchase one and what is the cost of this device?

What emulsion are you using and how long are you exposing for to get those results ? Since the E1000 does not have a digital timer, you should use the stop clock on your iPhone to indicate the time of each dash of the dial.

@Justin_PalmTees

Submitted by AllStarT-Shirts2013 on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 09:58

Ghostwork Ink wrote:
What emulsion are you using and how long are you exposing for to get those results ? Since the E1000 does not have a digital timer, you should use the stop clock on your iPhone to indicate the time of each dash of the dial.

I am using Chromaline emulsion and it does not appear to be a dual emulsion.

Submitted by StephenAInstaller on Tue, 12/10/2013 - 19:56

What are you using for film? I adjust my time by a 2-5 min depending on my film (or cut vinyl) and the type of emulsion I am using Dual or single cure. Side note The thickness of your emulsion (how many coats) can really affect your expusure time, that is something I had to figure out after i dialed mine in (Basically one person needs to coat screens) I have the best luck with the Pink textile from Kolormatix. at 110 lumins

Submitted by AllStarT-Shirts2013 on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 10:09

StephenAInstaller wrote:
What are you using for film? I adjust my time by a 2-5 min depending on my film (or cut vinyl) and the type of emulsion I am using Dual or single cure. Side note The thickness of your emulsion (how many coats) can really affect your expusure time, that is something I had to figure out after i dialed mine in (Basically one person needs to coat screens) I have the best luck with the Pink textile from Kolormatix. at 110 lumins

Thank you so much for your help. I am using Chromaline emulsion single cure. I am building a table with a jig to keep the screen in place while I apply the emulsion to the screen. It is just to difficult for a person that is starting up to use one hand to apply the emulsion and the other to hold the screen.

I have also recently added the yellow light to the shop so that the flourescent light does not affect the emulsion. Im trying to rule out these things. I have also just received my CCI exposure calculator. I am hoping that these changes will improve my ability to burn a successful screen!!!

Submitted by Miami Screen Pr... on Wed, 12/11/2013 - 14:31

What type of emulsion are you using now? I would recommend a 21- Step Sensitivity guide, it is a guide to that is used on all stencil types to determine proper exposure accurately and quickly. I will offer you a free guide with any purchase of emulsion from miamiscreenprintsupply.com.

Miami Screen Print Supply
Inks, Supplies & Equipment
miranda@miamiscreenprint.com
miamiscreenprintsupply.com
(305) 622-7532
(800) 705-9488

Submitted by AllStarT-Shirts2013 on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 10:01

Miami Screen Print Supply wrote:
What type of emulsion are you using now? I would recommend a 21- Step Sensitivity guide, it is a guide to that is used on all stencil types to determine proper exposure accurately and quickly. I will offer you a free guide with any purchase of emulsion from miamiscreenprintsupply.com.

Thanks but I just received the CCI Exposure Calculator but I will keep you in mind. Thanks for your advise!

becca's picture
Submitted by becca on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 20:58

I would change the emulsion you are using, as it may be too sensitive for your purposes. If it is washing out too quickly or melting on ya... up the exposure time. If it is not washing out quickly and you have a bunch of gunk in the image area left... lower the exposure time. I have never used a exp calc, and just burned a few to get proper exposure time down, whenever switching emulsion types. Good luck.

Ghostwork Ink's picture
Submitted by Ghostwork Ink on Fri, 12/13/2013 - 19:26

Hopefully this has helped you with your trouble.
I'm assuming you're using the ChromaBlue by Chromaline , If you you're using a nice and sharp scoop coater coated once one each side of the screen, your exposure time will be 55 seconds on a 110.

@Justin_PalmTees

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