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"Speedball's Diazo Photo Emulsion is ideal for creating detailed or photographic stencils for screen printing. No need for a light safe environment or dark room! Set contains 1 each of the following: 6.6oz (195ml) Diazo Photo Emulsion; 2.12g Diazo Sensitizer; 8oz (237ml) Diazo Photo Emulsion Remover and Instructions. "
You’ve got your design, now it’s time to create your screen! At Speedball, we want to take the guesswork and frustration out of your creative process and have a suite of products to do just that--no matter what screen printing technique is your preferred method.
The photo emulsion method of screen printing offers unlimited creative potential by allowing artists to create fine line drawings, computer generated images, hand and commercial lettering and half-tone positives with excellent results. Speedball’s Diazo Photo Emulsion & Sensitizer offer professional-grade results and remove the need for expensive equipment and darkrooms. (For use with polyester screen fabrics) Speedball’s Diazo Photo Emulsion & Sensitizer may be used with any water-soluble or solvent-based ink and can be easily and only removed with Speedball’s Photo Emulsion Remover.
Speedball’s Diazo Photo Emulsion is a 2-step process where the photo emulsion needs to be “activated.” To activate the emulsion, sensitizer must be added. The sensitizer is a very thick oil and needs water to create the right consistency for adding it to the photo emulsion. The big advantage of Speedball’s’ Diazo Photo Emulsion is there is no need for a light safe environment. Simply working under normal light will keep the emulsion from premature exposure.
Fill the sensitizer bottle approximately ½ full with water (tap or distilled water works just fine.) Recap sensitizer bottle and shake vigorously! A craft stick can be used to scrape at the bottom to ensure all the material is stirred and dissolved. Open the bottle of photo emulsion – it will be bright blue. Carefully pour the mixed bottle of sensitizer into the bottle of photo emulsion. Stir well with a stir stick until all the sensitizer is thoroughly mixed into the photo emulsion.
The color will change from sky blue to a grassy green when the Photo Emulsion has been correctly mixed. The Photo Emulsion is now activated and ready to be applied to a screen.
Store any unused emulsion in a cool, dark place. The shelf life, if refrigerated, is approximately 4 months.
The fundamental goal of coating a screen is to thoroughly permeate the mesh with the emulsion without overly saturating it and leaving emulsion dripping off. Lay the screen horizontally to dry in a dark place for a minimum of 4 hours. Cupboards, closets, empty drawers, etc. are all great places.
The amount of time it will require to properly expose an image will depend mostly on the light source. A larger, brighter light source will require less time for a good exposure. A smaller, dimmer, light source will require more time. Speedball makes this easy by offering a lamp and photoflood bulb sold separately. Suggested times for exposing with the lamp and bulb can be found in the Instructions and Tips Guide that is included in each kit.
Using a spray nozzle or hose, apply a forceful spray of water to both sides of the screen until all unwanted emulsion is gone and the stencil/image can be easily seen. Dab the screen dry with newspaper or towel (Do not rub! The emulsion is still wet), and leave it to dry fully.
