Screen printing, going stronger than ever

Screen printing still has a strong presence in the graphic arts and other industries. Sonja Angerer shares a brief history of this fascinating sector as well as providing an insight to its future.
Digital printing has become the mainstream printing technology in many developed countries. However, this does not mean that other printing methods are no longer used. In fact, in some market segments these methods are doing better than ever. The most prominent example being screen (or silkscreen) printing.
Within this article, we look at:
- The history of screen printing
- Today´s main niches in fine art, high-end finishing, textile printing and industrial print
- The future of screen printing.

The history of silkscreen printing
Some historians trace the printing method back to medieval Asia. This is down to the stencil method of printmaking in which a design is imposed on a screen, with blank areas coated with an impermeable substance. Ink is then ink forced through the mesh openings by pressing the screen against the substrate. During the Chinese Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD) a similar process was first recorded, it was then brought to Europe by missionaries and travellers during the late fifteenth century.
The method was not as commonly used in Europe at first as fine silk screens were not available. Europe also lacked profitable market niches. However, stencil-based painting methods have been used for artworks and lettering across many countries all over the world.

Contemporary Silkscreen
While silkscreen technology was widely used in the US to produce flyers and posters as well as military equipment like camo nets used in WW2. During the early 1950s, modern screen printing appeared in Europe. Screen printing became widely recognised when artists like Roy Liechtenstein and Andy Warhol began to use the method in the early 1960s.
Michel Caza, master screen printer and one of FESPA´s founding members, worked with Warhol and other famous artists like Hundertwasser and Dali.
In the 1980s, screen printing began to be used for producing sports apparel and other consumer goods. During the 1990s, screen printing started to be used for the production of T-shirts, apparel as well as a wide range of standard print application such as decals, signs and displays, balloons and inflatables.

Silkscreen and digital printing
Even though, in the early days the quality of digital printing was not quite on par with screen printing, the introduction of flatbed digital printing featuring UV-curing inks removed the print volume of screen printing.
Today, screen printing and digital printing often complement each other for many graphic arts and apparel printing applications. Increasingly, white underprint, special lacquer, and neon designs are a combination of both technologies.
Even though such applications could also be fully digitally printed, it is usually cheaper and more efficient to use existing screen print equipment for certain aspects of the job. Digital printing technology is most commonly used.

Screen printing outside the graphic arts industry
With high-tech printing applications becoming an integral part of advanced industrial production, screen printing in this niche market often move from printers to industry in-house printing operations.
The future of screen printing
Screen printing has a long and celebrated history, the printing method was one of the earliest adopters of digital printing technology. In recent years, although screen printing may have become a less popular method due to digital printing, it still plays an important role in various industrial applications. With new advances in technology, we can expect screen printing to continue to play an important role in advanced industrial production for years to come.
Topics
Interested in joining our community?
Enquire today about joining your local FESPA Association or FESPA Direct
Recent news
.png?width=550)
FESPA Middle East 2025 Overall Highlights
It has already been 2 weeks since we opened the doors on the 2nd edition of FESPA Middle East.

How will Fiery simplify print processes and enhance their user experience
In this podcast, Debbie McKeegan interviews Michael Chramtchenko, Chief of Staff, Sales and Marketing at Fiery, discussing the company's innovative software solutions for the print industry, particularly in garment decoration.

What is digital textile printing and what are the opportunities?
Nessan Cleary shares how textile printing covers a wide range of different market sectors which vary in opportunities. Nessan discusses sportswear, direct to garment and home décor.

Vote now for the FESPA Awards’ People’s Choice Award!
The voting for the prestigious People's Choice FESPA Award is now open until 7th February where those in the industry have the opportunity to vote for their favourite entries, celebrating the exceptional talent in the industry.