Nope. Again.

I don't know why I gave this another chance. I am suppose to be organizing my data instead of collecting it at this point. The thesis is completely due in just a few short weeks, and I still need to write chapters 3 & 4 and organize appendixes and whatever else.  But I did try again, and wasted more time and supplies, and ended up destroying a screen in the process as I cannot get the photo emulsion out.

exposing the screen again, this time with glass over the transparency

washing the screen to reveal the image

crap. EVERYTHING washed out. And yes, I used COLD water and only my fingertips

On the left, my final washed out screen, on the right, the screen from last night that didn't come out well, and tonight I spend well over 45 min using the photo emulsion remover and trying to scrub it out. Couldn't get anything out. So I was left with one screen that washed completely out and one screen that I couldn't not get out at all. Disaster once again

Another try

Coating another screen for another try

Black crap. What IS this? Cannot use this screen now :(

Trying another new screen. Have to trim down my transparency

starting the coat yet another new screen

black crap on this one too. Whatever, going to use it anyway.

In the words of my students, Epic Failure

Watching the dvd, checking the times and measurements

setting up

exposing

45 min later, rinsing the screen

umm, yeah, this DID NOT WORK. except for this little tiny snowflake. I'm sick of this whole entire failure project. 

I have come to the realization that my art-based thesis has succumbed to failure. No I cannot make a decent screen-print to save my life. No I cannot teach screen-printing to my students.How can something so simple be so difficult! I must write about failure now in Chapter 4 & 5, and that is all.

update already

I am so tired, and have so much on my mind, I cannot think straight. Clint suggested a solution for my opacity problem....flip it over and redraw (trace) on the back. DUH. It worked, of course.

Preparing the Transparency

Well, since I cannot print on the acetate, I have to draw on it. It's not opaque enough with sharpie. Not sure if this will work. Guess I will find out soon!

One last try

So, the most popular method of screen method is the photo emulsion method. For whatever reason, I started with paper stencils which proved to be the most challenging. Photo emulsion is suppose to be the easiest and best for registration and accuracy for detail. So, it may be good for teaching. I do not have the ink jet transparency film as I cannot find it locally with such short notice. I need to be done with the research in a few days. I cannot wait for the mail. So I guess I will just draw with black markers on acetate. If this works, that may be a good way to do this with my students.

Final color, final screen. I guess this is it.

So, all finished I guess. All have registrations problems. I WOULD NOT do this technique with 4 colors with my students. The only other thing I should most likely try is the photo emulsion. I think I would have the best success with my students using that technique. If I can get to staples and home depot tomorrow, this may work out. But, we will see. I'm supposed to be at the end of my research, not trying out a new technique, but I think it would benefit my students. We shall see tomorrow.

1st print