AHS Screen Printing: RUBYLITH!

Coming up-!! you'll (finally) learn how to "burn" screens! AKA use the photo-emulsion process to create a screen with stencils on it, for screen printing!

but first you must understand--

*All screen stencils start with a design (what you intend to screen print) -- this is the ARTWORK.

*That artwork then has to be put into an OPAQUE format-- a "POSITIVE"-- to block the light when the screen is exposed during the burning process. We call these "image positives" or "artwork positives"

*One of these opaque formats is a FILM POSITIVE, where the artwork is cut from RUBYLITH FILM. The rubylith film has a red color that blocks light rays fully when the emulsion is exposed.

Today, you learned more about

*RUBYLITH

*RUBYLITH FILM POSITIVES

the steps for
*CREATING YOUR "STREET ART STICKER" RUBYLITH POSITIVE

You also practiced cutting/working with rubylith, as preparation for doing THIS with your "Design #1"-- recreating it in Film Positive format!

the rubylith should be an exact replica of your original black artwork-- however it looks in black, is what is
recreated when the design is cut from film, so take care with the initial design/artwork!
Some of you will adjust your Design #1 at this point, before continuing on with rubylith-- so remember that:

If something is supposed to be solid, DRAW it solid; if outlined, outlined, etc. Like the heart pepperoni examples above.

RUBYLITH SPECIFICS, TIPS, AND INSTRUCTIONS!

*Rubylith is cut with an Xacto knife, but not cut into a stencil-- Rather, it is a rubylith version (reproduction), a POSITIVE IMAGE of the artwork. What was black on white background, is now red on a transparent background. You cut around the black shapes, then peel the rubylith from around those shapes. The plastic backing holds all the pieces of rubylith together, so there's no "lakes and rivers" issue like with a hand-cut paper stencil.

*Rubylith is also easier to cut than paper, so you can create pretty fine details and lines

if you are patient and careful!

*Cutting the film is very easy, as it's very very thin. It's similar to the thinness of a Listerine Thin Mint Strip, but don't put this in your mouth. It does not taste like cinnamon, and you might die. Maybe.

*When you cut rubylith, you're just cutting the thin layer of film on top of the plastic backing, so the sharpness of the Xacto blade should be sufficient to cut-- you don't need to apply pressure (if you cut through the plastic backing, that's too much pressure!)

*One of the trickiest parts of rubylith is determining what to PEEL. The natural instinct is to
peel the design FROM the rubylith, like you did the paper stencil... but rubylith does not create a stencil for ink to go through, it creates a "positive" image that will block light when you expose your screen so that a stencil will be created on the SCREEN. I know. That's confusing. Whether you do or don't understand the 'whys' of the process, though, just understand this:

If the black owl is the design/artwork that you want to screen print, then the TOP rubylith example is the correctly peeled one. Both rubylith examples are CUT properly, but in the BOTTOM example, the pieces were peeled as in a paper, "subtractive" stencil. If you burned your screen with the bottom rubylith positive, it would create a stencil/print that looks exactly like it, which is a reverse ("negative") image version of your original design. I'm not saying it doesn't look cool, but it's not what you designed.

Hmm. That was also confusing, if you were already confused. Okay. Here's the rule:

IMAGINE YOU ARE GOING TO BE SCREEN PRINTING YOUR STICKER WITH RED INK. MAKE SURE THE RUBYLITH POSITIVE LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE THAT.

There.

*To help you with this process, you will practice cutting rubylith first. These steps are posted on the board. We started this practice together as a class, today...

this step gives you a little practice in getting a feel for how rubylith cuts and peels and feels, as well as the opportunity to show me that you know how to do three things:

1) recreate a design exactly;
2) understand how to cut around solid vs. outlined shapes (and/or cut around 'lines');
3) peel the correct parts!

Also, it gives me the chance to see your strengths and help you with any weaknesses before moving on.

Specifics for the sticker design itself are NOT posted on the board, because you finished this before September:) but, if you are behind and haven't done it yet, here you go: