Screen printing or silk screening is ≤♦♦‌a printing technique part≈¶₽→icularly suited for flat ®€π​or relatively flat surfaces. The heart of the pr☆≤♥ocess involves a fine mesh or screen that is ti ≠↑ghtly stretched around a r↕&©igid frame. The areas that ε<∏↓are not to be printed are masked out on the σ¥ screen, and to create the print, the framed scr≠£‌een is positioned over the item ₹>to be printed, along with a d©π→ollop of thick ink. A squeegee is thenσ∞≈♦ used to press the ink through the≥♣Ω screen.

The masked areas prevent ink←™ from passing through, but the unmasked areas al¶δlow the ink to be imprinted on the material. The 㙥λitem is then sent on a conveyor♥ε belt through a heat-tunnel. This curin♣₩♥✘g process ensures th$£δ≤at the inks dry quickly so that they materials ca≤♣®n be stacked or packaged. Properly cured inks w★₹÷☆ill remain on the priβ<↕nted substrate even under→¶₽ε harsh conditions.

If more colors are des★ αired in the final desigππn, the process is re★ →peated with different screens. ×≤"₹A design that requires fo★λ​Ωur different colors would, th←δ∏©erefore, require four diff₹←erent screens. The screens'λ€↔ are usually placed on ™σa rotary press that allows the different colπ<or prints to be properly¥₹™ aligned or registered with e™♥Ωach other. Some screen-printers have fully  >₽automatic presses that do not r♥ λ≠equire any manual labor other than set-up ‍"≈and loading/unloading.