Screen Printer Notes on iPhone: Ink Formulas, Exposure Notes & Production Notes

Note-Taking for Screen Printers

Screen printing production involves precise control of multiple variables that interact: mesh count, emulsion thickness, ink viscosity, squeegee durometer, off-contact distance, and substrate characteristics all affect print quality. No two print shops have identical setups, and no textbook tells you exactly how your press, inks, and substrates behave together. That knowledge is built empirically — and it needs to be documented.

Nemos captures the production knowledge that lives between the exposure unit and the press.

What Screen Printers Track

Ink and color: - Pantone mixing formulas by color (ink brand, base colors, ratios) - Ink color behavior on different substrate colors (how the same ink looks on white vs. black vs. grey) - Specialty ink notes (discharge, metallic, plastisol, water-based behavior differences) - Ink viscosity adjustment notes (how much reducer to add for specific mesh/substrate combos)

Mesh and emulsion: - Mesh count selection notes by ink type and design detail level - Emulsion thickness notes for specific applications (thick for discharge, thin for halftone detail) - Exposure time calibration notes per emulsion type - Reclaim notes for mesh longevity

Production and press: - Off-contact distance notes by substrate thickness - Squeegee durometer notes by ink and substrate - Flood stroke vs. print stroke pressure observations - Registration setup notes for multi-color work

Substrate notes: - Ink adhesion observations by fabric type and fabric treatment - Cure temperature observations for different garment blends (100% cotton vs. tri-blend vs. synthetic) - Print area stretch recovery notes for stretchable garments

Client and production: - Color approval process notes per client - Repeat order specs (which screens, which inks, what was approved) - Short-run economics notes by job complexity

Documenting What Your Setup Needs

Published specifications assume generic conditions. Your press, your squeegees, your emulsion, your inks, and your dryer all interact in ways that require calibration to your specific shop. Notes from calibration experiments ("at 35-second exposure on this emulsion, halftone detail holds to 15% dots") are irreplaceable shop-specific knowledge.

FAQ

What ink formula notes are most worth keeping? Custom Pantone matches — the exact ratios that produced the approved match on screen. These are the hardest to reproduce without notes.

Should I document exposure calibration by emulsion lot? Yes. Emulsion sensitivity varies between lots. Notes on the last calibration help you know where to start with a new lot.

How do I track repeat order specifications? A note per client or design with screen mesh count, ink colors and formulas, underbase specifications, and cure settings. This makes repeat orders fast and consistent.

What substrate notes prevent problems? Notes on which fabric blends have curing issues (synthetic blends that scorch before cure), which treatments (moisture-wicking finishes) cause adhesion problems, and which substrates print without issues.

Is Nemos useful for estimating job complexity? Notes on actual setup time and run time for different job types — number of colors, shirt count, registration complexity — calibrate your estimating accuracy over time.

How do I organize by job type? Tags: `#spot-color`, `#halftone`, `#discharge`, `#metallic`, `#special-fx`, `#substrate-notes`. Separate tags by ink type vs. technique.

Related Reading

• Graphic Designer Notes on iPhone
• Printmaker Notes on iPhone
• Sign Painter Notes on iPhone
• Creative Production iPhone Workflow

Sources

• SGIA (Specialty Graphic Imaging Association) technical standards
• Ryonet and Wilflex ink technical documentation standards
• Screen printing exposure and emulsion calibration methodology