CMYK Screen Printing Intensive Course

CMYK screen printing is a multi-colour screen printing technique. The acronym stands for the printing inks Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (Black), which are also used in classical four-colour printing. In CMYK screen printing, images are created through multiple layers of colour printed on top of each other, built up step by step. Drawings, shapes or photographic motifs are translated into individual layers and printed one after another. Through the layering of colours, new visual effects and design possibilities emerge.

Over three sessions, you'll have plenty of time to prepare your motifs for CMYK printing in four layers and print them one after another. From preparing the screens to aligning the printing substrate to the finished print: with each step, you'll build confidence with the technique. After the course, you'll be skilled enough to work independently on new prints.

What you will learn:

  • Preparing photos and image motifs for screen printing
  • Colour layering and basic registration techniques
  • Coating, exposing and cleaning screens with photo emulsion
  • Translating images into halftone rasters for screen printing
  • Printing multi-layered compositions
  • Experimenting with colour gradients, textures and overprinting

Course structure:

Session 1: Foundations: Photo Emulsion, Halftone and Image Translation

In the first session, you'll get a brief overview of the history of screen printing. Historical techniques range from hand-made prints to mass production. You'll learn how to convert your image so it's suitable for exposure onto screens. Then you can prepare your screen and make your first test prints.

Session 2: Preparation and Printing

Based on the first session, you'll choose two colours at the second session and implement your first colour layers. You'll then align your originals for later multi-colour printing and prepare the remaining stencils. Cleanliness is very important when printing: that's why you'll also learn how to clean screens properly. You'll then repeat the exposure process to build your skills.

Session 3: Printing and Experimental Techniques

In the third session, you'll complete your prints by printing the two remaining colours. You can of course take your results home with you. At the final session, there's also plenty of time for experimentation: you can try out how to print with the same stencil on different papers and textiles.

Who is this course for?

The course is suitable for both beginners and participants with prior experience who want to deepen their understanding of screen printing.

What to bring:

  • Printing paper (can also be purchased on site)
  • Photographic motifs and sketches

Important: Please select 2–3 digital photos and bring your laptops to the first session. We'll prepare the photos together in Adobe Photoshop for exposure. Alternatively, you can bring the photos on a USB stick.

For printing, it’s best if the paper is 100% cotton, acid-free, and fine-textured, with a weight of 150–300 gsm depending on the technique.Lighter paper is generally better suited for hand-printing techniques, while heavier paper works better for machine printing. s

What's included:

  • Screens
  • Solvents
  • Newsprint
  • Emulsion
  • Inks

Good to know:

  • Cancellations are free of charge up to 72 hours before the course begins.
  • From 72 hours before the course starts, we are unfortunately unable to refund the course fee in case of cancellations or no-shows.
  • Private group courses and 1:1 sessions are available upon request.