The Importance of UV-Safe Bulbs for Your Screens
February 21, 2017
What are some considerations for choosing UV-safe bulbs, and how important are they for my screens? This was a question posed by a Printwear reader, and here is Kieth Stevens' response:
I prefer to use Rubylith film to cover my bulbs to make sure I have prevented any possibility of light contamination. Some amber covers do not sufficiently block all the UV light that can expose the coated screens, especially if the screens are being kept in the darkroom for any length of time in preparation for future use. Even the emulsion in the container can be slowly exposed if left uncovered for extended periods.
Kieth Stevens is the Western regional sales manager for International Coatings. He has been teaching screen printing for more than 10 years and is a regular contributor to International Coatings’ blogs.
