Construction Underway

Construction is underway on the UTA Central Library’s newest resource, a darkroom for photo-emulsion screen printing. The darkroom will open during the fall semester. 

Perla Vargas, a FabLab Technician, stated that the new process of using emulsion-based screen printing would save users more time and money over the current vinyl-based method.  

“Historically, we have provided screen printing services. For the FabLab to facilitate that process, it takes a long time to prep the vinyl,” Perla said. “Learners were investing all this time into that process only to be able to get a couple of T-shirts out of it. You can get 50 to 100 prints at a time with emulsion-based printing.” 

According to the Professional Graphics website, the emulsion is a liquid substance that is typically sensitive to light and generates an ink-resistant frame around a design.  

Due to its sensitivity to light, emulsion is applied and left to dry in a darkroom under non-ultraviolet light. The design is then placed on the screen and exposed to ultraviolet light.   

The UV light causes the emulsion liquid it hits to turn into a polymer; once a person is done “burning the design in” with the UV light the non-exposed emulsion liquid is then washed out of the screen with water. 

Eric Olson, a FabLab Technician, stated that this space will be used for 3D scanning along with the screen-printing application. By controlling the light, the darkroom will produce a better result for people using the scanner.  

“During a scan, the 3D scanner fires a pulse of light at an object. It measures the angle of the returning light to figure out what the geometry of the object you are scanning is,” Eric said. “By having an enclosed room that does not have any sort of uncontrolled light coming in, you can get high-quality scans much more quickly and easily.” 

Lauren Stutler, Director of Creative Spaces and Services stated that the screen-printing service offered at FabLab is used highly by individuals, student organizations and academic departments.  

She noted that the UTA Theatre Department has used this resource in the past to create shirts for each new show to advertise an upcoming production.  

With the upgrade to emulsion-based screen printing, Lauren feels that the use of this service will increase as word gets out to the UTA community.  

The darkroom is at the front of the FabLab near the staircase on the first floor of the Central Library. It is anticipated to open during the fall semester.  

For questions about the FabLab and its services, email UTA Libraries staff members at fablab@uta.edu.