Halos

Achieving these subtle, rounded marks can feel like a religious experience.

MATERIALS

Any screen will do, but a screen with a little give, even saggy, can help the process along. The effect is less likely to happen near the frame of the screen since it’s more taut.
The effect is usually more noticeable with dark inks.

PROCESS

Halos happen when the screen doesn’t immediately separate from the paper after printing the image. To encourage this, don’t use an off-contact on your frame, you want the paper and screen as close together as possible.
Flood the screen fully as usual.
Lift the screen very slowly after printing.
If you’re not getting enough prolonged contact, lay several sheets of paper under your ‘good’ paper to raise it up closer to the screen.
You can also try using thicker, ‘stickier’ ink.

1/3 The darker the ink, the more prominent the halo.
2/3 This was made when there was very little ink remaining in the screen and was printed with clear transparent base.
2/3 This large halo was overprinted with the line image.