Mesh count
Bold, heavy-deposit work and fine halftones need different openings. Ink particle size and viscosity matter too.
All services
Pre-burned screens in Chicago
Your artwork. Press-ready stencil.
Skip coating and exposure without giving up a deliberate setup. We preflight the artwork, recommend mesh around the image and ink, expose the stencil, wash it out, and prepare the screen for your press.
Select your screens, upload each design and pay online when your screen options are available.
CAOS CREATES / CHICAGO Artwork preflight included Mesh matched to the image Local Chicago pickup
Ready for your press
A good stencil begins with the job it has to print.
Mesh count is not a quality score. Lower mesh generally allows a heavier ink deposit, while higher mesh can hold finer detail with less deposit. The right choice depends on line weight, halftones, substrate, ink, opacity, and the press conditions you can control.
We review the file at final size, confirm orientation and printable area, and prepare the stencil around its intended use. You receive a screen with the image exposed and washed out; registration, ink selection, print technique, and curing remain part of your own press setup.
Inside the work
From upload to a usable stencil.
- 01
Job details
You provide the artwork, final size, ink type, substrate, screen dimensions, press type, and any registration requirements.
- 02
Artwork preflight
We inspect resolution, line weight, halftones, transparency, orientation, and whether the image fits the safe printable area.
- 03
Mesh recommendation
Detail and deposit are balanced around the artwork and intended ink rather than choosing one mesh for every job.
- 04
Coat and expose
The screen is coated, dried, and exposed using a controlled stencil workflow.
- 05
Washout and inspection
The image is opened, checked for complete detail, and inspected for pinholes or stencil issues.
- 06
Prepare for pickup
The finished screen is dried and identified so you can move into registration and printing at your shop.
Expert production choices
The screen must serve the ink and image.
A stencil can expose cleanly and still be wrong for the job. These choices determine how it behaves on press.
Line weight
Lines and gaps that are too fine for the selected mesh or stencil can break, fill in, or print inconsistently.
Halftone frequency
Dot size, angle, mesh, film quality, and exposure must work together to hold tonal detail.
Image orientation
The emulsion-side orientation and press setup must be confirmed so the print reads correctly on the substrate.
Printable area
Frame dimensions are not the same as usable image area; room is needed for ink movement and press clearance.
Registration plan
Multi-color work needs consistent placement, films, and registration references across every screen in the set.
Artwork guide
Send the image at final production size.
The stencil can only hold the information present in the source. Clean, high-contrast art gives the most predictable result.
- Upload final-size SVG or print-ready PDF online; high-resolution PNG/JPG is also supported. Contact us about AI/EPS files before ordering.
- Raster art should be black, transparent, and about 300 DPI at final size.
- Convert fonts to outlines and remove hidden or duplicate elements.
- Identify ink type, substrate, and requested mesh if you have one.
- Confirm frame dimensions, image dimensions, and orientation.
- For multi-color sets, provide aligned separations with common registration marks.
Where it shines
Pre-burned screens are the right move when...
- You print at home or in a small studio without exposure equipment.
- You need a clean replacement screen for a known design.
- A workshop or live-print event needs screens prepared in advance.
- You want guidance selecting mesh for the artwork.
- You have press, ink, squeegee, and curing handled.
- You need local pickup in Chicago.
Before production
Questions, answered by printers.
Artwork, mesh, ink and your press setup all affect the screen. Review these details before choosing your configuration.
What does pre-burned mean?
The screen is coated with emulsion, exposed with your artwork, washed out, dried, and prepared as a stencil. You handle registration, ink, printing, and curing.
Which mesh count should I choose?
It depends on detail, ink, substrate, and desired deposit. Lower mesh generally deposits more ink; higher mesh supports finer detail with a thinner deposit.
Can you burn halftones?
Yes, when the source art, dot frequency, mesh, film, and exposure are compatible. Send the original art and intended print details for review.
Can I send a screenshot or JPEG?
We can review it, but low-resolution compressed images may need paid cleanup or rebuilding. Final-size vector or high-resolution black artwork is more dependable.
Will the screen arrive registered to my press?
No. We can maintain alignment across a multi-screen set, but you must register the screens to your own press and platens.
What else do I need to print?
You need a compatible press or hinge setup, ink, squeegee, substrate, registration method, test material, and the correct flash or curing equipment for your ink.
Built for your project
Let's make the right piece.
Select a frame and mesh, specify the print size, and upload each design. Need separations or help with your setup? Talk to CAOS before paying.
ORDER NOW DESIGN / MAKE / DELIVER