There is still a discernible difference between the processes on most pieces. The screen printing process involves creating an art file from scanning the piece or stitching together high res non compressed photo images of the piece being reproduced. After the file is created and cleaned up with individual color separations a set of films is output.
One film for each color. Each film is then placed on an exposure box with high intensity light and burns (creates) the image onto a piece of framed mesh creating a silk screen for that color.
This process is repeated until a screen for each color is made. For example if there is black, red, yellow, blue, lt blue, green, purple, orange then 8 screen must be made.
We custom mix and match each color in a paint (ink) bucket. Similar to mixing paint at a home improvement store. The mixing process is done until the color is matched and the formula is noted for future runs.
This process is repeated until we have a match for each color in their own respective bucket. The screen is laid onto the printing board where a piece of vinyl, glass, acrylic etc... One screen and color is laid down at a time.
After each color the printed piece is put through a large dryer to bake (harden) the ink. The process is then repeated for each color until finished. The inkjet method uses 4 colors CMYK like a home printer to mix the colors based on the formula you input. We specify in our auctions if the item is screen printed or not. Hardly anyone screen prints anymore due to the cost and complexity. If their description does not say screen printed, it's not! They would be bragging about it. The item "GALAGA Acrylic Bezel with Midway Logo Screen Printed from the BEST Since 2000" is in sale since Wednesday, March 5, 2014.This item is in the category "Collectibles\Arcade, Jukeboxes & Pinball\Arcade Gaming\Replacement Parts".arcade" and is located in Crown Point, Indiana. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, China, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, South africa, Thailand, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Bahamas, Mexico, New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway, Ukraine, Croatia, Chile, Colombia, Costa rica, Panama, Trinidad and tobago, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Antigua and barbuda, Aruba, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Saint kitts and nevis, Saint lucia, Montserrat, Turks and caicos islands, Barbados, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brunei darussalam, Bolivia, Ecuador, Egypt, French guiana, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Cayman islands, Liechtenstein, Sri lanka, Luxembourg, Monaco, Macao, Martinique, Maldives, Nicaragua, Oman, Peru, Pakistan, Paraguay, Reunion, Viet nam, Uruguay.