Capillary Film

What Is Capillary Film?

Capillary film is a pre-manufactured screen printing stencil film supplied at a controlled thickness. The film is transferred to properly prepared and wetted screen mesh, creating a consistent stencil without relying entirely on multiple coats of liquid emulsion.

Capillary films are available in different formulations and micron thicknesses for textile printing, graphic printing, fine-detail work, halftones and specialty applications.

Capillary Film vs. Liquid Emulsion

Liquid emulsion allows printers to control stencil thickness through coating technique and the number of coats applied. Capillary film provides a predetermined film thickness, making it useful when repeatable stencil thickness and edge definition are important.

Neither method is automatically better for every application. The choice depends on the ink system, mesh count, desired stencil thickness, image detail and production requirements.

Choosing Capillary Film Thickness

Capillary film thickness is measured in microns. Thinner films are commonly used for fine detail, halftones and higher mesh counts, while thicker films can provide additional stencil height and ink deposit for specialty printing applications.

The correct film thickness should be selected according to the mesh count, artwork, ink system and desired printed ink deposit.

Capillary Film for Fine Detail and Halftones

Thin and medium capillary films can provide precise stencil thickness and sharp edge definition for detailed artwork, halftones and graphic printing. Products are available for both higher and lower mesh counts depending on the required application.

High Density Capillary Film

High-density printing requires a much thicker stencil than standard garment printing. Thick capillary films such as Chromaline Super PHAT Film are available in multiple micron thicknesses to create the stencil height needed for dimensional and specialty ink deposits.

Capillary Film and Mesh Count

Mesh count and film thickness work together to determine stencil performance. Higher mesh counts are generally paired with thinner films for fine detail, while lower mesh counts can support thicker stencil films for heavier ink deposits and specialty printing.

Always follow the film manufacturer's recommendations for compatible mesh counts, exposure conditions and ink systems.

Preparing Mesh for Capillary Film

Proper mesh preparation is important for reliable film transfer and stencil adhesion. The mesh should be clean, properly degreased and prepared according to the capillary film manufacturer's instructions before the film is applied.

Mesh Preparation for Capillary Film

Proper mesh preparation is important for reliable capillary film transfer and stencil adhesion. Kiwo Ultra Prep is designed to clean and prepare screen mesh while improving the wetting characteristics needed for applying capillary and indirect stencil films. Using a dedicated mesh preparation product can help promote more consistent film transfer and reduce adhesion problems during screenmaking.