Project Abstract

The purpose of this study is to create a dark room in the absent of one and to solve the problem of power shortage and to save time when working. The project is a simple device made with iron pipes, pan and tyres. The pipes serves as the skeletal body of the dark room which is rectangular in shape. The pan serves as the base of the work and it is also use for the body covering of the light box. Black thick fabric used as the body cover of the dark room to prevent any ray of light from entering inside. The installation of fans is to help dry coated mesh quickly/faster. It is solar powered making independent of electricity and has a battery that can last for hours. The entire structure of the dark room can be collapsible to an extent so it can be easily carried. Small tyres with stoppers is use for easy mobility from on place to another with the stopper for stability when in use.

Project Overview

Screen printing is one of the four basic technique in print making. Print making was a form of communication until it became an art form. Being one of the basic graphic means of communication, screen printing is used for visual interpretation of information, ideas, thoughts etc. of an artist. It is usually done on a flat surface though it can be done successfully on round, convex, concave and irregular shapes. Printing can be done on paper, cardboard, plastics, metals, leather, clothes, etc. In screen printing method, a screen on which a design has been imposed with blank areas coated with an impermeable substance and then placed on a fabric where with the help of a squeegee forces the ink through the open mesh of the screen on to the fabric. It can be done by hand of mechanically.

Screen printing is a printing technique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink blocking stencil. The attached stencil forms open areas of mesh that transfer ink or other printable materials, which can be pressed through the mesh as a sharp edged image onto a substrate. A roller or squeegee is moved across the screen stencil, forcing or pumping ink past the threads of the woven mesh in the open areas. Screen printing is also a stencil method of print making in which a design is imposed on a screen or silk or other fine mesh with blank areas coated with an impermeable substance, and ink is forced through the mesh onto the printing surface.

Screen printing according to Wikipedia is a printing technique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink blocking stencil to receive a desired image. Screen printing is called serigraphy is a stencil based printing process in which ink is forced through a fine screen onto the paper beneath. Screen were originally made of silk, but they are now made of finely woven polyester or nylon.

The scope of this study is to emphasize on the effective use of constructed mobile solar photography dark room.

The use of sunlight for the exposure of screens have long been use since the song dynasty. Sunlight exposure is the process of placing outside your coated mesh along with your desired design on top of it using the sun range to put your design on the mesh. The light box can also be used for this medium. The following reasons are problems associated with the use of sunlight and light box powered electricity.

1. The unavailability of sunlight on certain days (cloudy days)

1. Bad weather such as rain,

1. The inability to expose when night falls

1. Power failure/power out

1. Poor power supply

Nigeria is close to the equator hence the high intensity of sunlight in the area, because of this many screen printers in the textile industry depend on the sun light to expose and rare faced with the problems mentioned earlier. Due to the challenges and difficulties encountered when using large screen the textile printers who uses this method tend to use small screens for exposure. This is to save cost and to minimize/reduce wastage and loss of materials.

With the present state of the economy and the continuous shortage of power supply in the country many screen printers see the sunlight as an alternative.

Statement of Problem

In the screen section, students tend to use the sun for exposure of their works while this may be a good idea there is a downside to it, bad weather such as rain or storm, cloudy weather can interrupt a student work hence making it difficult for the student to expose, arrange and trace their works. with the irregular supply of electricity student cannot work effectively with the light box, lack of adequate space has made it difficult to have a function dark room students tend to a dark where there is no light to separate their work these are some factors make a student spend excessively on materials most works don‟t come out successfully and when they do a lot of time have been lost and time management is one important trait for a textile student.

Purpose of Study

1. Develop a dark room where one can be able to expose their work successfully and one that can accommodate a larger mesh so as to make easier and les time consuming to finish a work on
2. Developing a dark room that is independent of electricity a solar powered dark room that can function without electricity with a battery that can store power for days enabling one to be able to at night and when there is power shortage.

1. Developing a dark room that functional anywhere, due to it mobile nature, the dark room can be at any given
2. Developing a dark room that can be collapsible from top to it base so it can be set up for use and packed up carefully after

The construction of a collapsible mobile solar photography dark room for screen exposure will help the students greatly with its use students can be able to expose comfortably without to worry about the time limits to exposure, help to save cost for buying materials repeatedly for one particular work.

1. Installation of fans to quickly dry up newly coated

Significance of the Study

This project is going to change the way the section do screen exposure. The student will not have to depend on sunlight or day time to expose their ……..rather they can do it whenever they can.

The project being independent of electricity will give the student less reasons to be worried about power shortage. All the constructions and equipment are designed to tackled the problems mentioned. The work was given to resource person (welder).

Limitations of the Study

When embarking on the project, the researcher faced some challenges such as proper illustration to guide the resource person to carry out the work effectively.