Book excerpt: This book gives a clear and complete picture of every aspect of press operation and silk screen technique — from individually operated manual presses to modern automatic presses capable of turning out 2,000–3,000 impressions an hour — and indicates its great versatility and range of applications. Extremely thorough in its coverage of the subject, this volume includes practically everything of importance known about the silk screen process. After a brief historical account, which shows how screen process has become one of the most important of the graphic arts, the author provides detailed information on basic tools and equipment, stencil making and photo stencil methods, multicolor work, facts about paints, lacquers, and other compounds, and tips on matching colors and mixing the right colors for specific jobs. There are chapters on printing of decalcomanias, characteristics of different surfaces, textile and wallpaper printing, appliqué materials, printing on cylindrical and unusual surfaces, silk screen as a fine art (serigraphy), die cutting and finishing, automation in the industry, and other topics. Completely serviceable to the commercial operator, the book also contains discussions of estimating procedures, relative costs and selling prices, and plant layout and shop management. The various steps in the process are all illustrated by numerous photographs and drawings. Other illustrations show modern plants and machines, presses and other equipment, and examples of printing on containers, glassware, fabrics, etc. In addition to a brief bibliography of books and publications on the subject, there is a list of major manufacturers and dealers in screen process materials for convenient reference. A fully practical manual, and for anyone working in the graphic arts, this book was written by an expert with over 25 years' experience in the field. As a man who has worked in every phase of silk screen work (from printing, paint mixing, layout, and lettering to managing, consulting, and teaching) and as the author of a number of other books on screen process, Mr. Biegeleisen is notably qualified to discuss all techniques, problems, and situations; in this book, he has produced the best and most authoritative guide to a rapidly growing field.