White Vs Yellow Mesh. What's the difference?

The primary difference is how the mesh interacts with UV light during the exposure process. This interaction directly affects print detail and exposure time.

Characteristics of

White Mesh

White mesh has been the standard for lower mesh counts for many years.  

  • Faster Burn Time: The reflective nature of the white thread helps "burn" the emulsion faster from all sides. This can reduce time spent in the darkroom. 

  • Faster Setup: White mesh tends to be easier to see through on the press, allowing for faster setup times.

  • Slight Loss of Detail:The reflective nature of white threads causes light to scatter (like a fiber optic cable), which can slightly blur fine details or "choke" small halftones. 

Characteristics of

Yellow Mesh

Yellow mesh for a long time was more common for the higher thread counts, but advances in exposure technology now have yellow mesh being used across the board.  

  • Reduced Light Scattering: It prevents light from bouncing or "creeping" under the edges of your film positive.

  • Finer Detail: Because it eliminates light scattering, it produces sharper edges and is essential for high-detail work like halftones or intricate line art. 

  • Longer Exposure: Since the yellow dye absorbs UV light, these screens typically require 20% to 30% longer exposure times compared to white mesh. 

Whatever you prefer...

We have you covered.

Both white and yellow choices where it counts.