What Is Screen Printing?

Screen printing is a layered, hands-on printmaking process rooted in precision and craftsmanship. Also known as serigraphy, it is one of the most respected fine art print techniques, valued for its tactile quality and the depth it brings to colour and form. Browse Sam Leitch's screen print collection to see how the process translates into collectible fine art editions.

The Process

1. The artwork begins as an original painting

2. The image is separated into individual colours

3. Each colour is transferred onto its own silk screen

4. Paper passes through the press one layer at a time

Each colour is printed separately, carefully aligned through registration. The layering builds depth, tone, and richness.

Because ink is physically applied in layers, screen prints often have subtle texture and tactile quality that reflect the manual process. As The Metropolitan Museum of Art explains, this registration of colour across multiple screens is what gives serigraphy its distinctive visual character and craft integrity.

Why the Process Matters for Collectors

The layered, hand-driven nature of screen printing means that each edition carries a direct connection to the artist's original work, and to the physical act of making. Unlike digital reproduction, screen printing involves the artist's decisions at every stage: colour separation, ink density, paper choice, and the sequencing of layers.

This is why limited edition screen prints carry genuine collectible value, the edition size is finite, each print is numbered and signed, and the process itself cannot be fully replicated by mechanical means alone.

For collectors building a contemporary art collection, screen prints offer an accessible entry point into original fine art practice without sacrificing the depth and craftsmanship of a one-of-a-kind work. Once you've acquired a print, see our guide on how to frame your print to ensure it is presented and preserved at its best.