Stencils may be hand-cut by artists or produced photographically. Photostencils are produced on either a special adhesive-backed film or by coating the screen itself with a light-sensative emulsion. After exposure through a film positive, photostencils are developed in water, image areas remain soluble and are washed away during development. Machines for screen process are unlike those for any other process: the inside of the screen frame itself acts as the ink storage duct. Ink is passed across and through the screen by the action of the squeegee. Hand screen-printing tables are used for some work, such as short runs and very thick or thin materials, but much screen work is now printed on fully automated sheet-fed presses, both flatbed and cynlinder, operating at 4,000 to 6,000 impressions per hour.

No other printing process is as versatile as screen printing. It can print on almost any kind of surface, wood, metal, glass, foil, plastic or fabric. It is used for the production of artworks, posters, transfers and show cards, for electronic circuits, for printing on packaging containers and for industrial applications such as instrument panels.