Degrade effect

Definition of degrade

It is a word that comes from the French language (dégradé) and means a gradation or a sequence of continuous tones, which can be limited or unlimited. Same as a gradient, in this effect the tones change gradually.

Handmade gradient

In silkscreen, this effect can be used by mixing two or more inks on a single screen.
Made with creativity, it is very interesting. The gradient of yellow to red is common, forming a sunset effect. Or also mix red, yellow and green, colors of the flag of Jamaica, to print a T-shirt with the face of Bob Marley or something related or Reggae.

 





Screen-printed sample that I made using the gradient effect with a mixture of paints.

This method is quite old and is no secret.
Basically just mix two or more different colors on the same screen. It is very simple, but it requires attention and training.

In this sample, I first applied a white background with two peaks.
Then, with the same clean screen, just put red paint on the right part of the screen and yellow paint on the left part, mix them a little in the middle and pass the squeegee, always in the same direction and carefully.

With a few steps, you get the shade of gradient you want. The more you print, the more you mix the ink.

Reticulated gradient

In screen printing, we also have how to make the reticulate gradient, which is used in polychrome or reticle printing processes.

Polychrome degrade
Example of a gradient image that I made with reticulated final art ... (Polychromy)

























Gradient with reticle, this one came out very neat.
To maintain the details of the drawing, the following sequence was given:

-Two hands in white (background)
-Navy blue (solid lines)
-Black
-Hydro-metallic silver
-Pale blue (reticulated)
-Navy blue (reticulated)
-White (drawing detail)