Method for preparing and using a screen printing stencil having raised edges

A method of forming a printed product with a screen printing stencil, comprising:

• (a) applying a pattern of dry film resist or thick film resist, which is complementary to a pattern of the screen printing stencil and defines at least one orifice, onto a conductive mandrel;
• (b) electroforming a patterned layer onto portions of the mandrel determined by the pattern of resist by controlling electroforming factors such that the electroformed layer has raised edges around said orifices;
• (c) removing the layer from the mandrel to provide the screen printing stencil;
• (d) placing said stencil on a surface of a substrate to be printed with said raised edges contacting said surface;
• (e) applying a printing material to said surface through said orifices;
• and
• (f) removing the stencil from the substrate.

A method of making a screen printing stencil comprising:

• (a) applying a pattern of dry film resist or thick film resist, which is complementary to a pattern of the screen printing stencil and defines at least one orifice, onto a conductive mandrel;
• (b) electroforming a patterned layer onto portions of the mandrel determined by the pattern of resist by controlling electroforming factors to provide an electroformed layer having raised edges around said at least one orifice;
• and
• (c) removing the layer from the mandrel to provide the screen printing stencil.