Inside diameter - when your press says a size, that is the outside diameter of the frame.
use Michel's calculation for the inside, and then add your frame thickness when ordering.
Generally, the more room you have inside the frame (the more area around the print) the easier it is to print, the less distortion you get, etc etc.
but then you have to also look at your exposing system, screen coating and storage....as you go bigger in your print area, everything else must become bigger.
don't you just love screen printing?
There is a sweet spot in the center of all frames, where one can find the best balance of print quality and thereby make the success of the printed image easier to achieve.
The recommended maximum ratio of image size to the frame size of 46-inches x 53-inches would be:
Typical screenprinting - 60-percent of inside dimension of frame - 27.6-inches x 31.8-inches
Quality Graphics - < 40-percent of inside dimension of frame - 18.4-inches x 21.2-inches
Close Tolarance - < 30-percent of inside dimension of frame - 13.8-inches x 15.9-inches
Circuit Boards - < 25-percent of inside dimension of frame - 11.5-inches x 13.25-inches
Yes, these sizes can be exceeded, but only at a loss of variables, such as moire, dot gain, image distortion and elongation, uneven ink deposit, smearing, edge definition loss, and more. When printing less than critical work, such as textile, which is more forgiving, these factors may not be as important.
Bill Hood
BillHoodConsulting.com
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