Stormtrooper tube stripes—silk screen mask

[ollyhills]

Just noticed over on starwarshelmets.com, “tube stripes were painted dark blue with silk screen mask.” Silk screen mask? What’s that all about?

 

[Jinx667]

Are you asking about the process of silk screening? It’s a very common printing process. Tons of YouTube videos.

It makes sense as a way to print a feature on dozens of helmets quickly.

 

[ollyhills]

Ah right ok then. I was always under the impression they were just painted on by hand?

 

[Jinx667]

Ah right ok then. I was always under the impression they were just painted on by hand?

Well, they sort of are. The silk screen is a type of stencil.

 

[ollyhills]

Well, they sort of are. The silk screen is a type of stencil.

If they were stencilled on though then how are they all so unique? Has starwarshelmets got this one wrong?

 

[Cantina_Dude]

ollyhills, It seems Jez mentions that the ANH stormtrooper helmets had hand painted details several times around the site, which is correct. If there's a mention somewhere that says a silk screen mask was used on the ANH stormtrooper helmets, then it would seem that was written in error. Do you have a link to this specific mention you are referring to?

 

[ollyhills]

ollyhills, It seems Jez mentions that the ANH stormtrooper helmets had hand painted details several times around the site, which is correct. If there's a mention somewhere that says a silk screen mask was used on the ANH stormtrooper helmets, then it would seem that was written in error. Do you have a link to this specific mention you are referring to?

Stormtrooper Helmet Comparisons ANH ESB RotJ Hero Stunt

It’s the comparison page, down at the bottom

 

[Cantina_Dude]

Stormtrooper Helmet Comparisons ANH ESB RotJ Hero Stunt

Right on, yeah that looks like an error. I'd say that some masking tape was used on either side of the tube stripes and then the curved lines were hand painted between that. Perhaps that's what Star Wars Helmets was meaning to say.

 

[ollyhills]

Right on, yeah that looks like an error. I'd say that some masking tape was used on either side of the tube stripes and then the curved lines were hand painted between that. Perhaps that's what Star Wars Helmets was meaning to say.

I mean that’s what I’d always assumed, cheap and cheerful being the motto of the day and all