Screen Print Ink Deposit Calculator
Controlling how much ink a screen lays down is the heart of consistent screen printing, and this ink deposit calculator gives you a quick planning estimate from the screen's own geometry. Enter the mesh thickness, the open area of the mesh as a percentage, and the emulsion over mesh (the EOM, the stencil thickness sitting above the threads), and the tool estimates the wet ink film by adding the ink held in the open mesh to the ink held in the stencil shoulder. The result helps you predict opacity, fine-detail capability and how a print will look on light or dark substrates before you ever pull a squeegee. EOM is the part many printers underuse: more emulsion over mesh builds a deeper ink well and sharper edges for opacity on dark garments, while less gives a thinner, crisper deposit. Mesh count drives the rest, since finer meshes release less ink for detail and coarser meshes pass more for bold prints. This is a starting estimate, not an exact figure, because squeegee pressure, ink rheology, off-contact and cure shrink all play a part, so the inputs are fully editable. The method is shown in the formula below, with a worked example that reconciles exactly to the calculator defaults.
Deposit combines mesh ink and stencil ink: deposit = mesh thickness x open area + EOM. A 70 micron mesh at 30% open area with 20 microns of EOM gives an estimated wet film of 41.00 microns.
Ink deposit formula
Deposit = T x (O / 100) + E
T = mesh thickness in microns
O = open area of the mesh as a percentage
E = emulsion over mesh (EOM) in microns
The mesh thickness scaled by its open area gives the ink the mesh itself carries, and adding the EOM accounts for the ink held in the stencil well above the threads.
Worked example
Your mesh is 70 microns thick with 30% open area, and your stencil has 20 microns of EOM.
- Ink from mesh = 70 x 0.30 = 21 microns
- Ink from EOM = 20 microns
- Estimated deposit = 21 + 20 = 41 microns
The estimated wet ink film is 41 microns. These are the calculator's default inputs, so the result above matches the widget exactly.
Screen print ink deposit calculator: frequently asked questions
How is screen print ink deposit estimated?
The wet ink film left on the substrate comes mainly from two sources: the ink held in the open mesh and the ink held in the stencil shoulder above the mesh, known as emulsion over mesh (EOM). A simple estimate is the mesh thickness multiplied by its open area fraction, plus the EOM. With a 70 micron mesh at 30% open area and 20 microns of EOM, that is 70 x 0.30 + 20, which equals 41 microns.
What is emulsion over mesh (EOM)?
EOM is the thickness of stencil emulsion sitting on top of the mesh threads, measured above the knuckle of the weave. It creates a gasket and a well that holds extra ink, raising the deposit and improving edge definition. A higher EOM lays down more ink, which matters for opacity on dark garments, while a lower EOM gives a thinner, sharper print.
Why does mesh count change the deposit?
Finer meshes have a higher thread count, thinner threads and a smaller open area, so they hold and release less ink, producing a thinner deposit suited to fine detail and lighter inks. Coarser meshes have larger openings that pass more ink for bold, opaque prints. Choosing the mesh is the main lever for controlling how much ink lands on the substrate.
Is this the exact ink film or an estimate?
It is a planning estimate. Real deposit also depends on squeegee pressure and angle, ink rheology, off-contact distance, print speed and how much the ink shrinks as it cures. Use the calculated figure to compare setups and dial in a starting point, then confirm the actual wet and cured film with a measurement on press.
What is the ink deposit formula used here?
Estimated deposit equals mesh thickness multiplied by the open area fraction, plus the EOM. With a 70 micron mesh, 30% open area and 20 microns of EOM, that is 70 x 0.30 + 20, which equals 41 microns.
Official sources
- Thickness and measurement standards: US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). As at 25 June 2026.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 25 June 2026. See our methodology. This is general information, not financial, tax, legal or investment advice.