This time around, we shall cover How Much Is Screen Printing Ink. Obviously, there is a great deal of information on Can You Use Screen Printing Ink for Block Printing? on the Internet. The fast rise of social media facilitates our ability to acquire knowledge.

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150 Reference List: How Much Is Screen Printing Ink | How is Ink Made?

  • Guess what, now you can print discharge ink! There’s a reason why a conveyor dryer is the only way to cure discharge ink. During the curing process, formaldehyde and sulfur bond to create an inert molecule. That molecule is released in the air, so having an enclosed space (a conveyor dryer) is important because it’ll let the molecule do its job while not harming you. - Source: Internet
  • The technical way to explain it is that ink is manufactured in two stages: first varnish (which is a mixture of solvent, resins, and additives) is made and then pigments are mixed into it. Varnish is a clear liquid that solidifies as a thin film. It binds the pigment to the printed surface, provides the printability of the ink, and wets the pigment particles. - Source: Internet
  • Screen printing has numerous advantages, and you will find many benefits if you employ this process. One of the most important advantages is the ability to do bulk work, making it very cost-efficient. Compared to digital printing, screen printing will yield a higher quality output. It produces more durable work that will last the test of time. - Source: Internet
  • A heat press is essentially a conveyor dryer without a belt. It’s a fantastic way to cure inks because it provides a stable heat source. It gives a readout of any temperature fluctuation while you’re using it. If a shop is already printing vinyl, a heat press will be an excellent, multi-use tool. - Source: Internet
  • The mixing proportion or ratio of pigment to clear varies according to the size of the pigment flakes and the properties desired from the printed ink film. Generally, it’s safe to start with as little as 8% silver pigment (by weight) or 15% gold pigment. The ratio with both pigment varieties can go as high as 50/50 in many cases. Follow the ink manufacturer’s recommendations to ensure that ink adhesion and appearance aren’t sacrificed. - Source: Internet
  • The truth about screen printing ink is this: most inks that you can buy from a major supplier are good screen printing inks. A clever salesman can make any ink work during a demo – or make it fail. So trust your ink salespeople…but verify that they’re being truthful. - Source: Internet
  • Many of Amanda’s clients come from the woodworking industry and other artists in the creative sector. Since these clients have simple, one-color typography or minimalistic designs and smaller orders, she turns to vinyl to make a screen for the job. It’s quicker, cheaper, and easier than hitting up a local print shop to get screens burned. - Source: Internet
  • The final pigment is typically classified according to its end usage. The coarsest grades, which are used in industrial paints and coatings, feature pigment flakes that typically measure around 25 microns in size. For flexo and gravure printing, pigments measuring around 10-12 microns are generally used, and in offset printing the finest metallic pigments measure about 3-7 microns. For screen printing, pigment sizes vary from 3-15 microns. The specific particle size required for screen printing is typically determined by the application for which the metallic ink is destined. - Source: Internet
  • So first there are 4 tools you can use to cure your ink. Let us all recognize that not everyone has the same budget to start off with so tools may be different and that is ok. There is no right or wrong even if you think you are a know it all. - Source: Internet
  • You can use screen printing ink for block printing. Many block printmakers prefer screen printing ink because it gives them excellent results on flexible materials. However, it comes down to preference, and some people complain about the consistency of screen printing ink for block prints. - Source: Internet
  • I’ve seen really amazing salesmen work their butts off to get a shop to take on a new ink system…only to find out that they can’t ship that ink to their shop without a rush charge. That won’t work in an understaffed, overworked, razor-thin-margin business. - Source: Internet
  • This ink is the most difficult to pantone match. Because the ink utilizes an agent to bleach the fabric, there may be some inconsistencies from shirt to shirt. This really depends on the quality of the shirt. - Source: Internet
  • One shade of ink can be used for the created designs, or several can be applied for a pronounced aspect. While some designs feature a single color, others can consist of multiple ones. Each color has to be applied in individual layers with different stencils for each ink. - Source: Internet
  • Screen-printing ink manufacturers continue working to refine metallic inks so that they are easier to use and provide more stunning results. Among recent developments, the list of metallic-effect inks has grown to include new systems that provide a chrome-like appearance (Figure 3). However, to get a mirror finish that accentuates the chrome effect, the printer must carefully test to determine how much pigment is needed. Here again, the less pigment used, the better the results typically are. - Source: Internet
  • There’s usually one student in my classes who looks perplexed when we begin printing a four color job on Day 1. We’ll set up the job with each student participating, and then begin printing wet-on-wet. Up comes the hand. - Source: Internet
  • Well, water-based printing isn’t accessible to every printer. Luckily, there are some things you can do to make your plastisol prints softer. Between the inks you choose to use, the garments you’re printing on, to the available ink additives, achieving soft plastisol prints is very possible. Let’s take a look to see how to accomplish this goal. - Source: Internet
  • After your conveyor dryer is up and running you can start placing your t-shirts on the belt and letting them run through. Make sure to grab a temp gun or donut probe to see if the ink is hitting the cure temp. Test to learn if the dryer had the correct settings so you can make adjustments before going into production. - Source: Internet
  • Acrylic inks are typically water based. Others may be based on oil or plastic. There’s a huge variety of printing methods and special effects possible with acrylic inks. However, the learning curve is steep and acrylic inks are notorious for drying in the screen. - Source: Internet
  • As with most art and craft projects, experimentation is the way to success. Sometimes, it’s not the product that’s the problem but the technique used. That is why I’ve compiled a list of things you should keep in mind when using screen printing ink for block printing: - Source: Internet
  • Several hundred years later, Japanese artists used this practice to transfer their designs onto fabric. They did it by using brushes to push the ink through a mesh screen. In Europe, this technique appeared in the 18th century. - Source: Internet
  • In general, the needs of the screen-printing industry have been overlooked by metallic pigment suppliers, and ink manufacturers in our industry have been confined to a limited range of raw ingredients for their formulations. One good example of missed opportunity relates to the use of metallic inks as barrier coats against light transmission. Metallic inks, especially silver, are completely opaque to transmission of light, making them ideal for many screen-printing applications, such as selective blocking of light transmission in backlit instruments. But when a highly reflective silver is used as a barrier coat, it may alter the appearance of colors printed over it. This problem is most pronounced with black inks, which tend to be somewhat transparent. - Source: Internet
  • Printer ink contains numerous additives to make it flow properly and adhere to the paper. Other common printer ink ingredients include humectants to keep ink fresh, defoamers to keep out unwanted air bubbles, and biocides and bacteriostats to prevent bacteria and fungi growth. Specialized ingredients give inks shine, depth, and heat or water-resistant properties. - Source: Internet
  • For printing on fabrics, fabric inks can be used that, once heat set, create machine washable printed textiles. Catalysed inks can also be used to permanently mark glass, perspex or metal. Glitter, textured and puff inks can be used on various surfaces. With all inks though, normally a medium is added to the colour. This extends the life of the ink, allowing you to print a longer run before the colour dries in the screen. - Source: Internet
  • A laser temperature gun is a common way to read the temperature. All you gotta do is point the laser at the middle of the print to see the ink’s temperature. Just because everyone uses it doesn’t mean it’s the best method. A donut probe is a small, circular device with two wires that run perpendicularly. Where the wires meet is where it reads the temperature. - Source: Internet
  • Knowing how to screen print an underbase is crucial for screen printers. If you want a bright, vivid print, you’ll need to lay down a solid white base. Rogue Lab Owner Lee Stuart breaks down the steps on how to achieve a fantastic underbase. - Source: Internet
  • Printing white ink on a dark garment is not a simple task. Screen printing genius Colin Huggins goes over best practices for printing white plastisol ink on a black shirt. Got a notebook and pencil handy? Right, let’s learn how to print white ink on a dark garment and make the print as bright and clean as possible. - Source: Internet
  • If we purchase metallic inks in two parts, there are other variables we need to take into consideration. First, mixing the two parts should be done carefully and slowly. A high speed blender or mixer will create heat, which will promote oxidation in gold metallics and cause the metallic flakes to break down, turning the silver to gray and the gold to brown, and diminishing both reflectivity and brilliance. - Source: Internet
  • Screen printing is a popular technique nowadays, and highly specialized equipment is used for this process. However, this method can be considered an ancient form of art. The earliest mention of this technique dates back to the year 950 AD. It’s when it was used as a method of printing patterns in China. - Source: Internet
  • Discharge inks emit formaldehyde gas during curing. It’s important that you adequately ventilate your workspace if you’re planning to work with discharge inks. Another reason to make fast friends with your local sales rep: if you’re unsure whether your airflow is adequate, they can advise you. - Source: Internet
  • There are plenty of ways to utilize ink through print materials for your business, whether it be through the use of postcards, flyers, signs, or promotional products. Davant Indy is here to help every business succeed with its print materials, and we proudly serve the entire Indianapolis, Indiana area. To learn more about our design process and how we can help make your postcards stand out, contact us at (371) 849-6565 today. - Source: Internet
  • No matter what device you’re using to cure, the goal is to completely cure the ink, from the top all the way to the bottom. Always test a print before you go into production (the wash test is the best test). Still curious? Check out the free course on the basics of screen printing. - Source: Internet
  • Everyday pens, your favorite college logo T-shirt, the printer in your home office, or the acrylic painting hanging in your dentist’s office…all of these are popular examples of where ink is used. Bright colors, dark colors, boring colors, and trendy colors – you name it, ink is a part of the equation. Can you imagine our lives without the joys of ink? - Source: Internet
  • Now when it comes to testing your inks to see if they are cured properly you can do a small stretch test with plastisol inks. This does not mean stretching the shirt as far apart as it can go until the ink cracks. This won’t actually help with water-based inks since they go into the shirt fibers themselves meaning if you pull you will most definitely notice the threads separating, which you don’t want to see with plastisol inks. - Source: Internet
  • Performing a stretch test will just give you a brief idea of whether or not some curing has occurred. It’s not an accurate way to see if the ink has cured to the bottom layer. Therefore, you need to perform a second test. - Source: Internet
  • She encourages people to explore the world of screen printing before diving in. To help the DIY screen printers even more, Amanda wrote an ebook that details all her processes, insights, and tips and tricks. Vinyl is a big subject in the book. Amanda wants everyone to know that printing with vinyl is not only a less-messy alternative to traditional screen printing, but it can be effective and lucrative, too. It can open a lot of doors for crafters. - Source: Internet
  • For full polyester garments, you’ll want a low-bleed ink. Otherwise, you run the risk of having the dye in the garment “bleed” into the ink, turning it pink. Don’t risk it! - Source: Internet
  • Knowing the differences between ink types can make or break how a shirt turns out. Knowing how to print them is just as important. You can’t print water-based ink like you print water-based. They are completely different in the way you prep and print. - Source: Internet
  • Its important to know the differences in the ink type you will be putting on your garments because it is ultimately going to affect how happy you are with the final product. If your goal is to have breathable shirts for your ath-leisure brand, but your printer slapped on a logo that feels like it could stop a bullet, you are most likely not going to be happy. It is important for you to know the limitations of each ink type to avoid things like this happening to you. - Source: Internet
  • There are few machines that are commonly available at everybody’s residence. You can use some of them for curing your screen printing. Let’s see. - Source: Internet
  • Gold metallics also come in tinted shades, like green or purple. These shades are made by adding various colored pigments to the gold ink. However, they tend to be more unstable and prone to inconsistencies than pure metallic colors. They also are less likely to be colorfast. - Source: Internet
  • Plastisol ink naturally has some flexibility, but what happens when you need real flexibility? You know, garments made with spandex, nylon, or a poly-blend are usually meant to be more form-fitting. A print on a form-fitting garment may be stretched past what it can normally handle. To avoid the possibility of the print cracking and breaking, use an ink like FN-INK Stretch . Inks like FN-INK Stretch are formulated to provide extra pliability and durability when needed. It lets screen prints go to new lengths, literally. - Source: Internet
  • The process consists of transferring a preferred design onto a flat surface. It is done using ink on fabric and paper, the most commonly printed surfaces. Workshops with specialized equipment can also print directly onto wood, metal, or plastic. - Source: Internet
  • Because metallic pigments are made of metals, the pigments are prone to oxidation. In the case of gold metallics, this oxidation occurs with the copper and zinc particles, resulting in diminished brilliance of the ink layer. In some cases, the ink will even begin to exhibit a greenish cast. In silver metallics, the aluminum pigments tend to become dull and whiter with oxidation. Oxidation is one reason why color consistency is hard to achieve with metallic inks. - Source: Internet
  • You can use a heat press to cure your screen printing as well. Heat is a machine that’s an expert in heat transfer. It can produce a temperature of almost 980-1000 degrees Fahrenheit. - Source: Internet
  • Lastly, the temperature of the space will also impact the curing process. On a toasty day, inks are smooth like butter, machines run faster, and the garments are warm. Printers can flash at their normal times, if not faster. If a shop is cold, inks and garments will need more time to heat up, which may slow down production. It’s important to take all these variables into account so you know how to adjust accordingly and run a smooth production. - Source: Internet
  • Other than the potential health risks here are some of the other cons. There are some inconsistencies when it comes to discharge results from shirt to shirt. This is mainly dependent on shirt quality. Bella + Canvas does a great job in getting consistent results with discharge inks and is our preferred shirt manufacturer when it comes to this type of screen printing. - Source: Internet
  • Amanda has also found that printing with plastisol ink gives her better results. Water-based ink is more runny and can wear out the vinyl faster. When she’s printing with water-based ink, she usually makes a backup screen so she doesn’t have to start over if a piece of the design comes off. With plastisol, she doesn’t have to worry about it. - Source: Internet
  • However, a huge number of distributors and print supply companies across the US carry most or all of these brands. If someone from Florida asks where to buy ink, I’m probably going to steer them toward a local company like Roeder Industries. 1-day shipping is that important for screen printers. - Source: Internet
  • Making a DIY screen out of vinyl is pretty easy to do for the individuals coming from the HTV world into screen printing. Be sure to follow Salt & Pine Co. on Instagram and Facebook to learn more information about her screen printing process. - Source: Internet
  • High-performanice wear on nylon and poly-blend fabrics come with a high price point. Brands like Nike will print sily-smooth silicone designs with reflective inks and other special effects. They’ll also use silicone to print on their newest and strangest blends of multiple synthetic fabrics. - Source: Internet
  • Plastisol has an almost indefinite shelf life, can be left on screens without damaging them, and is extremely long-lasting on garments when cured correctly. When plastisol is “cured,” it is exposed to high heat (290 to 320 degress Fahrenheit). The plastic mixture hardens as the liquid suspension is dissolved by the heat, creating a durable and flexible finish. - Source: Internet
  • Think of curing like baking a cake. After the timer dings and you pull the cake out of the oven, it may look perfectly baked. Once you stick a toothpick in the middle of the cake, pull it out, and see that it’s still gooey, you then know it needs to be baked for longer. The same idea applies to testing cured ink. It may look cured, but you won’t know for sure until you test it. - Source: Internet
  • This means that when you run out of ink, you run out while you’re printing a job or mixing colors. You run out of ink with the job on press. You run out of ink when there’s a rush order due. This happens again and again – shops call each other and need to “borrow” a quart of ink. - Source: Internet
  • Acrylic medium paints also can be used for screen printing. But the mixing ratio should be 1:1. It will help the ink pigments to dry slowly. So you will have an even and easy print. - Source: Internet
  • Press water-based inks for 3-4 minutes. check if the ink is dried properly. If not another 5 minutes will do it for you. - Source: Internet
  • The ‘screen’ in screen printing refers to a metal or wooden screen, over which a fine fabric, or mesh is stretched. The design to be printed is then created as a stencil onto this mesh, with the areas not to be printed being blocked out, and the areas to be printed left as mesh. Through this mesh, ink is pressed, using a rubber squeegee. - Source: Internet
  • Discharge inks are a subcategory of water based inks. Discharge inks work via chemical reaction. They actually “bleach off” the dye on the cotton t-shirt, leaving behind the natural color of the fibers (or the color you choose to leave behind). This chemical reaction is due to the active ingredient ZFS (zinc formaldehyde sulfate). - Source: Internet
  • To predict the kinds of results we can achieve with metallic inks, we must probe the chemistry of these inks more closely. Metallic pigments are usually coated with some type of fatty acid during processing, which allows the pigment to rise to the surface of the printed ink film and the pigment flakes to orient themselves into a flat and reflective surface. Metallic inks that perform in this way are said to be “leafing” inks. - Source: Internet
  • An important factor to remember when working with metallic inks is that, as a general rule, the coarser the particle size, the more reflectance or brilliance the printed ink film will display. With larger particles, more of the pigment surface is exposed, and more light reflects from it. However, larger pigments also lead to more difficulty in transferring the ink effectively during printing and require larger mesh openings. Finer metallic pigment particles will transfer much more reliably than larger ones through higher mesh-count screens, but they sacrifice brilliance. With these characteristics in mind, it’s clear that for lower-resolution applications like T-shirt printing, coarser pigment flakes are ideal, while for CDs and other high-resolution graphics (Figure 1), the smallest pigment particles are most desirable. - Source: Internet
  • Now that you know the pros and cons of these inks as stand-alones, you might be relieved to find out that you don’t have to pick just one for your prints. What I mean by this is that you can mix and match ink types in order to get the desired outcome. I call this the Frankenstein Method (and it’s a lot prettier than it sounds, I promise). - Source: Internet
  • New screen printers should start off printing with plastisol ink. It’s more forgiving than water-based ink and it’s much easier to achieve proper cure. Even though printing plastisol is more straightforward, there are many techniques to print the ink for various processes. We’ve created a collection of videos and blogs that explain how to print with plastisol ink in different situations. - Source: Internet
  • With this tool, you get the opportunity to conduct screen printing for multiple uses. You can print many patterns on tank tops, T-Shirts, or even bags and accessories. It is ideal for beginners, and it can represent a fun activity to do with your friends or family. - Source: Internet
  • Before you print someone’s order, always test. Print on a few garments and dial in details before printing the final product. Testing may seem tedious, but it’ll save you time, money, and headaches down the road. - Source: Internet
  • Flash dryers are a common way to cure shirts if you are just starting out in the screen printing business. They’re much more consistent than a heat gun. They are both compact and relatively inexpensive. A variety of different flash dryers exist on the market. Shops need a flash dryer for printing multiple colors, so some will also use it as a curing device. - Source: Internet
  • Metallic gold and silver inks are very popular among buyers of printed goods, but these inks remain an enigma–and occasionally a nuisance–to many of the screen printers who are asked to work with them. Before we can take advantage of the perceived value metallics add to screen-printed products, we need to clarify the enigma and understand how they differ from conventional pigmented ink systems. Here, we will review the make-up of metallic screen-printing inks, the special requirements they bring to the printing process, and applications for which they are and are not well suited. - Source: Internet
  • After finishing every step of printing, you have to cure the print for ensuring a long life of the shirt you printed. Curing can be done by applying a heat press, heat gun, flash dryer, textile dryer, household iron, and sometimes an oven. Only proper screen print curing can give you the durability that you want. - Source: Internet
  • There are a variety of reasons why the ink didn’t cure all the way through, starting with a too thick lay down of ink. Another cause can be moisture in the garment due to humidity keeping your garment from reaching full curing temperature. That’s right, the ink AND the garment must reach full curing temperature. You need to test periodically. - Source: Internet
  • After printing, the presence of these little gaps can allow the substrate color or underlying ink colors to show through, creating a visual shift in the apparent color of the metallic layer. For example, a blue background beneath a silver metallic ink will give a bluish cast to the silver, and a yellow or green underneath a gold will change the shade of the gold. Underbasing with a light, neutral color (white, light gray, etc.) may help alleviate the problem. - Source: Internet
  • Curing your prints is one of the last steps of the screen printing process, but it is one of the most important steps. Ink needs to be cured properly so it sets into the garment. If the ink does not cure fully, it will crack, fall apart, and not last for long. Printers use either heat guns, heat presses, flash dryers, or conveyor dryers to cure inks. Let’s take a look at how each curing device works. - Source: Internet
  • Because you can cure your screen print with your oven. Yes, you really can. it sounds pretty weird though but oven curing actually works. - Source: Internet
  • With metallic inks, users can add value to their printed goods for a variety of markets, including packaging, labeling, container decorating, display graphics, and more. And just as with any other product a screen printer might use, understanding what makes up metallic inks, how they are manufactured, and what their capabilities and limitations are will make it easier to pass their benefits on to customers. For those printers who do their homework, metallic inks represent golden opportunities with silver linings. - Source: Internet
  • The temperature that an ink cures at means that ink needs to reach that temp from the top to the bottom layer. Before purchasing and using ink, learn what it needs to achieve a full cure before implementing it in your shop. We’ll address what each piece of curing equipment can do for different types of ink. - Source: Internet
  • Note: You can cure your screen print in different ways. Always test if it is perfectly cured before washing it. If the ink is not cured properly, cure it again. - Source: Internet
  • Plastisol is by far the most vibrant ink of all the ink types. The PVC base really allows for bright colors and more accurate pantone matches. For color accuracy in pantone matching, we recommend using plastisol ink. - Source: Internet
  • Using a heat gun is an inexpensive way to apply heat to ink, but how effective is it? Heat guns are great for prints on small areas like the chest. When the design gets bigger, it’s more difficult to maintain the consistency of heat across the entire print. It’s possible to get some sections too hot where they bubble, while other sections don’t reach cure temp. There’s no true understanding of the actual temperature the heat gun is emitting. - Source: Internet
  • A roll brayer or soft sponge roller is necessary when using water-based screen printing inks for block printing. That is because a hard roller will be slippery. Alternatively, you can also use a textile roller because of its grip and reduced absorbency, saving you maximum ink. Here’s some expert advice on what roller to use! - Source: Internet
  • Dryers can cost a pretty penny, especially when you’re starting to build your shop. Many screen printers will use their flash dryers to cure. Flash dryers get the job done, but there are some tips and tricks to ensuring your print becomes completely cured. Our in-house expert Colin Huggins goes in-depth about how to properly cure plastisol ink, specifically FN-INK™, with a flash dryer in our latest video. - Source: Internet
  • Dreaming about warm summer days when your ink flows oh so smoothly? Winter and its cooler temperatures sure makes it difficult for a screen printer, especially with white plastisol inks. The ink feels thick, stringy, and stiff. It requires more effort to lay down a good ink deposit. Does it have to be this hard? Nope. Ink and Chemistry Guru Colin Huggins shares his secrets to making white plastisol ink easier to handle during the cooler months. - Source: Internet
  • You have to work very, very fast. If that ink sits in your screen too long, it will dry up on you. This problem virtually doesn’t exist with plastisol printing. Make sure to keep a spray bottle handy to mist those inks. - Source: Internet
  • I’m a former screen printing supplies salesman. I’ve had skin in the game. But I’m always honest with shops about the inks that are out there. Some are better for certain applications, and not so great for others. - Source: Internet
  • The idea behind screenprinting is to block out or make impermeable the areas that you don’t want to be printed. Ink or paint is then forced through the rest of the screen with a rubber blade, known as a squeegee onto the surface you want to print onto. The stencil can be created by applying an adhesive film (like vinyl or tape) or paper, painting onto it using ‘screen blockers’ (glue, lacquer) or by coating the screen with a light-sensitive emulsion which is then developed as a photograph. - Source: Internet
  • Color Shift is based on color theory. If you have ever printed a color, checked the print, and noticed it turned out different than you expected? That is called color shift. It will happen with every ink you print. Depending on a few key factors, you can end up with one color looking completely different than you anticipated. Let’s look at the different variables at play and show you how to make adjustments to deal with color shift both before press and on press. - Source: Internet
  • Discharge inks are remarkably versatile. The most impressive discharge prints have zero hand feel – a magical thing for customers. It’s like discharge prints are just part of the shirt. - Source: Internet
  • Heat gun is a specialized machine that is used for various purposes. But these days many use it as a dryer for their print on garments. You can easily cure water based ink with heat gun without any problem. - Source: Internet
  • It’s a big temptation to cut corners for time and money when you’re starting out. “What’s the harm?” is the thought here. By far the most common corner cut is when you’re printing on dark garments with a white underbase. The temptation is to use the white of the underbase as the white in the image as well. - Source: Internet
  • The solution seems very simple: Pigment manufactures could create a non-reflective metallic ink specifically for use as a barrier coat, one that would not affect the appearance of subsequent colors that are printed over it. In fact, such pigments would actually involve one less step in manufacturing than the reflective varieties since the pigment flakes would not require polishing. However, as long as pigment manufacturers don’t realize that this application exists, it’s unlikely that pigments for such a metallic ink will ever be developed. Better communication between printers, ink makers, and pigment manufacturers is clearly needed. - Source: Internet
  • Another reason why color consistency is difficult to maintain has to do with the way pigments align, especially in leafing inks. In leafing inks, the metal flakes align at the top of the ink film with small gaps between one another. The coarser the pigments, the larger these gaps. - Source: Internet
  • Printing ink cure is another type of removal operation which rely on chemical, additional heat, and pressure creating process. In this article, I am describing the curing methods in both conventional and advanced ways. In some cases, curing methods looks expensive but for bulk production and industrial basis, curing screen prints contribute a lot. - Source: Internet
  • Your temp gun is a good spot check, but for a real test, buy #5 Thermal Strips. Nearly every screen print supplier sells these. They come about 10 to a pack in perforated sheets. There is adhesive on the back to attach the strip to your garment. - Source: Internet
  • This method is the most common one for screen printing. It uses the color of the ink and prints it through the stencil of the screen mesh. Vibrant, solid spots of colors are produced, and a thick layer of ink is created on the material. - Source: Internet
  • In reality, however, no metallic ink contains only the ideal pigment size–the inks typically comprise a mixture of pigment particles, most of which fall within a target range. While new pigment processing technologies have improved the ability to separate particles according to size, coarse and fine particles still make their way into the same inks. This means that some of the pigment flakes simply won’t be able to penetrate the mesh openings and will remain on the surface of the screen. Nevertheless, improved pigment processing has resulted in metallic screen inks with lithograde pigment particles, the majority of which will transfer through meshes as fine as 560 threads/in. and are suitable for applications that require high detail. - Source: Internet
  • An important reason why screen printing is so popular is its versatility. You can use multiple shades of ink for the same design. However, multi-colored ones will need individual colors with separate stencils. These techniques produce vivid colors, even on dark fabrics. - Source: Internet
  • In the extreme, you will see white speckles in your image when you are printing an image over a white underbase. The white ink pulls upward when you lift your screen, and then is solidified in that position under flash. When you print the colors on top, the rough texture of the white underbase shows through as these white speckles in the image. - Source: Internet
  • Although you can screen print directly onto any flat surface, the screen is normally used with a printing press. This makes registering multiple prints easier and more accurate as it holds the screen in one position while you’re printing. It also makes printing multiples faster as the screen is held in one place while you are changing and registering the paper or surface you are printing onto. - Source: Internet
  • Plastisol and water based ink make up the types of ink used for screen printing apparel. Water-based ink has two subcategories, which are, normal water based and discharge ink. I’ll start with a brief description of each type of ink and then delve into the pros and cons of each in reference to both the client and the screen printer. - Source: Internet
  • Before we dive in, let’s note that the temperature ink cures at depends on the ink itself. Water-based ink like Green Galaxy will cure between 300°-320°F. Some plastisol inks cure at 320°F. Low-cure plastisol inks, like FN-INK™, cure at 260°F. - Source: Internet
  • Water-based ink provides an unparalleled softness to the prints. This type of screen printing is a great option for the fashion/retail market. Water based is more breathable than plastisol. - Source: Internet
  • Using the white underbase as part of the image requires you to lay down far too much ink to make the white bright enough for a final image. Then, the colors on top of this too-heavy underbase make the print even thicker. And, these overprint colors can become muddy because of the heavy base you are printing upon. You may have curing problems (cracking after washing) due to the excessive amount of ink as well. - Source: Internet
  • A lot of printers ask how to cure inks and as easy as it is to read instructions, people still struggle. For starters, there are two popular types of inks to screen print with. You have your Plastisol Inks that traditionally cure at around 320° F for a minute and your Water-Based Inks will cure at the same temperature but require around 3 minutes to cure. The popular plastisol inks these days are curing at around 260° - 270°. - Source: Internet
  • Amanda started Salt and Pine Co. with a hand-made press and works out of her spare bedroom. She wants everyone in the screen printing community to know that it can be just that simple. You don’t have to spend thousands on equipment if a large-scale operation isn’t what you’re looking for. - Source: Internet
  • Printing black ink on a black shirt — trendy, right? As with everything in screen printing, there are multiple ways to achieve this goal. From using a puff base to printing with clear base to curing at higher and lower temperatures, printers can offer a variety of effects and looks to their customers. Let’s take a look to see how each technique turns out so you can decide what’s best for your next print job. - Source: Internet
  • New printers struggle and struggle with release from the garment during the print stroke. By release, we’re referring to the screen coming away from the garment just after the squeegee passes, and not sticking to the garment until you lift the screen. In other words, printing off-contact the screen mesh should only touch the garment at the point where the squeegee comes in contact with the screen. - Source: Internet
  • Using the right screen printing ink can make all the difference in your work. When purchasing screen printing inks, you should consider their ease of application, longevity, and sustainability. Here are some screen printing inks tried and tested by an expert. - Source: Internet
  • The ink is applied to the paper’s surface, giving a pleasing sense of tactile texture. The printer can easily produce multiple times with the same stencil. It is ideal for printing the same design on multiple items without changing the stencil. - Source: Internet
  • What sets acrylic screen printing inks apart is their ability to air dry. This can help when printing on polyester fabric, which is famous for having issues (dye migration, discoloration and more) during the curing process. High-quality air-drying inks have long been desired by screen printers. - Source: Internet
  • It doesn’t have to be complicated. Your ink manufacturer will recommend a mesh count for the types of ink they sell. Follow these recommendations and you’ll be much more successful. It is screen printing after all, so the screen is the critical component. I believe that getting the screen right – mesh and tension – is 90% of the job. - Source: Internet
  • One additional note about two-component metallic ink systems. If we are mixing silver inks and our aluminum pigment concentrate is in a powdered form, we must be extremely careful. Powdered aluminum reacts with water/humidity and releases hydrogen, which can explode (that’s why similar aluminum flakes are used in explosives for slurry mines, rocket fuel, and fireworks). So if we keep powdered aluminum to produce silver metallic inks, we must make sure to store the aluminum in a dry, temperature-controlled location. Fortunately, aluminum is safer in a paste form, and all producers of aluminum powders also offer their pigments as a paste in varieties compatible with solvent-based, water-based, and UV clears. - Source: Internet
  • Who doesn’t love gold? Make a print look like a million bucks with FN-INK Metallic Gold . The ink is stock full of golden flakes, sparkling and glittering when a flash of light hits it. Gold makes a statement. It’s not for the light-hearted. Spread your message with FN-INK Metallic Gold. - Source: Internet
  • This is the most widely used ink in the industry. Durable, versatile, opaque, and able to lay down a crisp and detailed print, plastisol is still the go-to ink for screen printers. It’s made out of unpolymerized (read: viscous) PVC (polyvinyl chloride) via chemical process through a combination of ethylene (an oil-based product) and chlorine suspended in a liquid plastic. Plastisol is essentially a liquid plastic combined with unpolymerized PVC. - Source: Internet
  • Besides conventional colors, most color-matching systems also identify a range of metallics (Figure 2). These metallics are made by using rich, rich pale, pale gold, and silver metallics as the base color, then tinting them (usually with red, yellow, or orange ink). The challenge in manufacturing such inks is that some of the red, yellow, and orange pigments used for matching may attack the metallic pigments and create a negative reaction that ruins the printed image. Ink manufacturers take great care in formulating their metallic colors to avoid such problems. - Source: Internet
  • While we’re discussing the appearance of the metallic ink, we should probably note a phenomena that is very prevalent with these formulations. Because of the way the pigments are oriented in most metallic inks, the appearance of the printed ink film will change with the viewing angle. This is why traditional graphic arts spectrophotometers are usually not recommended for measuring metallic prints. The only accurate measurement tool is a type of spectrophotometer used in the automotive industry. This device reads the colors at multiple angles for an average value, but the cost of such a unit is usually prohibitive for screen-printing operations. - Source: Internet
  • Screen printing can be used to apply ink to any flat surface, although the smoother the surface the better the results. Fabric and paper are the most commonly screen printed surfaces, although wood, glass, perspex and metal are also options. Screen printing is favoured as a printing method due to the tactile nature of the resulting print and the saturated colours that it creates with ink. It’s very difficult to get the same depth and intensity of colour when printing digitally. - Source: Internet
  • While everyone has their preferences for ink, there are several go-tos that most printmakers choose in certain circumstances. Your selection is limited to water-based and oil-based inks, but there are many types, such as screen-printing ink, relief ink, etc. However, you might wonder if you can use inks that aren’t listed as “for block printing” for your block print. - Source: Internet
  • Not only are silicone screen printing inks expensive, the ink mixing systems typically aren’t as robust. Silicone inks are largely novel applications done in large shops with nearly scientific printing capabilities. The catalysts needed to actually print silicone inks only work during a brief duration, so your production time and ink supply is limited by what you can mix. Silicone inks are challenging, but there’s a potential reward for shops that have meticulous ink management skills. - Source: Internet
  • Normally the press has a vacuum attached to the base of the table, this sucks the paper down, holding it in position while you are printing. When screen printing big lengths of fabric then a long, flat table is used and often two people will print together, passing the squeegee between them and holding the screen in place. As only a thin layer of ink is printed, meaning on a porous surfaces such as paper and fabric the ink dries very fast. This means applying the next colour can happen straight away as the surface is already dry. - Source: Internet
  • Screen printing has its origins in the Far East where it was used extensively as early as 1000AD but it only really began to gain popularity in Europe at the start of the 20th century, coming into commercial use in the 1920’s. Artists first began using Screen printing in 1930s America and the term ‘serigraph’ was initially used to denote an artist’s print, as opposed to commercial work. It has been widely used by artists as a printmaking technique since the 1950s. Screen printing is still commonly used by artists and print makers to create editions of prints. - Source: Internet
  • If your screen releases with a “pop” when you lift it, the screen mesh is likely too soft. This “pop” is caused by the ink on the shirt holding to the ink in the screen, until you forcibly separate it by lifting the screen. The result will be a rough finish on the shirt. - Source: Internet
  • If you’re busting out high-volume orders each day, then a conveyor dryer is the way to go. Conveyor dryers run multiple shirts through at a time which helps speed up production. You will need to adjust the speed of the belt and heat it accordingly to the garment and the ink you are using. - Source: Internet
  • For my average spot color images, my basic mesh is a 156. I use 230 white and 305 color screens for a simulated process. When I print puffs and plastisol transfers I use 87 mesh. Specialty inks… I use what the ink supplier recommends such as 196 for suedes, and 40 for glitter. - Source: Internet
  • You can also use discharge inks as an underbase. This is a super effective technique that leverages discharge ink’s unique chemistry. Since discharge removes the dye in the garment, you can print super vivid prints on dark shirts – even though water based inks are less opaque than plastisol inks. - Source: Internet
  • For nylon, like jackets and other materials, you’ll want a nylon white ink. It usually has a special adhesive so it can stay on the nylon without coming off. Be sure to follow the curing directions for your nylon white ink to the letter. - Source: Internet
  • It takes 5-7 minutes for curing the print ink properly with a heat gun. However, it can vary on a design basis. More heat and time can damage the fabric of your garment. - Source: Internet
  • Owned by PolyOne, Rutland is headquartered in North Carolina. They developed one of the earliest color matching software systems, which let them conquer a huge swath of the custom apparel industry’s largest providers. Rutland’s expertise in software has let them develop a leading mixing calculator. Because of their prowess with screen printing inks, Rutland remains a globally leading ink distributor. - Source: Internet
  • You can also find screen printing inks in oil-based forms. However, their strong odor makes them an unsuitable choice for most people. Also, they’re better for use on paper than blocks because their thickness makes them hard to dry down. - Source: Internet
  • If a heat gun is the method you’re using to cure garments, make sure you’re being careful because there’s a high chance that the inks will not hit their cure temperature. For plastisol ink, apply the heat gun to the garment until it’s dry to the touch. Make sure you’re holding it directly above the print. Apply heat to the garment until it’s dry to the touch. Then perform a wash test (more on that later). - Source: Internet
  • The textile industry produces an abundance of fabrics for you to choose from for block printing. Different materials are suitable for specific uses. You might prefer silk or georgette for a scarf or cotton for a bedsheet or t-shirt. - Source: Internet
  • Plastisol is mixed with different bases to achieve various effects. There are reducers/fashion bases that can be mixed into the ink to give a faux water based feel without losing the vibrancy. There are suede bases that make your print feel like suede, puff bases that balloon up giving your print a nice high density texture. - Source: Internet
  • I’ve gotten this call 100 times, and 99 of those times the conversation starts with, “There’s something wrong with my ink.” It’s almost never the ink, no matter what the issue in your shop. And many of your shop issues will revolve around proper screen mesh, proper screen tension, proper preparation of your screen via degreasing and coating. - Source: Internet
  • The tool that most people start out with when entering screen printing is a heat gun. Will a heat gun work for curing ink? Yes and no. We don’t recommend using a heat gun for screen printing because you won’t be able to get a consistent and accurate temperature across your print area. Yes, it’s the best bang for your buck and even though it looks like a blow dryer it can reach temperatures that will burn a hole in your scalp so realize a blow dryer is not going to reach your inks curing temperature. Heat guns can be found at your local hardware store and could cost anywhere from $15-$50 depending on brand and specs. - Source: Internet
  • As presented above, there are many methods of screen printing. However, they all involve the same basic process. This process requires a special emulsion that is reactive to light, being the most common one in commercial printing. - Source: Internet
  • With halftone printing, you can use multiple colors in a gradient for your design. These tones will range from halftones of the same color all the way to various solid spots. This method is excellent for achieving a multi-color look without using multiple colors. - Source: Internet
  • When you want to get an orange radiant color on a black t-shirt, you can print with a 50% gradient. The gradient will consist of a combination of colors, resulting in an orange tone when combined with the original ink. This method improves the quality of your design and also feels softer to touch. - Source: Internet
  • There was a time when a supplier would tell you to buy a dozen 110 mesh screens and you can print anything. Unfortunately, there are still suppliers who tell new printers this. When I started printing (in 1979!!) this was common advice. But today we know better, or should at least. - Source: Internet
  • Ink is mostly made from a dark pigment called melanin, which is suspended in thick mucus along with small amounts of other things such as amino acids. Squid ink is blue-black in color, while cuttlefish ink is brown and octopus ink is black. To make ink, squid have special organs called ink glands and ink sacs. - Source: Internet
  • FN-INK™ is a low-cure plastisol ink that prints like a dream and doesn’t hurt your wallet. All inks are different, so using FN-INK™ might take a little bit of experimenting. Got questions? In this blog, we’ll answer five most commonly asked questions about FN-INK™. - Source: Internet
  • Picking where to buy screen printing supplies is a more important choice than you might think. You can’t just pick the cheapest distributor and get on with it. There’s more to it than that. - Source: Internet
  • In my classes and seminars, I talk to new screen printers all the time, many being in business a year or less. Some issues tend to repeat over and over again. Of course, there are more than five, but these are the most common, and fairly easy for the new screen printer to address. - Source: Internet
  • One drawback of using vinyl stencils is that Amanda is limited to simpler designs. Vinyl stencils are not as capable of capturing small details since weeding is tough and small details can peel off the screen during a run. If a client sends in a detailed design, she’ll either see if the client is happy to have a less intricate design or she suggests they head to another print shop. - Source: Internet
  • Amanda uses her Cricut, a vinyl cutter, to cut out the stencil, weeds it, then covers the unused portion of the screen in tape. She skips the entire darkroom process that most printers go through. Her DIY screen is done in 15 to 20 minutes. - Source: Internet
  • Part of the reason printer ink is so expensive is so printer manufacturers can recoup some of the losses they incur selling you the printer in the first place. Printers are often sold at or below cost with the idea manufacturers will make more money selling you ink or toner over the life of the printer. This is generally why printers are priced low while ink and toner prices are kept high. Printer ink currently costs about $9,600 per gallon! - Source: Internet
  • Beginners might have difficulties when they start their screen printing journey. As their experience increases, so do their results. Once you figure out how things work in this industry, you will be able to improve with more and more practice. - Source: Internet
  • Screen Printing is a type of stencil printing, where ink passes through a fabric or mesh screen. These screens are made from thin fabrics, traditionally silk but nowadays usually a synthetic alternative, which is stretched tightly over a metal or wood frame. It can be used to print onto a flat surfaces, including other fabrics, papers, metals or wood; and is a process commonly used in printmaking, graphic design and textiles. - Source: Internet
  • The flash dryer, everyone involved in screen printing knows what a flash dryer is. This is pretty much a heating element on a rotating post. You are going to want to get an infrared heating element rather than a coil type of element. You can cure with a heat press just make sure you raise it up a couple of inches from the shirt so you don’t burn it. - Source: Internet
  • You’ll find plenty of diversity when choosing from the screen printing inks available. Various brands make them in a multitude of colors. The same does not apply to relief inks. - Source: Internet
  • Make a print literally stand out from a shirt by using a puff additive . To get a little scientific, a puff ink is chemically made up of spherules that expand when exposed to heat, causing the puff effect. Make a design have a little bit of loft, or make it puff up like a balloon, the choice is up to you. FN-INK Puff is a unique way to make screen prints 3D. - Source: Internet
  • In general, water-based inks take longer to cure. You’ll want a forced air conveyor dryer like the Aeolus. Water-based inks need air movement to effectively drive the water out of the ink and move the steam outside the dryer so that the heat can cure the ink. Without proper air movement, most printers either have to slow their belts way down or run the shirts through the dryer multiple times. - Source: Internet
  • The screen printing process is a popular technique of pressing ink through a mesh screen to create a preferred design. Screen-printed products are very popular nowadays. More than likely, you own one yourself. - Source: Internet
  • Discharge is water-based ink, so you’ll need a forced air conveyor dryer. It’ll lay a thin ink layer which means it will heat up faster, once all the water has evaporated. Discharge is about 70% water in ink, so it’ll take a while to evaporate. It’s easier to achieve a cure, but evaporation is longer. - Source: Internet
  • The use of color-matching systems offers benefits and drawbacks. With a color-matched metallic ink, we increase our coverage area and may be able to more accurately match specific customer color requirements. However, the other components added to create the match also diminish the brilliance of the metallic pigments. The tradeoff may be too great for some customers to accept. Whenever maximum reflectivity is specified by the customer, we should recommend the use of the rich, rich pale, and pale golds, as well as silver metallics, in their purest forms. - Source: Internet
  • For all of your temperature readings, a laser temperature gun will be your best friend. These will tell you the surface temperature of your ink and allow you to do it quickly and accurately. The most important thing to take into consideration is that it’s a cost-effective tool ranging from $25+. Now there are other helpful tools such as a donut probe but it is going to cost you upwards of $100, which we know can be a hard buy for most printers starting off. - Source: Internet
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