5 Tips to Prevent Dye Migration, While Printing on to Polyester.

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Dye migration is a real nightmare for printers when screen printing on to the dreaded polyester!

So what causes dye migration you ask? It is a result of the dyes in the fabric becoming wet and active again. This happens when exposed to excessive amounts of heat from flash cures and screen print dryers.

During the drying/heating process of screen printing, the migration tends to bleed through your screen printed design. This usually happens when block lettering on a sports garment like a football shirt and will turn the nice bright white lettering on a polyester football shirt pink! This can take 24 hours to happen so the effect may not be immediately after coming off the dryer, so please beware!

  1. Use a good dye blocking white, grey or even black in some cases such as our range of Dye Block Inks.
  2. Flash the base Colours, just touch dry as little heat as possible.
  3. Make sure the dryer is running accurate and don’t not over cure on the final cure.
  4. Do not stack the garments high after the print as they will retain the heat.
  5. Always test the garment prior to print at least first 24 hrs. prior to printing the order.

If you want to prevent dye migration while screen printing, Our range of Dye Block Inks are a great option! You can find out more by visiting our website, or if you would prefer to chat to one of our experienced team you can get in touch on;

01562 829009 or email sales@screenprintworld.co.uk

 

 

Waterbased Ink Vs Plastisol.

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Ever wondered if you are using the best ink for your needs and your Print Shop, but really wasn’t sure what the difference between Waterbased and Plastisol was? Dave Roper MD of Screen Print World has compiled a list of the pros and cons for both forms of ink, how mesh count will affect your print, Squeegee angles and other handy tips and tricks of the trade.

Waterbased ink is different from plastisol in exactly the way you might expect; Plastisol does not use water as a solvent, while waterbased ink does. Once printed, this kind of ink needs to evaporate in order for the ink to cure. Waterbased ink can either cure at room temperature over time, or by running the garment through a dryer at 160°c and usually needs at least 1 minute.

Plastisol ink is a PVC based system which doesn’t use a water solvent. It’s a thermoplastic ink, meaning it has to be heated to a high enough temperature to cause the molecules of PVC resin and plasticizer to cure. The temperature at which plastisol usually cures on textile is 160°c.

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We have put together two simple charts to really help you make the decision on which type of ink would make the ideal match for your print job.

  • 24t- Beach Towels, Glitter inks, Thick Inks.
  • 43t- Textile inks, Opaque inks, T-shirts.
  • 55t- Textile inks, Finer textile designs, waterbased.
  • 62t- Enamel inks, Very fine textile ink
  • 77t- Paper and board inks.
  • 90t- Vinyl inks, Paper and board inks, Plastic ink.
  • 120t- Halftone printing, Paper and board inks.
  • 150t-UV Printing, Very fine halftone work, Usually graphic.

 

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Confused about Mesh count? We have you covered! This is Dave Ropers list of the Mesh counts that generally should be used for each different job types.

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Lets talk Squeegee angle, pressure and off contact!

When printing with plastisol inks you will need a higher off contact in order to lay the ink on top of the garment. When printing with waterbased inks a lower off contact is needed to double print and drive the ink into the garment. For more information on squeegees you can read our blog dedicated to them here 

Waterbased Ink.

  • Heavily flood the screen!
  • Keep a trigger spray bottle handy and fill this with water. You can use this to keep the ink wet for printing.

Plastisol Ink.

  • Leave the screen printed-not flooded.
  • Do not use white spirit or screen wash as thinners/reducers. Always use curable reducer.

For more information on all of our inks you can visit our website www.screenprintworld.co.uk, give us a call on 01562 829009 or send us an email on sales@screenprintworld.co.uk.

Plastisol VS Waterbased Inks

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plat-vs-wb-.png

Ever wondered if you are using the best ink for your needs and your Print Shop, but really wasn’t sure what the difference between Waterbased and Plastisol was? Dave Roper MD of Screen Print World has compiled a list of the pros and cons for both forms of ink, how mesh count will affect your print, Squeegee angles and other handy tips and tricks of the trade.

Waterbased ink is different from plastisol in exactly the way you might expect; Plastisol does not use water as a solvent, while waterbased ink does. Once printed, this kind of ink needs to evaporate in order for the ink to cure. Waterbased ink can either cure at room temperature over time, or by running the garment through a dryer at 160°c and usually needs at least 1 minute.

Plastisol ink is a PVC based system which doesn’t use a water solvent. It’s a thermoplastic ink, meaning it has to be heated to a high enough temperature to cause the molecules of PVC resin and plasticizer to cure. The temperature at which plastisol usually cures on textile is 160°c.

the-good-points.png

waterbased-good-points.png

plastisol-good-points..png

the-not-so-good-points-banner.png

the-not-so-good-points..png

lets-compare.png

We have put together two simple charts to really help you make the decision on which type of ink would make the ideal match for your print job.

  • 24t- Beach Towels, Glitter inks, Thick Inks.
  • 43t- Textile inks, Opaque inks, T-shirts.
  • 55t- Textile inks, Finer textile designs, waterbased.
  • 62t- Enamel inks, Very fine textile ink
  • 77t- Paper and board inks.
  • 90t- Vinyl inks, Paper and board inks, Plastic ink.
  • 120t- Halftone printing, Paper and board inks.
  • 150t-UV Printing, Very fine halftone work, Usually graphic.

plast-v-waterbased-chart.png

lets-demystify-mesh-count.png

Confused about Mesh count? We have you covered! This is Dave Ropers list of the Mesh counts that generally should be used for each different job types.

tips-and-tricks.png

LETS TALK SQUEEGEE ANGLE, PRESSURE AND OFF CONTACT!

When printing with plastisol inks you will need a higher off contact in order to lay the ink on top of the garment. When printing with waterbased inks a lower off contact is needed to double print and drive the ink into the garment. For more information on squeegees you can read our blog dedicated to them here

WATERBASED INK.

  • Heavily flood the screen!
  • Keep a trigger spray bottle handy and fill this with water. You can use this to keep the ink wet for printing.

PLASTISOL INK.

  • Leave the screen printed-not flooded.
  • Do not use white spirit or screen wash as thinners/reducers. Always use curable reducer.

For more information on all of our inks you can visit our website www.screenprintworld.co.uk, give us a call on 01562 829009 or send us an email on sales@screenprintworld.co.uk.