Special Report
the screen clamps. Dave informed: “At this point you will need to register the job if it requires more than one colour.” I was shown how to check if my off contact was correct, which is approximately a poundʼs thickness between the bottom of the screen and the garment.
struggled with, but I guess this is something that gets easier over time.
Once finished, I reviewed the test print and made adjustments as needed. “I suggest reprinting until the image is correctly lined up. Once the design is in register continue to print the job,” said Dave.
Curing
After several attempts at printing, the final step in the process was to cure the ink. While the T shirt was going through the tunnel dryer, Dave provided the following information: “In order for plastisol or water-based ink to cure it has to reach 160°C throughout the ink. If the ink does not reach that temperature, it will not cure and is likely to wash out of the shirt prematurely.
I check the adjustments on the press
Adhesive on the pallets When printing you donʼt want the T shirt to move, especially when printing more than one colour as this will create some dodgy-looking prints, which is what I was trying avoid on my first attempt.
I was advised to use adhesive (water-based or aerosol spray tack) to temporarily adhere the fabric to the platen. Dave suggested the tip of using pallet masking tape to avoid wasted time cleaning the pallets.
The T shirt goes through the tunnel dryer to cure the ink
However, different inks will have different guidelines on curing, it is advisable to wash test production regularly. “The best way to ensure your curing temperature is correct, is to use a laser temperature gun and scan the shirt under the flash or when it is inside the conveyor, if the ink temperature is reaching 160°C it is most likely cured. If the ink is thicker, it may need to stay at that temperature for a longer time in order to cure throughout the ink deposit. You can test your cure by pulling on the garment (gently); if the ink stretches with the garment, it is cured. “Wash testing should be a standard operating procedure because it is the only reliable way to ensure that prints are properly cured.”
I place the T shirt on the platen after applying the adhesive Printing
Before attempting to print for real, Dave suggested that I do a test print first – hopefully to avoid costly mistakes. “When printing, your squeegee should be at approximately a 45° angle when pulling or pushing the ink over the design. You will need to apply some pressure when printing the design, after the print stroke, the mesh should be open and free of ink,” Dave said. Maintaining an even pressure is something I
The end result – my first printed T shirt
And with that, my time in the workshop was complete and I had printed my first batch of T shirts.
Final advice I hold the squeegee at a 45° angle while I do my test print
www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
I certainly had fun during my workshop session with Dave and his team, and I feel like I learnt a lot about what it takes to screen print. I even received a certificate for my efforts! My advice for anyone struggling with any aspect of garment decoration is to get in touch with your suppliers for help, no matter how small you think the issue is. They are the experts and will only be too glad to help you to improve your skills and level of production.
June 2019 | 65 |
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80
