There’s
such a wide variety of inks on the market today. Coupled with the rapid
advancement in technology, one would think their problems with ink are over.
Unfortunately, there are still challenges to be dealt with. However, most of
these problems are common and easily resolved. Let’s discuss the most commonly
used inks, a few challenges you may face when using them and how to prevent
them. Plastisol is the most favored and highly used by printers due to its ease
of use, so let’s start there.
Although
plastisols are more than user friendly and durable, this comes with a drawback.
Occasionally printers find themselves with a bulletproof vest for a shirt, an
analogy often used in the industry. The “hand” feel of a shirt refers to how
soft or hard a shirt feels, a result of the amount of ink deposited on the
substrate. To achieve a soft hand and reduce the hardness, or harshness rather,
of a plastisol ink, consider using a plastisol softener which can be mixed into
your inks at a specific ratio determined by your ink manufacturer, or simply
order a pre-mixed soft hand ink. We offer a fantastic soft hand base available here. Also consider the type of mesh you’re using.
The higher the mesh count, the less ink is put down after each pass; the finer
the mesh, the finer the detail. A good strategy to start with when wanting to
achieve a softer print is to go with a higher mesh count than normal and use a
soft hand ink with a dye blocking underbase first; and just put down less ink.
Obviously, circumstances vary greatly print to print, so be sure to refer to
the ink manufacturers recommendations on compatible substrates and curing times
to ensure a quality print.
Now
let’s discuss discharge and water-based inks. Two of the most common challenges
printers encounter when using these inks are ink drying up on the screen and
the screen breaking down during the printing process. Why would water-based
inks dry so quickly? Well, the water in the ink simply evaporates too quickly.
If you work in a humid environment, you’re in luck. However, we’ll be
mentioning additives once again. Retarder
is the name of the game here, this additive helps to extend the open time for
water-based inks, preventing the ink from drying too quickly. We carry Matsui
brand Retarder MG available here. Another important factor to consider
when using water-based inks; your emulsion. These inks must have an emulsion
that doesn’t break down with water like your photopolymers do. Dual cure
emulsions are a great place to start. Check them out here. If your emulsion is still breaking down and
you’re sure you are using the right one, then the emulsion has been
underexposed. If your cure times have not been properly dialed in or your image
doesn’t have enough pressure between the mesh and exposure unit, the emulsion
will not properly cure, causing it to break down faster. If you’re unsure about
curing time, invest in a good exposure calculator and run some tests.
Finally,
let’s put the puff back into puff inks. Do remember, this ink has caused
headaches for many a printer. Nonetheless, it’s become increasingly popular in
streetwear and fashion brands recently due to its affordability and relatively
ease of use. Puff reacts to heat, if you overheat it, it can puff up and
subsequently deflate. Be sure the temperature in your dryer reaches 320 degrees
and not much more. With any puff or special effect ink, if you have adequate
coverage, you’re golden. When faced with
challenges in screenprinting, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. We hope this
discussion on ink difficulties gives you a little more clarity and confidence
to print successfully.