Top 5 Considerations for Ink Kitchen Conversions
As the implementation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) permanently prohibited certain phthalates from being used in children’s products, the screen printing industry has since scrambled to meet the demands of the new regulations. Even though the legislation does not specifically address apparel, it does specify children’s products, and many large retailers have mandated that all their apparel products for children be phthalate compliant…
Where Are Your Inks Made?
Have you ever wondered where International Coatings manufactures its’ plastisol inks? We have received several inquiries regarding this and we are proud to say that ALL of our plastisol inks are Made In The USA!
In fact, the majority of our raw materials used are also made in the USA. We look for USA manufacturers first and foremost, and have for many years. Our long term partnership with these companies has helped maintain jobs in the USA.
We have two manufacturing plants, one in California and one in Georgia, along with a formulation and R&D laboratory at our California location.
Our production and manufacturing crews are experienced and some of them have worked at International Coatings for decades…that’s right, decades!
It is not unusual to see batches of ink being manufactured in the morning, quality control tested in the early afternoon, and shipped out to our customers the same day.
Our California facility also has a complete screen printing Tech Center where our lab continually tests the printability and quality of our inks in conjunction with our Print Applications and Product Managers. The Tech Center also serves as an R&D forum for our Print Applications Manager and makes a convenient venue for our in-house seminars.
Each of our locations has Customer Service and Shipping Departments so we can service East Coast as well as West Coast customers promptly and efficiently.
International Coatings manufactures a complete line of phthalate-compliant screen printing inks, including a wide variety of whites, specialty inks, special effects inks, color matching systems, additives and reducers. For more information on our products, please visit our website at www.iccink.com.
International Coatings: The Intelligent Choice
The Right White Ink
Ever wonder which white ink to use for what? John Levocz has a quick tip that was recently published in Impressions Magazine…
Screen Printing on Polypropylene Bags – Video
Don’t miss our recent video on IC TV’s YouTube channel, Screen Printing on Polypropylene Bags. We’ve had a lot of inquiries on how to successfully print on those popular but difficult-to-print non-woven bags. Ed Branigan demonstrates the easy how-to in a step-by-step process.
For more regarding the inks used in the video, please see our product bulletin for the 900 Nylon Series (http://www.iccink.com/pdfs/900%20Series-10-06-10.pdf) as well as our 3804 Low-Cure Additive from our website at www.iccink.com.
International Coatings manufactures a complete line of phthalate-compliant screen printing inks, including a wide variety of whites, specialty inks, special effects inks, color matching systems, additives and reducers. For more information on our products, please visit our website at www.iccink.com.
International Coatings: The Intelligent Choice
Impressions Article: SFX Inks – Looking Back to Move Forward
Recently, Impressions Magazine published an article written by our own Ed Branigan, entitled SFX Inks: Looking Back to Move Forward. The printed article also showcases many of Ed’s past and present prints and print effects. For a PDF copy of the article, click here.
Here is a brief excerpt from the article:
In the revolving door of apparel decoration, everything old is new again. Stand out from your competition by innovating your ink and printing applications. January 27, 2012 By Ed Branigan, Contributing Writer
In the garment embellishment business, anyone who has ever stood in front of a roomful of merchandisers and designers has heard the same question: “What’s new?” The pressure on their end is understandable. To convince large retail companies or licensed brands to use their services, they must show their abilities to design and execute sleek or cutting-edge printing techniques and embellishments. There’s a constant push for novelty and those who can stay ahead of the curve can be very profitable.
On the other side of the coin are the people or companies that provide the ideas and the techniques — the printing companies and the research and development (R&D) departments that service the need. I’ve spent many years working in the world of screen printing R&D, and I can tell you that the pressure on this end is equally valid: How, in the absence of a groundbreaking ink or product in a given year, do you provide customers with the fodder they need to stand apart? It’s easy when the ink manufacturers develop a new product and drop it into your lap. High-density (HD) ink or the cracking inks that provide the ultimate in vintage simulation are good examples; the work is done for you. Often, a simple strike-off showing the ink’s effect, along with an application spec sheet, is all that’s needed for a good designer to run with it.
However, what’s the solution when there’s no earth-shattering new ink on the market and the deadline for next season’s development samples is looming? We have a saying among ourselves in the R&D printing world: “Every couple of years, our old tricks become new tricks.” There’s a revolving door in garment embellishment and print application that manifests itself in various ways… Click here to read more.
For more information on International Coatings’ Specialty Inks, please go to our webpage at: http://www.iccink.com/screenprint/specialty.htm.
International Coatings manufactures a complete line of phthalate-compliant screen printing inks, including a wide variety of whites, specialty inks, special effects inks, color matching systems, additives and reducers. For more information on our products, please visit our website at www.iccink.com.
International Coatings: The Intelligent Choice
Experiment with Different Inks
Tired of printing flat images? Here’s Ed Branigan’s quick tip, recently published in Impressions Magazine, on revitalizing your screen printing:
Many screen printers are schooled to print a certain way and to use specific inks for certain print effects. However, you should try to experiment and put together different types of inks and see what happens.
In my experience, some of my best print techniques came either from “mistakes” or new combinations of inks.
The best way to experiment with various inks is to use the same artwork — something simple — then print one effect over another (flash in between) and cure it. For example, I experimented using an ink that cures hard and retains texture (3811 Granite Base), combined with a puffy, spongy special-effects ink (3810 BlowOut Base), and got an interesting effect.
Try other combinations to see what will happen. Remember, printing is fun!
Ed Branigan is the print applications manager at International Coatings and has extensive experience in screen printing inks and technology. For more information, visit iccink.com and read the company’s blog at internationalcoatingsblog.com.
For a detailed how-to on the above print technique, please check out How-To page, BlowOut/Granite Base – Sample 1 instructions: http://www.iccink.com/blowout_granite_base_s1.htm.
Check out our 3810 BlowOut Base and 3811 Granite Base flyers for more info.
International Coatings manufactures a complete line of phthalate-compliant screen printing inks, including a wide variety of whites, specialty inks, special effects inks, color matching systems, additives and reducers. For more information on our products, please visit our website at www.iccink.com.
International Coatings: The Intelligent Choice
Venice High School’s Super Shop 9 Opens
Former California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, visits Venice HS's Super Shop 9 $3 million graphic communications education facility and learn to screen print using Int'l Coatings granite base ink with a textured palette.
Congratulations to Art Lindauer on the grand opening of his Super Shop 9! Even former Governor Schwarzenegger attended and printed several shirts.
Here is an article for more info on the grand opening:
For more pictures and info on Super Shop 9, visit their Facebook site.
For more on International Coatings’ Granite Base and new Non-PVC Granite Base inks, visit our website at www.iccink.com.
International Coatings manufactures a complete line of phthalate-compliant screen printing inks, including a wide variety of whites, specialty inks, special effects inks, color matching systems, additives and reducers. For more information on our products, please visit our website at www.iccink.com.
International Coatings: The Intelligent Choice
Using Textured Pallets
Tired of the same old flat print? Want to add some pizzazz to your shirts and designs, but don’t want to spend a lot of time on artwork?
Here’s a great tip from Kieth Stevens, recently published in Impressions Magazine:
A great, simple alternative: Use a textured pallet!
Simply adding texture to your printing pallet will change the look of your design, no matter what ink you use. Simply create texture using paper, pelon material, aluminum foil or a textured surface. Use spray adhesive and pallet tape to secure the textured medium, then print away.
For greater effect, use a texturizing ink (s.a. 3811 Granite Base), but you also should experiment with regular inks. Use a simple graphic for best results, as finer details may not come out in the print.
Kieth Stevens is the Western regional sales manager for International Coatings. He has been teaching screen printing for more than 10 years and is a regular contributor to International Coatings’ blogs. For more information, visit iccink.com and read the company’s blog at internationalcoatingsblog.com.
International Coatings manufactures a complete line of phthalate-compliant screen printing inks, including a wide variety of whites, specialty inks, special effects inks, color matching systems, additives and reducers. For more information on our products, please visit our website at www.iccink.com.
International Coatings: The Intelligent Choice
Visit Us At DAX Chicagoland 2012
Vist us at DAX Chicagoland 2012 April 27-28, 2012. The trade show will be held in Tinley Park, IL and promises to be a great event. Two of our distributors will showcase the latest products and print techniques: Atlas Screen Supply, Booths 328, 330, 425, 427 & 429 and SPSI, Blocks 201 & 202. John Levocz, our North East Regional Sales Manager will be printing our new 1811 Non-PVC Granite Base at Atlas’ booth, whereas SPSI will be printing our new 7110 Performance Pro line and 507 Optilux Enhanced Reflective ink.
Don’t miss out on this chance to check out the latest International Coatings products including our 7113 Performance Pro White, part of our 7100 Performance Pro line, specifically formulated for today’s finicky performance fabrics. Register today!
See you in Chicago!
International Coatings manufactures a complete line of phthalate-compliant screen printing inks, including a wide variety of whites, specialty inks, special effects inks, color matching systems, additives and reducers. For more information on our products, please visit our website at www.iccink.com.
International Coatings: The Intelligent Choice
