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DAX Kansas City 2013 Today and Tomorrow

If you live in or around Kansas City, come to the DAX Kansas City Show being held at the Hilton Garden Inn/Jack Reardon Center.

John Levocz, our North East Regional Manager is on-site showing the latest print techniques and inks. Be sure to stop by SPSI’s (Booths 202, 203) or Atlas Screen Supply’s (Booths 603, 605, 607, 609) booth. John will also be printing live at the show so be sure to catch him!

John Levocz, International Coatings’ Northeast regional sales director, has been in the screen printing industry for more than 30 years and has broad experience in graphics and textile printing. John is a contributor to International Coatings’ blogs and holds print seminars all over the country.

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

March 1, 2013 at 3:06 pm Leave a comment

Combat Dye Migration

Here is a quick tip on how to combat dye migration, published in Printwear by Ed Branigan…

Continue Reading February 21, 2013 at 3:57 pm Leave a comment

Tip of the Week: Avoiding Bubbles on Prints

Ever experienced that your print has ink bubbles? In a recent printing tip segment published in Impressions, Kieth Stevens explains how to avoid it:

Bubbles can appear in a print for several reasons. They often develop when ink is too thick, or viscous. To resolve this issue, make the ink thinner by using a curable reducer.

Bubbles also may appear after inks are mixed with a high-speed mixer, in which case you should let the ink sit awhile to allow the bubbles to disperse.

Many types of ink contain a blowing agent to help it with texture, low-bleed properties, or body. Over time, the blowing agent may become activated, especially if the ink was stored at high temperatures, and create bubbles. To rid the ink of bubbles in this case, stir it by hand and allow them to disperse, and then add a little bit of curable reducer.

Bubbles also may appear simply because too much ink is deposited. To avoid this problem, use a harder squeegee to transfer less ink, or adjust the squeegee pressure.

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.

For more info on curable reducers, please go to http://www.iccink.com/pdfs/Plastisol%20Reducers-10-06-10.pdf

International Coatings: The Intelligent Choice

February 12, 2013 at 2:32 pm Leave a comment

Top 5 Considerations for Color Communication

Ever have to print color logos for a team and match the team colors for your order? Here is an article by Kieth Stevens that was recently published in Impressions Magazine on what to look for when communicating colors with your customer:

Communicating with a customer or a vendor about printed colors may sound easy at first, but it can actually become a complicated chore without some sort of standard to measure against. Fortunately, there are color books on the market that the printer and customer can use as points of reference.

The most popular color standard used today is the Pantone® color system. I have learned through the years that even though you may have a “standard” to compare against, there are still many pitfalls and derailments associated with color communication. Here are some considerations when communicating about color:

Pantone or Color Books
Let’s start out with the standard measuring tool itself. When visiting printing shops, I have often observed that their color books need some serious updating. Some color books are so torn and smeared with ink that the original color is barely visible. Do yourself and your customers a favor: Replace your color books regularly. The colors contained therein can fade over time due to sunlight exposure and just age.

“New” colors also sometimes are added. If a customer asks for a new color, having an updated color book will obviously help in identifying it.

Also — and this seems like a no-brainer — make sure the customer is using the same color book brand that you use. For example, Pantone does have coated and uncoated color books, and there are other branded standard color books available.

Viewing Light
An often-overlooked part of color communication is lighting. Colors look different in different lights, so when communicating about color, be sure to mention the light you are using. For example, if you are looking at your color book in daylight, but your customer is viewing it under fluorescent light, the color will look different.

Computer Screens
Different computer screens vary in resolution and color output. Hence, make sure you don’t match a color based on what it looks like on someone’s computer screen. Get a standard color book to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Inks
Translating color to inks also requires some considerations. For example, when matching a color using plastisol inks, remember that the finished print can either be glossy or matte, depending on the ink. However, when using a water-based ink, the finished print will usually be matte. Also, be aware that color can shift — albeit slightly — and look different from the original depending on the ink type used.

Substrate Color
Next, consider the color of the substrate being printed. When printing on a white shirt, the matched color may look pretty close to the original. But what about when it’s a darker or black shirt? Some adjustments may need to be made, or a white underbase may be needed, to ensure the printed color comes close to the original.

One important final point regarding color is the temperature factor: Some dyes may look different when they are heated or while they are still in a heated stage. For example, some red pigments will appear darker when heated, so look at the print after it has cooled to ensure it matches the original on the color chart.

International Coatings manufactures a complete line of Non-Phthalate and Non-PVC 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

February 5, 2013 at 10:25 am Leave a comment

Print Clean, Crisp Images

Want to achieve a clean, crisp image in screen printing? Here is a tip from Kieth Stevens, recently published in Printwear Magazine, on how to achieve this:

The width of the squeegee may make a huge difference.

First, consider the squeegee size in relation to the size of the image. Use a squeegee that not only covers the image entirely, but overlaps it by a good margin—at least an inch or so. If the squeegee is not wide enough, the edges of the image may come out blurred or smudged. This is due to the fact that most of the pressure exerted in printing is focused more toward the center of the print rather than the outer edges.

Similarly, if the image is too close to the edge of the screen, it is likely there will not be enough printing pressure on the edge or that the edge of the screen will not make good contact with the fabric. Either way, the edges of the image will be smudged.

Make sure that the inside screen edge is far enough away from the design. Or, if that isn’t possible, decrease the off-contact. The delicate relationship between off-contact and the image distance from the edge of the screen frame plays a big role in achieving a clean, crisp image.

International Coatings: The Intelligent Choice

January 30, 2013 at 11:51 am Leave a comment

Thank You For Visiting Us At ISS Long Beach!

Diplay Wall at ISS Long Beach 2013

ISS Long Beach last weekend was a great success for us. We would like to thank everyone who came by the booth!The response to our newly reformulated 7014 Legacy™ and 7031 Ultra™White was also very positive. Everyone who printed with the inks in our booth loved the short body, coverage, and brightness of the inks.

For those who would like more info on the inks used on our print sample wall (at the back of the booth), here is a link to the list of products:

http://www.iccink.com/iss2013howto.htm

Once again, thank you for your participation at the show!

International Coatings: The Intelligent Choice

January 24, 2013 at 3:05 pm Leave a comment

What are the different types of squeegees and which should I use for any given scenario?

Recently, Printwear published this mini article written by Kieth Stevens in response to an inquiry they received in their Q&A section:

What are the different types of squeegees and which should I use for any given scenario?

Asked by – Printwear Reader

Here’s what to look for when choosing a squeegee for the printing job at hand:

Handles: When printing manually, choose one that fits your hand comfortably. There are many types from which to choose and include wood, plastic or metal. Some are ergonomically designed.

Blade shapes: There are three different types—square, round and V-shaped.

Square (straight edge) blades are most often used by screen printers. They work well for standard or regular ink applications.
Round (ball nose) squeegee blades deposit more ink. Use this type for special effects inks such as gel or puff.
V-shaped (single- or double-bevel) blades are typically used for printing on irregular or cylindrical-shaped substrates.

Durometer: Denotes the hardness of the blades.

A 50-60 durometer is soft blade that will deposit more ink. Choose this durometer for heavily-textured fabrics to lay down more ink (may help with fibrillation) or for use with special effects inks, such as gels and puffs.
A 60-75 durometer designation ranks medium on the hardness scale. It is good for general printing.
The hardest option is an 80 durometer blade. It will deposit less ink and is great for printing fine detail or four-color process prints.

Composite blades: This type of squeegee blade consists of a couple or several different blades of varying durometers sandwiched together, such as a 60/90 or a 70/90/70. The benefit to using this type is that the harder durometer gives the squeegee great support, yet has the softer edge for printing.

—Kieth Stevens, International Coating

International Coatings: The Intelligent Choice

January 9, 2013 at 2:12 pm Leave a comment

Get Cleaner Exposures

Here is a quick tip from Kieth Stevens on how to get cleaner exposures, which translates for the better images on the screen. This quick tip was recently published in Printwear Magazine:

Using lower-wattage light bulbs to expose screens can result in images that aren’t crisp or in the emulsion washing out where it’s not supposed to. Instead of spending a lot of time touching up the screen with screen filler, try using dual cure emulsion.

Although the Diazo is the most forgiving of the various types of emulsions, it is also the slowest to expose. Dual cure hardens (cures) faster and can especially make a difference for those using a weak source of light for exposure.

Secondly, use a reliable, industry-supplied light source. Screen print equipment and materials manufacturers and distributors can guide you to the right choice for your setup.

—Kieth Stevens, International Coatings

International Coatings: The Intelligent Choice

January 3, 2013 at 10:30 am Leave a comment

Top 5: Types of Pallet Adhesive for Your Shop

In our next installment of our “Top 5″ Series for Impressions Magazine, Kieth Stevens discusses the types of Pallet Adhesive available for screen printers and their uses:

In order to get a consistent, clean and clear screen printed image on your garments, you must use pallet adhesive to hold the garment in a fixed position. Many people are familiar with these adhesives, but did you know there is more than one type? Let’s explore the types of adhesives and how they compare.

The adhesive type that is best for your screen printing shop depends on your needs. Check out the types of adhesives below and see if you can determine which one is ideal for you:

1. Spray or Mist Adhesive: The most common type of adhesive, spray adhesives are fairly easy to use and store, and are ideal for low- and medium-volume printing needs.

Furthermore, spray adhesives come in various formulas, such as the heat-resistant type that is designed for use with a flash cure unit. Pick one that does not leave residue on your garments. Note that sprays, in general, have overspray issues that can cause the chemical to get on the machinery and everywhere else, so be careful where you point the nozzle.

2. Web-Type Spray Adhesive: A variation of the spray adhesive, this type is specifically designed to hold heavier fabrics in place, such as sweat shirts or fleece. The web adhesive is thicker than the mist type and sprays out of the can like a spiderweb.

3. Bulk Adhesive: This adhesive type comes in “bulk” packaging, such as in buckets or containers. Typically, these come in liquid form and are meant to be brushed or sprayed onto the pallet. This type is used in larger-volume printing establishments with automatic screen printing presses. Special spray guns containing compressed air may be used to apply the adhesive.

4. Roll or Sheet Adhesive: This type of adhesive is similar to pallet tape, except it has adhesive on both sides of the paper. Generally, it is ideal for low-volume printers, since the adhesive doesn’t last too long and the tape should be regularly replaced.

5. Water-Based Adhesive: This type of adhesive comes in bottles or buckets and can be applied using a squeegee, brush or plastic spatula. It is long lasting and can be reactivated several times by using a wet sponge. This type of application is more economical and can save your shop money in the long run. The adhesive can be cleaned with either water or alcohol, but may not work for heavier garments. In addition, it eliminates the overspray issue and keeps your shop cleaner.

In conclusion, there are many choices for pallet adhesive, so choose the right one for your needs. When using spray adhesives, be careful to aim the nozzle at the pallet only. Do not get adhesive onto your print screen or other vital print areas.