New How-To Video Posted on IC TV

We’ve posted another exciting how-to video on our IC TV YouTube Channel:

BlowOut With Discharge Bleed Effect

Ed Branigan demonstrates a simple special effects technique using our 3810 BlowOut Base and tinted Discharge.

Simple but WOW!  Check it out now!

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

Top 5 Ways to Maintain Your Bottom Line

This week we are featuring another “Top 5″ article written by Kieth Stevens and published in Impressions:

Recently, my co-workers and I were discussing how important all the screen printing production environment, from tools to processes, are to a shop’s bottom line. After all, a printer’s goal is to make money. With that in mind, here are a few more practical tips that may be helpful as you continue to run your business.

We all understand how important it is to pay as little as possible for any given item. We also understand that selling the finished product for as much as the market can bear — or at least at a fair price — is important. Labor costs in our industry also have a huge impact on the bottom line. These factors, among many other things, impact your pocket book.

But the greatest variable that affects your bottom line is the flow or rate of your production. Put another way, you must make sure you are keeping the shirts or garments flowing through your plant.

If I had a machine in my garage that printed dollar bills, there are a few things I would do:

1. Ensure I never run out of ink — no matter what.

2. Ensure I never let the machine run out of paper.

These two things seem like no brainers right? Well the same should apply to screen printing shops. Make sure your ink is the correct type (not just the necessary color, but also the correct properties, such as special-effects ink, cotton white, low-bleed inks, etc.) and is ready to be used. Also make sure shirts are ready and laid out next to the machine.

3. To keep my money-printing machine running, I also would make sure that my tools are in the best state. Use emulsion that is durable, make sure squeegees and flood bars are clean and sharp, use correctly tensioned mesh and properly adjust the off-contact on your press. In other words, make sure anything you could possibly need is at the ready so you won’t have to stray away to get anything. This slows the production process.

It’s important to note that getting the cheapest item is not always best. If your cheap tool breaks down, your production flow consequently will be slowed.

4. Worker safety also is an important consideration in maintaining production workflow. Establish safety rules for the production floor and be sure to educate your workers on how to run the machines properly. Improper machine use or a defective machine can lead to a major accident, which may result in someone getting hurt, down time associated with the accident, labor loss and possible fines associated with the accident, etc.

5. Lastly, to keep a machine in top working condition, I strongly suggest having spare parts at the ready. If something were to break, you could repair it or substitute that part right away. With my money-printing machine, I would do almost anything it takes to keep it running. To that end, keeping machines in an up-to-date condition involves regular maintenance, repair and overhaul. This also includes preventive maintenance, which involves keeping it in a completely functioning state rather than attending to it when a problem occurs. Machinery maintenance keeps your systems from depreciating and undergoing impending breakdowns.

Constant machinery maintenance or industrial maintenance has many benefits. Getting the machine repaired only when a problem occurs greatly hampers productivity. Check to be sure your machines are in optimal running condition. Here are further benefits to keeping your machines in tip-top condition:

• Increases the efficiency and speed of your equipment
• Saves energy and life of the equipment
• Saves expenditures that could surface during a machine breakdown, like replacing damaged parts
• Keeps the machine speed at the best possible rate and the work is done much faster
• May bring to light defects that can be repaired before they become larger problems

To recap, running the office and selling at the right price are extremely important tasks, but if the overall production is not running smoothly, you will soon be out of business. If you keep your production running at peak performance you can be assured that you will win the race.

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

McLogan Seminar March 27, 2013

Join us for this exciting seminar featuring:

 

Ø      NEW Whites 

·         7031 Ultra White

·         7014 Legacy White

·         Learn when to use which whites for which substrates 

 Ø      7100 Series Performance Pro

·         How to print on performance fabrics including Polyester, stretch, etc.

·         What does the 7100 Performance Pro do?

 

PLUS:  Special Effects Techniques featuring Ed Branigan.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to broaden your   product knowledge and hands-on techniques.

Space is very limited, so don’t delay.  RSVP today!

A non-refundable charge of $25 will apply.

Lunch and snacks will be provided!

DATE:  Wednesday, March 27, 2013

LOCATION:  International Coatings Headquarters

13929 E. 166th St.

Cerritos, CA 90703

COST: $25

IMPORTANT:  Dress code – Please only wear closed-toe shoes

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/McLogan-Seminar-Invitation-March-27–2013.html?soid=1102801309700&aid=3-xYCz_9gnE.

Combat Dye Migration

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

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.

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 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

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 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

Dye Discharge Printing Tip

Dye Discharge is back in style, and here are some tips from John Levocz…

Test Fabric for Dye Migration

Ed Branigan gives a quick tip on how to test a fabric for bleeding or dye migration issues…

Tip of the Week: Degreasing

Pinhole in Screen

How important is it to degrease a screen prior to coating it with emulsion?  Here is Kieth Stevens with a tip recently published in Impressions:

Always degrease a new screen before coating it with emulsion.  Why do I recommend this extra step?  To ensure that no grease or dirt, dust or other foreign matter is left on the screen.  Grease spots on the screen will repel emulsion (which contains water) and create a spot with a halo around it, often referred to as a “fish eye.”  These fish eyes can create pin holes in the screen or compromise the overall integrity of the coated screen.  Dust particles and dirt may also cause pinholes or unevenness in the coating.

So get some degreaser from your local print supply store and clean your screen with it before coating.  It’ll save you time and money later.

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

Tip of the Week: Optical Illusions

“Kaleidoscope” Optical Illusion Print, designed by Kieth Stevens

Every time we show a lenticular or optical illusion print at one of our seminars or trade show booths, we get “oohs and aahs” and invariably the question:  “How did you do that?”  In a recent Printing Tip segment in Impressions, Kieth Stevens explains more about printing these optical illusion images: There are various ways to create “optical illusions” in screen printing. For example, halftone printing can create an optical illusion, as the small dots can be combined to create very detailed photo-realistic images.

There also are 3-D-type optical illusion prints, such as lenticular images, and one that I call a “kaleidoscope” image.

In a lenticular image, dimensional ink is used to create a linear image. By stacking the inks to various heights, screen printers can create images that look different depending on the angle from which the print is viewed.

For a kaleidoscope image, the trick is printing two or three different colors to make up one line or dot, with all the corresponding colors facing the same direction. The lines or dots are part of a larger image, and the angle from which the image is viewed will determine the color that is seen.

When creating a printed optical illusion, artwork is the most important thing. It does not need to be complicated, but it does need to be separated and spaced correctly to create the right illusion.
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.