Posts filed under ‘Printing Tips’
Screen Printing Tip of the Week: How ‘Tools’ Impact Ink Performance
The following Screen Printing Tip of the Week by Kieth Stevens was recently published in Impressions Magazine.What differentiates how an ink performs compared to another? Is it really just the ink or are other factors playing a part?
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
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
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 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 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
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 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
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:
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 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
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.
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
Top 5 Considerations for Ink Knives and Spatulas
Thick vs. Tapered Blades
In continuing with our “Top 5″ series relating to various screen printing topics, here is Kieth Stevens with the next installment: Top 5 Considerations for Ink Kives and Spatulas. This article was recently published in Impressions:
When working with screen printing ink, it’s important to use the right tools for the job.
It’s true, there are many varieties of ink knives and spatulas on the market — cheap ones and more expensive ones, those with plastic and metal blades, long and short, etc. The choices are dizzying and every printer has a “favorite.” One of the main determining factors in choosing the right knife is the purpose for which it will be used. Here are several things to consider when choosing an ink knife:
• Material: Ink knives usually are made from plastic or metal (stainless steel), with the ubiquitous cardboard squares rounding out the choices. The plastic ones usually are fairly rigid and work well for scooping inks, whereas the metal ones can have more flexibility. Needless to say, the cardboard squares are the least durable, but often convenient since they are cheap and can be thrown away.
• Shape and Length: Knives come in various shapes and sizes, from long flexible ones to short wide ones, with rounded or straight edges. Typically, the short wide ones (usually shaped like putty knives) are used for loading and unloading ink from the bucket onto the screen or scraping the sides of the bucket. Take care not to touch the screen with these knives, as their sharp edges could tear or damage it. The longer, more flexible metal knives are great for mixing and spreading ink onto the screen. When purchasing a long mixing knife, be sure to get one with a length suitable for the size of the container in which you are mixing ink.
• Blades: As mentioned, the long flexible knives with the rounded edges are great for mixing inks, but be sure to look at the blade from the side as well. If it is the same thickness throughout — from the handle to the tip — the knife will not be as flexible and can break near the handle while in use. A good mixing blade tapers nicely (thicker to thinner) from the handle to the tip of the blade. Invest in good, quality knives. One customer told me that he uses a cake frosting knife for mixing, but I strongly suggested that he switch, since those cake frosting knives can snap when used for mixing textile plastisol inks due to their high viscosity.
• Handles: Generally, the metal knives have wooden or resin-type handles. Many of the plastic variety also have hooks molded into the handles, which attach nicely to the rim of the buckets. This keeps the knives within easy reach when needed and prevents them from slipping into the bucket.
• Utility: Here are some pointers on the knives I prefer for various tasks. Again, I use a knife with a long, rounded, tapered metal blade for mixing inks and spreading them onto the screen. Generally, I like using the plastic putty knife-type ones for scooping ink. I also occasionally use cardboard for spreading or scooping ink. However, when using cardboard, only use it sparingly with plastisol ink. Never leave cardboard squares sitting in plastisol ink buckets, as the cardboard will absorb the plasticizer and can affect the properties of the ink. Also, never use it with water-based ink.
Flex/Breaking Points – Thick vs. Tapered Blades
You can purchase and use cheaper plastic knives when scooping inks, but I highly recommend investing in a couple of good mixing knives that will last a long time. In my experience, whenever I’ve come across ink specialists at any production shop, they have invested in quality tools and seldom lose sight of their favorite knives.
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 ink tips and 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
