For the Business of Apparel Decorating
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48 || P R I N T W E A R S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7 ACTIVE WEAR 5 Areas of Concentration for Athletic Printing B Y R A Y S M I T H ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR ACTIVE WEAR A thletic garments seem easy enough to print. After all, they usually re- quire less than a handful of colors at most. But the difficulty with these garments isn't the amount of colors or the simplicity of the design; the challenge is in the substrate and the applica- tion of the print. Like all screen print projects, the outcome is the result of a chain of events, each with their own contribution to the end. When it comes to athletic garment print- ing, five areas of concentration throughout the shop floor will lead to excellent and re- peatable quality. The following information details the biggest considerations for each of a shop's departments to ensure these results. ART DEPARTMENT Underbase: When creating an underbase, it is good to keep in mind that the use of an underbase cannot only affect bleed resistance but can contribute to the surface, drape, and color of the final product. Laying a foundation is key to the overall look of the design. Think past just white and examine other colors in the art to help with the un- derbase. Color: When it comes to overprint color, remember that mid to dark colors will need less underbase white. It is often preferred that these colors are printed straight onto an underbase gray as it will enable the press operator to hit the correct color on-press more quickly. Underbase gray: Underbase gray can help with color and add an extra layer of protection for bleed resistance. Putting gray first, followed by a white with varying half- tones will create a great gray study of the Ray Smith has been in the screen printing industry since 1978. He has been involved as an art director, production manager, plant manager and business owner. He re-joined Wilflex in 2008 as the applications special- ist. He is currently a senior business devel- opment manager at PolyOne. Left: When it comes to overprint colors, remember that mid to dark colors will need less underbase white. (All images courtesy PolyOne) Right: When it comes to selecting mesh for athletic fabrics, an open mesh with thin thread will increase the ink volume while maintaining a smoother surface.