For the Business of Apparel Decorating
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/865605
50 || P R I N T W E A R S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7 ink onto the substrate with minimal pres- sure. The result is a smooth even print with the majority of the ink on top of the gar- ment rather than through the garment. An obtainable goal for the EOM is 20 percent. INK DEPARTMENT Underbase gray: The carbon in the gray acts like a filter to absorb the dye before it reaches the overprint colors. It has fast flashing and excellent fiber matte-down properties. If the design calls for a gray color, this ink can be tinted to match and print it as part of the underbase, saving a screen. Low cure: Low-cure white inks can cure as low as 260 degrees F on a garment. Dif- ferent substrates will need different charac- teristics. A polyester jersey will need a du- rable poly white ink. A performance gar- ment will need a performance white with more stretch and a lower cure temperature. Nylon athletic substrates need nylon mesh ink to ensure adhesion instead of bleed re- sistance. ATHLETIC INKS Left: Low-cure white inks can cure as low as 260 degrees F on a garment. Different substrates such as polyester or nylon will need different characteristics. Right: Flash-cure units should be set to flash with the lowest temperature possible to maintain a production speed. Underbase gray inks tend to flash dry within two seconds at a 180 degrees F surface temperature, whereas white inks will need three to four seconds with a surface temperature of 180–215 degrees F. Below: A heavy flood of ink will fill the gasket on the print side of the screen. Because the ink is already through the mesh, the squeegee will lay the ink onto the substrate with minimal pressure. The result is a smooth print with the majority of the ink on top of the garment rather than through the garment.