Impressions - May 2021 - 46

You can speed up production and improve
artwork-placement accuracy by using an
optical camera system.

Caps can be printed
digitally with no color
restrictions and with
greater detail.

For small orders, caps can be sprayed with
pretreatment by hand. For larger orders, a
pretreatment machine is recommended.

ARTWORK PLACEMENT ON CAPS
The two most popular places to put artwork on caps are across the
front panels - also known as the crown - and on the top of the
bill. In addition, you also can print on the back, the sides and even
underneath the bill. With a little experimentation and creativity, the
options are endless.
To ensure the print is applied to the right place on the cap, there are
templates and optic-eye camera systems available that make this
easier.

Curing
There are three ways to cure a digitally printed cap. The first
is a cap heat press, which comes with a curved platen that fits
the cap's shape. There's a selection of cap platens that will fit
most headwear shapes.
The second way to cure a digitally printed cap is by using
a conveyor dryer. There are small conveyor dryers specifically designed for caps, or you always can use a regular T-shirt
conveyor dryer.
Finally, you can use a heat gun.This would be an ideal option
for small runs. For higher production, the heat press or conveyor
dryer are much faster options.
The temperature used to cure digitally printed caps is important. In some cases, the cap's bill will be made of plastic. If
you expose it to too much high heat, you could end up with
a distorted bill. Be sure to ask your supplier about the recommended time and heat settings for the curing technique you
decide to use.
P.46

The Process
Step 1: Apply pretreatment to the cap area being printed.The
amount of pretreatment will vary based on the cap material.
Consult your supplier or do testing in advance to determine
the right amount. Pretreatment can be applied using a spray
bottle or a pretreatment machine, but it must be cured before
printing. Use the same method to dry the pretreatment as you
use to dry the inks.
Step 2: Load the blank, pretreated cap on the cap platen by
flipping the sweatband down and sliding it under the front lip
of the riser. Use the vertical line on the cap platen for alignment
and then secure the bill using black clips that may be included
with the platen. Pull the cap's crown over the riser and secure it
to the back of the platen, flattening the cap as much as possible.
Step 3: Ensure the design is in the right place before printing by using the included artwork template for the cap platen
or a camera system. Select the desired print settings, send the
print file to the DTG printer and press the green button.After
printing is done, cure the ink.
As you can see, regardless of whether you're a screen printer
or an embroiderer, digitally printing on caps is easier and faster
than most other methods. By adding this capability, you can
sell more caps by better meeting your customers' needs. 
Elliot Evans is manager of marketing operations in the industrial products
division at Brother Intl. Corp. His background in project management and
digital marketing have spanned several industries, with a strong focus on
customer education. For more information or to comment on this article,
email Elliot at Elliot.Evans@brother.com.

I M P R E S S I O N S M A G . C O M MAY 2021

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