Impressions - March 2022 - 44

This logo was printed on a manual
screen-printing press using three screens
with black, yellow and reflective inks.
but it only works well after you've tested them for compatibility,
printability, durability and more. Do your homework and test
them to be assured you're getting what you paid for. Here are
some basics to remember:
1. Get the right ink for the job. For example, get ink
for cotton - such as a cotton white - if you're printing on a
cotton substrate.
2. Use a low-bleed ink if you're printing on 50/50 poly/
cotton fabric. Don't use a low-bleed ink on dyed cotton fabrics,
as ghosting may occur. Keep in mind that low-bleed inks are more
expensive, so only use them on polyester and polyester blends.
3. Use ink that can accommodate the stretch of stretchy
fabric. Stretch additives are available if you want to make standard
inks stretchier.
4. Stir ink prior to use. This shearing effect will make the
ink more printable and easier to use. It also will help ensure all the
components are mixed well. This applies to virtually all plastisols.
5. Flood the screen with ink before actually printing.
Flooding will ensure even distribution and pushes the ink into
the screen. If the proper amount of flood pressure is used, then
the ink will be in the correct position for the squeegee to apply
the ink. If this isn't done correctly, the squeegee must do the job
of the flood and squeegee, which slows whole process and costs
you money, time and quality.
Flashing
Flashing ink has become a standard practice in the industry,
especially when printing a white underbase on a dark substrate.
However, many screen printers are unaware that they actually
can overflash their inks.
The purpose of flashing is to simply get the ink to a " gel " state
so that the next color printed on top doesn't pick up the flashed
color. It also may be used to help minimize the amount of wet ink
accumulating at the back of the next screen. Most inks achieve
a gelatinous state at 180˚F-200˚F. The ink film should just feel
dry to the touch, not completely cured. Test the flash by slowly
working up to the proper temperature.
As production progresses, keep an eye on the temperature as
the platens heat up and the flash temperature or distance to the
substrate may need to be adjusted. When the ink is overflashed,
it can cause intercoat-adhesion problems with subsequent ink
layers. The inks may become tacky, peel away from the overflashed
ink or even partially wash off.
P.44
IMPRESSIONSMAG.COM MARCH 2022
Flashing after every color is only necessary when using certain
high-pigment water-based inks. Otherwise, it can overheat the
various ink layers, also causing intercoat-adhesion issues.
Curing
When it comes to plastisol ink, successful curing comes down
to a few basic things:
1. Ink-Film Temperature: The entire ink film, from top to
bottom, needs to reach about 320˚F. Some inks can fuse at lower
temperatures (about 270˚F).
2. Ink-Film Thickness: If the ink film is thicker, it will take
longer to reach the required temperature so you may need to
slow down the dryer. Time is always on your side.
3. Dryer Temperature: If you scorch the garment when
slowing the belt speed, then you also can lower the dryer temperature.
Heat is a necessary evil but it can cause problems. For
instance, in addition to scorching, too much heat can cause dye
migration on polyester.
Squeegee Selection
The most commonly used squeegee hardness is the 70-durometer
variety. Keep in mind that the durometer can regulate the amount
of ink printed. The softer the durometer, the more ink gets put
down. By increasing the amount of ink for a regular print, you
may lose some of the print's definition. Usually, softer-durometer
squeegees are used for special-effects inks with a thick deposit,
such as for a puff or gel ink.
If you would prefer less ink deposit, try a 75- or 80-durometer
squeegee. Double- and triple-durometer squeegees also are
available. The latter consists of a " sandwich " of a hard durometer
in the center with softer blades on the outside. This type
of combination squeegee can help because the harder middle
blade keeps the softer outside blades straight so that they don't
fold under pressure. 
Kieth Stevens is the Western regional sales manager for International
Coatings. He has been screen printing for more than 42 years
and teaching screen printing for more than 12 years;
is a regular
contributor to International Coatings' blogs; and won SGIA's 2014 Golden
Image Award. He can be reached at kstevens@iccink.com. For more
information, visit iccink.com and read the company's blog and more at
internationalcoatingsblog.com.
http://www.iccink.com http://www.internationalcoatingsblog.com http://www.IMPRESSIONSMAG.COM

Impressions - March 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions - March 2022

Impressions - March 2022 - CT1
Impressions - March 2022 - CT2
Impressions - March 2022 - Cover1
Impressions - March 2022 - Cover2
Impressions - March 2022 - 1
Impressions - March 2022 - 2
Impressions - March 2022 - 3
Impressions - March 2022 - 4
Impressions - March 2022 - 5
Impressions - March 2022 - 6
Impressions - March 2022 - 7
Impressions - March 2022 - 8
Impressions - March 2022 - 9
Impressions - March 2022 - 10
Impressions - March 2022 - 11
Impressions - March 2022 - 12
Impressions - March 2022 - 13
Impressions - March 2022 - 14
Impressions - March 2022 - 15
Impressions - March 2022 - 16
Impressions - March 2022 - 17
Impressions - March 2022 - 18
Impressions - March 2022 - 19
Impressions - March 2022 - 20
Impressions - March 2022 - 21
Impressions - March 2022 - 22
Impressions - March 2022 - 23
Impressions - March 2022 - 24
Impressions - March 2022 - 25
Impressions - March 2022 - 26
Impressions - March 2022 - 27
Impressions - March 2022 - 28
Impressions - March 2022 - 29
Impressions - March 2022 - 30
Impressions - March 2022 - 31
Impressions - March 2022 - 32
Impressions - March 2022 - 33
Impressions - March 2022 - 34
Impressions - March 2022 - 35
Impressions - March 2022 - 36
Impressions - March 2022 - 37
Impressions - March 2022 - 38
Impressions - March 2022 - 39
Impressions - March 2022 - 40
Impressions - March 2022 - 41
Impressions - March 2022 - 42
Impressions - March 2022 - 43
Impressions - March 2022 - 44
Impressions - March 2022 - 45
Impressions - March 2022 - 46
Impressions - March 2022 - 47
Impressions - March 2022 - 48
Impressions - March 2022 - 49
Impressions - March 2022 - 50
Impressions - March 2022 - 51
Impressions - March 2022 - 52
Impressions - March 2022 - 53
Impressions - March 2022 - 54
Impressions - March 2022 - 55
Impressions - March 2022 - 56
Impressions - March 2022 - Cover3
Impressions - March 2022 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20250102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202412
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20241011
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20240809
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20240809S
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20240506
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202404S
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20240102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20231011
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20230809
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20230506
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20230102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20221011
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20220809
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20220506
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20220102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20211011
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/DigitalDecorator_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20210809
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/teamactivewear_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/imp_0421_digital
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20210102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_fall2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nxtbook_bhtest/impwessons
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2020fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20200607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2019fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20190607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2019spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2018fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2018spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2017fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20170607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2017spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2016fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20160607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2016spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2015fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2015fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20150607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2015summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2015spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_2014fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2014fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20140607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_2014spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2014spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_sportsfanretailer_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20131011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2013fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20130607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2013spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20121011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2012fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20120809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20120607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2012spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20111011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20110809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2011fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20110607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2011spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_sourcebook2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20101112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20100910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2010fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20100708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2010winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_200909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_eco_2009fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2009fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20091112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_sourcebook_200906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201001
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com