Impressions - April 2016 - 47

Many reflective ink
lines allow for tiny
details and halftones
to be printed, which
are difficult to
achieve with waterbased ink.

been successful, partially because of how fine
the reflective glass particles are and, thus, how
fine of a mesh you can use. This, in turn, allows
for tiny details and halftones to be printed,
which are difficult to achieve with water-based
ink or other types of reflectives.
When talking about reflectives or other types of
shimmers, metallics or glitters, it is important
to understand the dwell time required in the dryer
for the complete ink film to reach a full cure.
Typically, ink that is metallic or reflective in
nature reflects not only light, but also the heat
needed to fuse or cure. Some screen printers raise
the oven temperature and this can work, but often
will expose the garment to a level of heat that
may scorch or distort it if the ink is printed on
polyester or a polyester blend. The added heat
also can activate bleeding or dye migration.
The best way to cure a reflective or metallic
ink is to reduce the speed the dryer conveyor
and let the ink absorb the heat it needs to cure.
This may involve reducing an electric dryer's
temperature - but not below 320°F - to avoid
overheating the garment.

3 MUST-HAVE SPECIALTY INKS
1.

Glow-in-the-Dark Colors

Puff Additive: This was one of the first types of true specialty inks
with which I ever worked. It is simple to use, almost foolproof
and, by adding 15% to most inks, printers can add dimension and

Most recently, I've heard talk of the development
of reflective inks that "glow," an effect resulting
from adding a phosphorescent glow-type powder
to the ink.
This warrants mentioning the other hot trend
gaining strength in the marketplace today: glowin-the-dark colors. What's more, these aren't
the traditional yellow-greenish glow-in-the-dark
hues we are accustomed to seeing. Rather, they
include blues, pinks and greens. The cost of
these powders can be alarmingly high; thus, the
addition of the glow to the reflective inks can
dramatically increase costs.
When looking at these glowing colors in the dark,
it can take many minutes for your eyes to adjust;
as this happens, the glow may even diminish. If you
can stay in the room and wait for the adjustment,
you will see the glow more clearly.
To test this, I've "activated" a shirt (exposed
it to a light source) printed with glow-in-the
dark ink before going to bed. After waking up
before sunrise - and not turning on any lights
- I noticed I could see the print glowing from
across the room because my eyes had been shut for
many hours and were adjusted to the dim lighting
in the room. If I had turned the light on and

texture to a design and make it stand out.
2.

Glitter/Shimmer: It's easy to get excited when adding a gold or
silver shimmer to any design, as the glitter will add interest to
an otherwise basic or dull design. Light dances off the glitter or
shimmer flakes, adding allure and glamour to the print.
A couple of tips to remember when using glitters/shimmers or
shiny inks: Let them stay under the heat in the dryer a little longer
to get a complete cure. Also, select the mesh count to the largest
particle size of the glitter or shimmer so the flakes can easily pass
though the screen.

Suede/Dulling Additive: This is a very useful tool in the ink
kitchen. By adding just a small amount (2%), reduces the gloss of
most inks. By adding upwards of 15%, a simulated suede texture
can be achieved, similar to that of a leather patch. The resulting
suede print has a fuzzy texture with a slight puff.
A word of caution: Don't overcure this product or it will lose the
matte/suede finish, instead becoming glossy and shiny. As with
the puff additive, lower mesh counts and a softer squeegee will
improve results. - K.S.

APRIL 2016

P.47

Impressions - April 2016

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