Showing posts with label how to screen print. Show all posts

Posted by Dustin Koch on 9/12/2017


What is Underbase Printing? 

This is a bottom layer of ink used to optimize the brilliance and quality of a print. The most common under base used is the main white ink that a shop is using, and it is most commonly used on darker garments in order to deliver the quality of colors the job needs. There are other ways to print an under base, but this lesson will be focusing on using white ink to achieve a quality print. 

Why use an underbase? 

Well, have you ever tried printing a red ink on a black shirt and wonder why it appeared to be "off looking" or "flat?" Most printers have gone through this as well. Under basing takes that "flat" look and turns into a "popping" look. This process enables you to give a better looking product to your customers that will have them coming back to you for future orders. Yes, an under base on a shirt will cause a thicker print on a garment, but the trade off is a much better print and much better satisfaction in your customers.  

What Inks Should I Use?

When using a white as an under base, choose a white that is smooth, soft, and high in opacity. This will allow for the best result while the other inks are being printing on top. As far as the other colors, using a medium opacity ink like the Texsource GEN Series would be ideal. Texsource Prime Time, Texsource White Dream, and Texsource Odyssey White are great for cotton and cotton/poly blend garments. Rutland Super Poly White and Triangle 1706 are great for Polyester garments.

Tips for Underbase Printing Printing:

Printing

A great under base will result in a great finished product, whereas, a bad under base will result in a bad finished product. The first layer of ink laid down will need to be smooth and consistent in order to be successful. This may require a double stroke on the white or a print, flash, print before moving onto the other colors. Each garment reacts different to a stroke of white causing for the printer to need to know his/her inks and his/her garments for the best results. 

Trap It! Choke It! 

It is very often that customers have issues registrating an image that requires an under base. The best way to resolve this issue is not necessarily on the press, but rather, in the artwork. There are two different methods that can be used to help registrate an image properly. Option one is to choke the under base by 1 point. Choking the under base simply causes it to be slightly smaller than the inks that print on top. This will allow for the white ink to "disappear" when the print is complete. The second option is to trap the ink on top by 1 point. This process causes the image on top to be slightly bigger than the under base causing it also to "disappear." 

Mesh Count 

The most common mesh counts for the under base white are a 110 and a 160. This allows for a solid and smooth image area for the other inks to print on. Higher mesh counts can result in a less desired look to the finished product because it will not allow a good base for the primary colors. Because printing on top of an under base is like printing on plastic, a higher mesh count will be needed for the colors going on top. Anywhere from a 200 to a 305 depending on the detail needed

Posted by Mary Yaeger - August 21, 2017

NORCROSS, G.A.—Texsource Georgia will be hosting an Introduction to Screen Printing class at their Georgia Location – 2783 Peterson Place Norcross, G.A. 30071.

The class runs from 9 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

The class covers key topics during the seminar, including screen printing basics, ink selection, artwork presentation and press set up. Participants will also enjoy a hands-on demonstration where they will print their own shirts!

A free lunch will be provided onsite for all participants courtesy of Texsource.

To register, visit: https://www.screenprintingsupply.com/Georgia-Class--Introduction-to-Screen-Printing-Class--Sep-21_p_15459.html


You can get the most up to date information from Texsource Georgia on their Facebook Page.
posted by Melissa Crawford - Texsource - 5/20/2017

I have a shirt made out of Exotic Space Martian Silk - what is the best ink to use for this?

While this isn't exactly a question we get every day here at Texsource, it does help illustrate the point that many people (especially those who may be new to the screen printing process) have questions about exactly which type of ink to use for a certain type of shirt material (or 'substrate').  I am going to attempt to clear the smoke from the subject and bring things into focus!



 COTTON
Ah, the granddaddy of them all, cotton is by far the most common material for tshirts.  It is a light, durable, soft, and economical fabric that is versatile to printing / coloring.  There are also sub-settings for cotton such as combed cotton, organic cotton, pima/supima cotton, and slub cotton.  Most of these sub categories have to do with the length of the fibers or how the fabric is woven.  In the case of organic cotton, it is different mostly in how it is grown, harvested, and processed in a more environmentally aware method.  The difference in these can be felt by the hand as either softer or more textured than other types.  Combed cotton uses a process in manufacturing that causes it to have a smoother feel than other types.

INKS TO USE
Most any general purpose ink will work well with any cotton fabric.  This would be the Texsource GEN Series inks, the Union Maxopake inks, the International Coatings 700 series inks, or the Triangle 1100 Multipurpose series inks.
LINEN
Like cotton, linen is grown and processed, in this case from the flax plant.  It is lightweight, moisture wicking, and has a textured weave feel.  Linen is durable, but gets softer with multiple washings.  It is an easy fabric to print, but can wrinkle more easily which may require more frequent ironing.


INKS TO USE
Same as cotton, most general purpose inks will work well with linen fabrics.  Mesh counts may need to be adjusted and some detail may be lost as linen has a tendency to be woven more 'loosely' than cotton.



POLYESTER
An entire series of articles could be written just on printing polyester shirts.  In short, polyester is a synthetic material that many still associate with the flamboyant disco fashions of the 70s.  It gained popularity as a material that could be washed, pulled, worn, and generally could take all kinds of abuse yet still maintain a smooth, wrinkle-free appearance.  It does not mold or mildew and is resistant to shrinking or stretching.  It is often seen in athletic apparel.  Polyester is often a trouble fabric for many screen printers because polyester must be sublimated or dyed to have any color.  That is, a green polyester shirt has been 'dyed' green in a heating or dyeing process.  When screen printing, the temperature that you need to cure your ink in the dryer is often higher than the material can hold its dye at.  Such a temperature will cause the polyester to 'release' the dye, which can cause a problem known as dye migration.  This is when the color of the shirt 'bleeds' into the color you printed.  To prevent this, you can use a 'blocker'-type ink as an underbase (a light grey is usually the best choice, but others use simply white).  You can then more safely print your colors without the fear of such dye migration issues.

More recently a relatively new type of ink, silicone ink, has been introduced that specifically combats this problem.  Silicone inks can typically cure fully at a much lower temperature than standard plastisol (around 260-270 degrees rather than 300-320).  This is often lower than the dye release point on most quality polyester materials thus eliminating dye migration issues.  Silicone ink has a very soft feel (called 'hand') and is extremely flexible, virtually eliminating cracking.  It is becoming a very in-demand ink for athletic uniforms.

INKS TO USE
Use a good underbase such as International Coatings Guardian Gray or Blocker Gray.  For ink, consider Texsource Poly inks, Union Poly inks, International Coatings 7100 series inks, or Triangle 1700 Low Bleed series inks.  If considering some of the new silicone ink products, try Rutland Silextreme inks.


LYCRA / SPANDEX
It may have seen its heyday among the slew of 80s heavy metal rockers, but lycra (spandex) has seen new life more recently as athletic wear such as yoga pants and tops, swimwear, and even casual shirts / tops.  It has found a home in athletic wear mainly due to its ability to easily stretch greatly while being resistant to wrinkles.  As lycra has great stretchability, a stretch additive is recommended.


INKS TO USE
General purpose inks will serve you well on most lycra/spandex substrates, but you will need a stretch ink additive such as the Union Unistretch 9160.  When printing a white color on pure black lycra, you may get better results using a poly white ink such as the Rutland Super Poly White ink or International Coatings 7113 Athletic White ink.


RAYON
Rayon is made from purified cellulose, mainly from wood pulp.  Because it is chemically converted into a compound, it is considered a semi-synthetic fiber.  It is well known as a popular replacement for silk.  When woven or knitted it is a silky, breathable fabric common in athletic wear.  Rayon does not hold up as well to prolonged wear and can more easily wrinkle.

INKS TO USE
Because Rayon is a semi-synthetic material, you may find some testing is necessary for best printing.  Much will depend on the percentage of rayon in the material.  If adhesion is an issue, you may want to add a catalyst such as Union Nylobond or International Coatings Nylon Bonding Agent.  On materials that use less rayon, you may use most general purpose plastisol inks.  Like lycra, you may want to test using poly inks when printing on darker colors.



NYLON
Nylon is a fully synthetic material that has found many uses in other applications including plastics, flooring, automotive, films, and more.  It is popular in shirt material for its excellent resistance to heat, is lightweight, and wrinkle resistant.  It also blends well with other materials.  Nylon is more prone to shrinking and is not as stain tolerant as other materials.  When using inks to print on nylon materials, a 'catalyst' should be mixed with the ink.  A catalyst works as a adhesive agent, particularly for extremely smooth surfaces.  When mixed properly, your ink / catalyst mixture will cure as normal and will be very resistant to peeling.


INKS TO USE
For a catalyst, use the International Coatings Nylon Bonding Agent, or the Union Nylobond catalyst as described in the inks for rayon shirts.  General purpose inks can be used on most colors, but light colors on dark fabrics may benefit from using low bleed poly inks.

BLENDS
Many shirts today are blended fabrics, sometimes with two, three, or four fabric types.   The most common you are likely to see as a screen printer would be the cotton polyester blend fabric.  Here is where some testing may be required as blends may be 50/50 or any other ratio.  Typically, general purpose inks may do well for most color fabrics, but as with 100% polyester shirts some dye migration or bleeding may occur, at which point you may want to consider a blocker underbase and / or poly inks.


INKS TO USE
Test using a combination of blocker inks such as International Coatings Guardian Gray or Blocker Gray.  Your general purpose inks such as Texsource GEN inks, the Union Maxopake inks, the International Coatings 700 series inks, or the Triangle 1100 Multipurpose series inks.  For poly ink, consider Texsource Poly inks, Union Poly inks, International Coatings 7100 series inks, or Triangle 1700 Low Bleed series.

CONCLUSION
While this certainly isn't a complete listing of available materials that you might see in your screen printing shop, it is a list of the more common types you may encounter.  As always, testing is the key; get the first shirt right and approved before you begin your batch.  Taking shortcuts in the screen printing process can lead to lost customers and lost profits.  Experimentation can often lead to creative and valuable results, and this guide should serve as a great base from which to start your screen printing journey.  If you are looking for where to find some of these great screen printing inks and more, look no further than the Ink section on the Texsource website - all the screen printing supplies you need and every product mentioned in this article can be found right there, in stock, ready to go!  #printlife
posted by Mary Yaeger - Texsource - 4/28/2017

So, you’re looking for the key to screen printing success, huh? To find it you have to get back to the core of what design is. Great design comes from knowing and understanding the fundamentals - mainly the elements and principles of design.

In this post, we will explain the elements of design. Keep an eye out for part two where we will discuss the principles of design! Understanding the fundamentals of design will give you a competitive edge in your screen printing as well. Although some of these elements may seem only applicable to the artwork itself, it also applies to how your prints get set up.

A Super Brief History of Screen Printing 

Screen printing as a method for creating an image was first discovered in China and Japan in early centuries. Around 1860, was the first time screen printing was used on textiles. England started the trend and France shortly followed. It wasn’t until the United States used screen printing for an industrial purpose that the industry developed for business use. With technological and political advances (especially in the art world), influencers like Andy Warhol began using screen printing as an artform. In today’s society, screen printing is not only a large industry, it is a well respected art form.












So, What the Heck are the Elements of Design? 

The elements of design are structural values that were first created to give a visual explanation of the arts. They became a new formal vocabulary that was developed during the industrial and technological revolutions in the art world during the 19th century. Eventually they became established as the foundation for good design. In today’s world, they are meant to be used as a tool for up and coming artists (especially in formal design schools), but not everyone goes to get their 4 year degree in the arts, so the elements of design have more or less been forgotten. But, there is power in understanding these values. That power is having the ability to make sense of trends and even allow you to predict new ones. Below, we have defined the 6 elements of design. Going a step further, you will begin to see the relevance to the screen printing industry.


 The 6 Elements of Design

Line

This is probably the most fundamental element in design as it is considered the beginning of artistic creation. Lines are versatile - they can be implied, continuous or broken. They can be short, long, vertical, horizontal, curved or diagonal. They can be any width and some have texture.








































Shape

Shapes are the forms that come from the combination of lines (see again why lines are so fundamental?). Shapes then become your subject matter and are defined by boundaries (implied or otherwise) like color and texture.








































Form

Form is usually described as a three dimensional object. Why? Forms can be measured - height, width and depth. Being a 3D object means that it is also defined by light. Light creates shadows and faces of the object. There are two main forms - geometric (man-made) and organic (in nature).

This is the perfect example of trend prediction. Something fairly new with screen printing is the use of 3D modeling technology. Now, 3D printers have been out for years, but have only recently started getting used in an “arts and crafts” and fashionable setting. First it started with jewelry and now printers are starting to create 3D models and apply them to the shirts. After the model is applied to the shirt, then ink is applied over top of the 3D model.






























Space

Space is what determines how objects interact with one another. Space is the concept that concerns how people perceive a piece of artwork. Even in two dimensional pieces, you can create the illusion of three dimensions.

Space and form tend to work hand-in-hand. When printing a shirt, especially one with a scene of some kind, it is important to make sure that you have good color separation and that you print in the same order every time. Printing a shirt in the Yellow, Magenta, Cyan, Black order is going to yield different results than a Magenta, Yellow, Black, Cyan order. Not having good color separation or print order means that the illusion of a 3D space that you tried printing won’t read right to the viewer. Software products such as Separation Studio can aid in the color separation process.


Color

Color plays one of the biggest roles in design - especially in screen printing. Color is created by the way our eyes interpret light. One of the most important roles color plays is creating a visual impact which can draw in or repel interest of the viewer. Depending on the type of reaction you were wanting for your print determines the colors you should consider using. Color sets the tone for scenes and ultimately is the first thing someone is bound to notice.

When it comes to screen printing, color is usually discussed in terms of CMYK which is short for Cyan, Magenta (which doesn't exist), Yellow and Black - this is also known as a 4 color process. This process was developed to reproduce full-color artwork when printed on white; however, variations of the primary colors are visible when printed in various densities if you chose to print on a shirt other than white.



Texture 

Texture is fun because it is defined as the way something feels or the way that people perceive it to feel. Texture can be added (just like color) to attract or repel interest. Now, I want to go back to some of the earlier elements that were mentioned - Line and Space. In the shirt concept below, you can see how lines were applied to create the illusion of bone texture. In regards to space, you can see how this is clearly an illusion. We know that there REALLY aren't any bones, a heart, and more bones hanging on this shirt (that would be plain creepy), but the way that it was printed represents a skeleton. Adding texture is what finalizes a piece by bringing all of the concepts together. A good way to generate a similar texture would be using a puff additive.

Posted by Chelsea Chafin - webmaster on 1/19/2017
You may say to yourself, “I have been screen printing for years, why would I need to go to a 101 class?” However, to think that way is to do yourself a disservice. Many of us are more than familiar with being a jack of all trades, and in screen printing this would include the capability to mess with all the little tricks, whether it be a puff here and there, a discharge design, or even sublimation. But we know how the phrase ends, don’t we? “Jack of All Trades, Master of None.”

When it comes to the basics of screen printing, you do, in fact, want to be the master. You want to understand not only what customers may ask for, but how to accomplish any task. Say a customer walks in with a certain dark colored garment in mind with a bright design. You’re going to need to know how to create a white underbase at the lowest cost to you. Depending on the size of the design they want, it’s also good to know the mesh, ink, and fabric details.


Screen Printing 101 classes allow you to refresh on the fundamentals, which really comes in handy when you’re out learning the new stuff that continuously pops up (who was excited when silicone inks came out?). By consistently keeping yourself up to date on new (and most of the time, easier) ways of doing the basics, you could save yourself a lot of time to be able to focus on learning more risky techniques.

Let’s be honest, a lot of us are self-taught screen printers. We worked through trial and error time and again. We may have even researched and watched video after video trying to choose the way that we thought was best. It still may be, but seeing in person different ways and then being able to ask questions and have an open and honest discussion with other screen printers is vital to improving our skills.

For instance, we may all clean our screens differently. Maybe the easiest way for you to clean your screen is to slide on the heavy duty gloves and scrub it down. It may take a few hours, but it’s the way you’ve always done it, right? However, there are other options. More and more companies are coming out with ways to lower cleaning and reclaiming time. There are products like Easiway Chemicals’ Dip Tanks that use 2-in-1 chemicals to not only cut down on time but also on the effort you spend bent over your screens.

Tips like that and more are discussed during these classes and you’re encouraged to ask questions to understand fully instead of being forced into more trial and error. The point is, when it comes to classes, no one is working against you. We want you to be as successful as possible because in the end, it helps out everyone involved. It’s a win-win situation at its finest.

Not to mention, who doesn’t get frustrated when cure times are off? Wouldn’t you want to know why it’s happening to your exact machine in your exact situation instead of having to try all the different ways to fix it with no promises of the best outcome? That’s why actually talking with experts is so important. It’s not just how to screen print, it’s how to master screen printing. Be a master of your art in its most basic form, then mastery of its counterparts are sure to follow.
Posted by Chelsea Chafin - webmaster

 Like I mentioned in a blog last month, “Screen Printing: A Package to Start,” beginning a screen printing company can be very stressful. The blog discusses which screen printing equipment startup package is best for your business. We here at Texsource want to make the transition as easy as possible, so here are some key factors to consider for your startup. While some may seem more important than others, please keep in mind that each is needed to create an efficient business.
Space. 

One of the most important things for a screen printing company, or any company for that matter, is to have the space to produce. Whether you decide to rent a space for your workshop or to begin out of your home, it is a decision that should be made before further purchases. Note: even if you work from home and have very limited space, Tabletop presses are available.

Startup Fund. Arguably, this could be your main concern depending on if you need to budget for a workspace. You need to make sure you have enough financially to stock up on all the supplies necessary. Whether you do this through saving the money, obtaining a business loan, or equipment financing, you should go into the business with a plan.

Research. Speaking of plans, it takes more than just wanting to create and sell and then doing so. You will want to understand your client base and the market you are entering. What customers do you want to attract? What areas do you plan to sell to and during what times? Are there annual (or more so) special events that occur in which your design/products would sell great?


Ryan Bolin, Manager at Texsource Screen Printing Supply, hard at work (or playing Warcraft).


Site Management. SEO tools are extremely useful to you when it comes to researching and improving your business as you move forward. At least basic knowledge of SEO tools such as Google Analytics or those offered via social media will really come in handy to you the more you understand your business.  These tools allow you to keep track of what is being viewed, bought, or passed over in your online store.

These four elements will help you build your screen printing business once you are knowledgeable in how to screen print and will greatly influence your growth. Also, they will help eliminate stress as you move forward and help you to focus on what you started the business for: screen printing.
Posted by Chelsea Chafin - webmaster

 Purchasing a startup package can be very intimidating, but we want to make it easier on you. You may have inherited screen printing equipment (or an excess of ink) or have always had the desire to start your own business and finally have the means to do so. Fortunately, the packages are designed to give you a sense of what screen printing requires before you upgrade your equipment to better suit your needs.

When it comes to machinery, Texsource offers two brands of startup packages: Genesis Equipment and Vastex Equipment. In regards to your first package, it helps understanding on where you are both skill-level and knowledge-level as to which would be best.  

If you are completely new to screen printing, the Genesis beginning startup packages are the way to go. They give you a sample of everything you may need. Take for instance Package 01 which includes: (1) Genesis 1 Color / 1 Station Manual Screen Printing Press, (1) Heat Gun, (1) 500 Watt Halogen Exposure Unit, (1) Wood Frame 20 x 24 110 mesh, (1) TexMist can adhesive, (1) pint of Easiway Easi-strip, (1) pint of Easiway 701 screen wash, (1) pint of 842 press wipe, (1) pint of Tex-Blue emulsion, (1) pint of White Dream ink, (1) pint of Black Dream ink, (1) pint of red #10 ink, (1) roll of 2" blockout tape, (1) scoop 15", (1) ink spreader, (1) quart of Chem 901 blockout liquid, (1) scrub pad handle, white scrub pad, and red scrub pad, (5) stir sticks, (5) white pellons 14 x 16, and (5) black pellons 14 x 16.

Genesis Package 01

Before you get intimidated by all the products available, please note that it’s a good thing. The package is designed to give you a little taste of everything so you can decide what products you like and see where you may want to improve. Anxious about how to use some (or all) of the supplies? Texsource offers free admission to one of our Screen Printing 101 Classes (NC, GA, IN) with purchase of a Genesis package to eliminate some of the stress associated with starting a new business.

Understanding these products becomes useful for future purchases as well because you are going to need to upgrade your equipment sooner with the less expensive the package is. This is mainly aimed at you, Heat Gun. Ask any of Texsource crew which piece should be upgraded first and they agree that you will need a more secure dryer. You may be able to get away with using a flash unit to dry, but if you’ve purchased the first Genesis package you will not have that option. A dryer allows you to work on more shirts without having to stop your creative process to hand-cure (possibly unevenly) each shirt.

The higher Genesis packages come with a decent flash unit, so when it comes to upgrading further you will want to choose between a new press and exposure unit based on what works best for you (both will arguably be needed at some point). You will learn how to decide this in any classes you take along with any and all trial-and-error.

Now, if you have inherited equipment and are pretty familiar with it, Vastex with its sturdier equipment may be the perfect fit for you. These packages do not come with any of the extras that a Genesis package does, but their focus is to grant you the best equipment possible to immediately produce out of your shop. They offer entry shop choices along with Tabletop if you have the skill but not the room for your business.

If you choose to go with a Vastex but would like more options in regards to inks or chemicals, please note that Texsource offers different packaging for screen cleaning chemicals and different brands/styles of inks.
Posted by Chelsea Chafin - webmaster on 12/14/2016
Why is the Pantone Color of the Year important? For almost two decades, Pantone has come out with a specific color each year that is, for all intents and purposes, brand new. By brand new, it is meant to be a color that has normally received little to no attention that will now branch out and be largely popular. So, as designers turned screen printers, why should this matter to you if you can already make the color? Maybe some would even go as far as to quote Shakespeare, “What’s in a name? that which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet.” True that, Juliet. Similarly, 2016 artists may have pondered if a Rose Quartz (and Serenity) would have made it to Apple had it not been color of the year.

But that’s exactly it! Yes, you can create a unique color and leave it at that, maybe even name it yourself and hope it gets out there, but the yearly meeting at Pantone can end up turning your color into a million-dollar idea, especially in regards to the teams who have been selected to promote said color. These colors are selected based on anything from what is going on within social media to what is going on globally. This became especially true for 2017’s choice of Greenery, a color which is dedicated to climate change and nature itself.

Pantone's Color of the Year 2017: Greenery.

Pertaining to art and creation, creating new ink colors is already something that many designers are interested in doing (especially by mixing together different shades). When doing so, by simply adding the extra step of preparing ways to present them later proves to be extremely useful.

Essentially, understanding the logic behind Pantone’s color choice can have a major influence on your work. For instance, there may be one specific overall color chosen for the year, but Pantone releases a list of colors that they believe will be most popular based on region. What this means for designers is that you may use one color for your design sold in North America, but if you have stores or shipments overseas, say in Italy, you may end up choosing a different ink for that area knowing that the design will sell better with a slight change.

The colors nominated are aimed at your audience, which should not be misconstrued to be directed towards your own personal artwork. You aren’t changing colors of your work to please mass corporations, you are doing it based on research that individualized people and/or the majority have a strong opinion on the reason behind the color was chosen. Basing colors on strong opinionated issues results in consumers purchasing items based on the feelings that the colors have been found to ensue.

We all understand that color is a large part of the design process. It may seem risky to change such a significant portion of the piece based on research done by a third party, but that is also why it is important for you as the designer to be involved in how and why it is chosen. Understanding your audience should already be on your radar as a business owner, so keying in on certain colors is a small task that will earn big results.

Fortunately, when it comes to getting the correct ink, Texsource offers PMS matching, as do many of the brands carried. Please note that there are many ways to mix different shades of the main color to produce varying shades. For instance, as mentioned above, 2017’s choice is Greenery, yet Thrive, a more yellow version of the green color, is projected to do better in North America. The theme stays the same, meaning the emotions attached will as well, but in a way that targets exact areas making it seem more personalized. You as the artist will always have the choice to make decisions like this depending on where you sell and what sells best. The Pantone Color of the Year is there to be used as a marketing tool, and a well-researched one at that.
Posted by Chelsea Chafin - webmaster on 11/30/2016
Black can be created by laying out multiple colors on top of each other, so instead of pure black being used, your screen and printer will register 100% black as an overlay first of CMY (cyan, magenta, and yellow) and finally, it will process K (black) over top the blend. This creates a lighter black resulting in transparency that is more like a dark gray when against bright colors.




If you choose to stick with CMYK coloring when doing a multi-color project including black, your best option from there is to create a rich black. This is created by altering the CMY colors to create a darker mix. The most common combination for a rich black that does not represent any other color would be a 60-40-40-100 CMYK. 
 
                 100% Black v. Rich Black
In order to see how your colors are blending, especially in regards to any questions you have about a certain tone that appears, it is important to preview your separations. By previewing the separations before you print, you are able to view not only the blends that create your colors, but also where there may be any overprint within your design. 

Once it comes to printing out your separations, it is highly recommended that you use RIP software. This will allow high-quality halftones creating a smoother and more vibrant blend. When choosing the ink to best represent your CMYK project, Union Tru-Tone Process Black will give you a consistent and accurate color reproduction.
Posted by Chelsea Chafin - webmaster on 11/1/2016
When printing, you want your finished product’s image to look like what you created on the screen. However, if that merchandise happens to be a dark t-shirt, you may incur a hiccup or two. 
If you print on a dark shirt without a white underbase, the final color will be dulled. The vibrancy you once had will disappear and the design itself may be hardly recognizable. This can be extremely frustrating, especially if you have already printed onto a t-shirt and are confused by how it turned out.
A white underbase is all you need. The phrase itself can be intimidating if you haven’t run into it before and can even seem like it will take a lot of work to accomplish. It won’t. The creation of an underbase is simple and will save you so much extra work and frustration in the long-haul. 
If you are printing a black design on a dark colored shirt, i.e. a black logo on a maroon shirt, then it should be noted that no underbase is needed. Black never requires an underbase, and, in fact, one may subdue the black, eliminating its rich color. 

First things first, if you are using Illustrator, check that the colors you are using are being typed as spot colors. You will know when you are doing this because the symbol (a white triangle in the right hand corner with a black dot in its center) will be visible around the square. As you progress forward, continually save your colors this way.
Just like when you are printing separate colors, you will be printing a separate film for your underbase. This will require an actual color being used for your underbase. 
Crisper images are guaranteed with an underbase.

Note: do not use the regular white swatch. It signifies a lack of color, not the color white. 

With that said, to create your underbase you need to select all areas where color other than black will be present (use the shift key to select more than one area). While selected, fill in the space with the intended color. 

Once you have colored your design as you see fit, copy and paste it. You want two layers of this so that one can become the underbase, which simply put is just an extra layer of ink between the design and the shirt. With the bottom layer selected, choose your underbase color. Being placed under your color, it will not be visible to the naked eye, but if you remove the design color at any point you will be able to see it is placed correctly. You will also want to select any “white” space you may want, such as an eyehole. 

Afterwards, you will want to turn on your Attributes. From there, select Overprint Fill. Again, you won’t see a huge difference except maybe a tiny line around your picture. To make sure your image stays tight against the shirt, create a stroke of the intended color around the design and then select Overprint Stroke. It will be past your underbase, guaranteeing the proper blend is on top of the shirt.

When you are ready to print, most white inks will work for the underbase, though a particularly useful ink for this task would be International Coatings Blocker Gray. It works well to help prevent dye migration.
If you have any questions or concerns, Texsource has a great staff accessible anytime during business hours (Monday through Friday 8:30-5:30). Monthly screen printing classes are also available and encouraged to those eager to learn how to screen print.

#screenprinting #screenprintingsupplies #silkscreen
Posted by Chelsea Chafin - webmaster on 10/26/2016
When it comes to your design, you want it to print exactly as you see it. Unfortunately, there are times when you will print out a new design on a fresh t-shirt and notice one, maybe more, pinholes in the image. This can be frustrating on many levels, and if you aren’t properly prepared beforehand, can really mess with your mojo.

This is where blockout comes in handy. Blockout will cover and fill the pinholes present in your design. The fluid acts as a barrier so when you continue forward with screen printing the hole is no longer there. You are able to purchase large amounts of this liquid at a time, but through Texsource Ulano offers two types in both quart and gallon sizes. The two types of blockout liquid are no. 10 for coarse mesh and no. 60 for fine to medium. If you know from the beginning what type of design you are doing and on which mesh, being able to see this difference is extremely useful. The liquid itself will take anywhere from 10-20 minutes to dry depending on how many holes you have and how large.

If, however, you feel both sizes of the liquid are still on the large side for you because you haven’t come across many, if any, pinholes in your designs thus far, Texsource also offers blockout pens. Note that both the liquid and pen should be used on the press during screen preparation. Texsource’s ecofriendly pen, the blue blockout pen, still takes the regular 10-15 minutes to dry. In cases where you may be in a hurry, or noticed that the issue has already been printed, you can use the green blockout pen for touch-ups which only takes 30 seconds to 1 ½ minutes. The green pen is the only blockout which can or should be used off the press.

If there are large holes that were accidental, or even if areas are without emulsion on purpose, blockout tape becomes very useful. Some users may suggest regular packing tape for this process, and while it may be a cheap go-around, you definitely see the difference. Regular packing tape tends to be extremely adhesive and can ruin your mesh and create a mess. Blockout tape specifically fixes this problem and also manages to not damage the emulsion while being easily removable from the frame and mesh in one pull. It speeds along the clean-up process tremendously and leaves your materials unharmed.


 Texsource-branded PMI Split Tape for Frames 

After you have used blockout products, whatever the reason may be, it is vital that you test the print. In economic terms, it is best to experiment on a test pellon than a scrap t-shirt or paper and Texsource offers pellons in both white and black. If you found out about any pinholes from a printed shirt, you want to make sure no more of your product suffers the same fate.
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