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.
Posted by Chelsea Chafin - webmaster on 10/19/2016
Designs coming out oddly and you don’t know why? Many errors stem from emulsion issues. First and foremost, try to keep your screens clean in between printing jobs. How your screen reacts to the cleaning can determine what steps need to be taken to prevent future problems.

Even before screen cleaning, it’s important for you to check that the products you are using are in their prime. Don’t use old emulsion. I know it can be tempting, but the majority of emulsion problems you can end up having are because of the condition of your emulsion and having too much time in between laying down the emulsion and printing. Something as simple as keeping it in your refrigerator can help, but there is quite a bit of speculation about that. It is mainly important to keep it in low humidity and above freezing (freezing and high heat/humidity can ruin emulsion). Most emulsion should last for a year, always check its shelf life, but if you’re noticing more and more that the screen is getting difficult to clean, it’s best to be on the careful side.

When you are cleaning your screen, take your time and do it properly. Cleaning wet ink now is a lot easier than dried ink later. This is especially true if you are using excellent resources for your reclaiming methods (if you’re doing it by hand, it’s going to hurt either way). If you want your screens to last as long as possible, it really is best to look into getting the proper screen cleaning chemicals and equipment. Easiway is known for its cleaning products and the fact that they are eco-friendly, protecting both you and your screen.    

An example of one of our beautifully dirty screens.

Another thing that can affect your product is placement. You need to have everything in its proper place. Ensure that mesh isn’t loose and there isn’t any significant damage to your frame. Similar to emulsion problems, damage to either area of the screen can cause wonky designs. Always check your frames first, because you may replace your mesh only to find that the reason it was loose is because your frame has been well-used and is tearing down.
So all-in-all, the best way to keep your screen healthy is to pay as much attention to your equipment as you do your final product. If you want great designs, make sure your equipment is in great shape!
Posted by Chelsea Chafin - webmaster on 10/14/2016

Have you finally completed your band by giving the fresh drummer a chance? Are you an event planner who wants your decorations to really stand out? Well then, you’ll want to discover the art of screen printing.
It may seem intimidating at first, all the different products to look into and the hands-on effort that needs to be applied, but that’s what I am here for! I am writing to assist you on your journey to bettering your career and market outlook.
The first step is to understand how you wish to present your finished design. It is important to fully understand how the design will be represented to your consumers. Do you want a full band photo on a tee shirt? Or maybe just the band name in gnarly letters? Depending on the size and detail, your mesh range will change.
Hold up, though.

Mesh?

What is mesh?

Mesh, simply put, is the area in which the ink for your design will run through to transfer the image to your product. It is decided based on the TPI (thread count per inches) that you need. An easy way to keep what kind of mesh you need in mind is similar to lefty loosy, righty tighty.

A more detailed design, such as the band photo mentioned above, will require thinner ink to make sure the entirety of the shading and features are captured. It also means that you will need a higher TPI because if the TPI is too low, creating larger holes in the mesh, your ink will bleed and the detailed images will be less recognizable and even distorted. 156/160 is a good count to stay around for the beginning. Think of this image as a detailed sugar skull that one may place in the middle of a table cloth or tiny print such as a list of bands on the back of a tee shirt.

If you are only wanting the band/company name or something like a classic white on black similar to the Misfits with the large print name and the iconic white face, then you will not only want thick ink, making sure the image is completely filled in, but also a lower TPI. At a higher TPI the ink won’t be able to pass through the mesh which will distort your image in a different way. 110 is about the size you would want to go, especially for a white color.

                                                                      
An image such as this (without a great deal of detail) would work fine with a mesh count of 156 / 160)
So when deciding your mesh based on image and ink, you now know that thinner ink/more-detailed image needs smaller holes (high TPI) and thicker ink/broader image needs larger holes (low TPI).

When you are ready to purchase your mesh, Texsource offers Aluminum Frames (23’’ x 31’’, 20’’ x 24’’, and 20’’ x 28’’) which include mesh, or not if you would prefer to buy large amounts of mesh separately, and covers a majority of the space, taking away 4’’ from both width and height for the frame itself. Of course, if less space is needed you are not forced into these dimensions; the product has great reviews based on the usable size including sleeve and leg prints.
The Texsource Wood Frame is also available and includes larger sizing such as 25’’ x 36’’. This frame also can be ordered with or without the mesh as Texsource offers yards of screen meshwhich can be very helpful when different designs are used or different fabrics.
                                                                    
                                              Replacement mesh of all sizes is available from Texsource

Posted by Alexandra Perry - Webmaster on 9/27/2016
There are a few different fonts that can be used in embroidery lettering such as pre-digitized fonts, true-type fonts, key board fonts and digitized letters. A font is categorized as a complete set of characters that make up a specific typeface in a specific size. A font would include upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.
  When using any type of word design quality is the most important factor. If a font is poorly digitized it can exude major flaws when enlarged so it is important to be mindful of your pre-digitized font when it comes to sizing. Native fonts in your software tend to yield the best results when resizing a font and of course it is always better to invest in many different types of fonts as well as different types of threads.
  Machine files such as DST and CND do not resize well because different software produces different results when translating non-native languages. An important thing to know is that if you change a design’s size then the stitch type or tie-ins and tie-outs must be changed as well. Script lettering can present a challenge because the connectors often do not line up correctly which is why there are only a few script fonts that feature successful joins as opposed to overlapping.
  When creating lettering; true-type font presents an easily accessible and high quality product. The outcome of true-type font is generally affected by the quality of font being used because it has more powerful and flexible hinting capabilities. True-type is the best for digitizing.
  Keyboard fonts are great because you can type the lettering in as needed and are generally arranged right to left, center out, and left to right manner. You must be able to move from each letter efficiently and should test character spacing in order to make sure that spacing is correct regardless of the lettering.
  Digitized letters provide you with an opportunity to match your artwork and change the column width in order to make embroidery friendly. A great tip is to view the lettering upside down which forces your brain to consider the shapes, the negative spaces between them and their relationship together. Stitch-outs are another great way to check progress and using a cross-hatched underlay as a base will help stabilize the stitching process.
  Appearance, obviously, plays a big role in the professional embroidery field. Using a solid embroidery backing and a spray adhesive will help join the layers. Placement which also falls into the category of appearance can make or break the outcome of the lettering because it can make it look sloppy. Overall embroidery is a beautiful art with a complex background and the overall appearance determines the success of the work. 


Posted by Alexandra Perry - Webmaster on 9/26/2016
Sublimation printing is a complex process; during the chemical process sublimation is the transition of the solid dye to a gas but it does not change into a liquid during the transition. The process is endothermic; the dye absorbs heat from the heat transfer machine, emits gas, and then dyes the polyester.
  Intriguingly enough the most common issues seen with sublimation generally deal with color, printing, and computerization. Start-up issues can happen when a new user doesn’t understand the difference between factory print drive and the drivers for their specific ink system. Configuring those two things can be a challenge and many times during the setup a new user will power on the printer before reading the proper installation instructions. You should never turn on or connect the printer to your computer until prompted to do so because it can cause a communication failure between the machines.
  Poor or washed out color is another complaint often heard about sublimation. Poor or washed out color can be caused by printing on the wrong side of the paper. The side intended for printing is bright white. The white material captures the sublimation ink to preserve the dot structure while in turn keeping the ink on the top of the sublimation paper. The ink is then absorbs the heat and outgasses which in turn dyes the substrate material. Once the color has been applied then you can start to figure out your color problems. Printing a primary color chart and checking the expiration date on your ink, verifying that you are using the right time, temperature, and pressure, as well as making sure you are printing with the right driver for the ink can help you determine any issues you may be having.
  Banding can be defined as consistent, straight, horizontal, white lines that appear on print and run in the direction of the print head. Banding is commonly found among inkjet printers. Banding can be caused by clogged nozzles, therefore, you need to run a nozzle check which you can do from your printer drive or power drive and you should make sure to run the test on regular paper.
  Another common issue is black turning out brown after application. This problem is generally found when applying a transfer to a ceramic but can still be found among apparel applications as well. Black may appear brown when the transfer was applied too long or at too high of a temperature. In order to fix this issue it is best to review application instructions and check your temperature and dwell time.
  Sublimation has become a common practice among small and large decorators alike. There are large amounts of information regarding sublimation and sublimation packages you can purchase to help get you started. The main issue many decorators seem to have is the inability to follow instructions and seek help. Don’t forget the many tips I have provided you with as well as the fact that there are many facets of information pertaining to sublimation out there.
Posted by Alexandra Perry - Webmaster on 9/20/2016
D2 production is an abbreviation for direct-to-garment production. Some pros of D2 production are photo quality images, easy to operate, and an essential way to make profit. The negative aspect of D2 production is that it is not known for being able to produce a high-volume of printed t-shirts.

  The average production rate for D2 is around twenty to twenty-five printed white shirts an hour, but now we are seeing an increase in production with a few simple tricks. This newfound information is allowing some printers to produce eighty or more printed white shirts in an hour.

  In order to increase production a few adjustments to the decorating process and dual CMYK printing process must happen. Before making adjustments it is important to know that while this will increase production time it will limit you to white and light colored garments only and it will decrease the print quality somewhat due to the high volume.

  The dual CMYK removes the white ink from the printer in order to add another set of CMYK inks. In order to make the changes necessary to increase production you must first and foremost check that your printer and RIP program will support the CMYK setup; then you must flush all of the white ink from your printing system. A step that you can cut out in order to save more time would be to skip the pretreatment of the garment which will lessen the quality of the picture but if it you wish to increase production then it is well worth it.

                    
Direct To Garment Printing Can Be Easy And Affordable

  Adding a second heat press or a conveyor dryer will speed up the drying process of each print because you can lay two shirts side-by-side allowing for a fast print time. Another way to decrease printing time would be to use a printer that has a removable platen system because you can load a shirt onto the second platen while another one is being printed.

  As I said before, the short cuts are simply to improve production time. It would be deemed quantity over quality but if you wish to have maximum print quality then pretreating the garments beforehand would be your best option. By taking the time to pretreat your garments you would be gaining two minutes per print and if you chose not to pretreat it would be one minute per garment. It seems like a small difference but if you want to increase production time a few minutes can mean everything. These shortcuts tend to work best if you are printing a lot of white garments because it maximizes the potential of your D2 printer.

  For many D2 printers sixty to eighty shirts an hour is not the average rate of production but if needed a D2 printer can be maximized for this purpose. As technology advances we may not have to sacrifice quality or quantity or vice versa.

For more information feel free to contact the Texsource sales staff at 888-344-4657.
Posted by Alexandra Perry - Webmaster on 9/12/2016
When it comes down to it the screen is one of the most important parts in the printing process. While looking at the sharpness of an image you will see that the quality of the positive influences how easy it is to reproduce an image, therefore, higher quality is better. For example, if a high resolution is needed then you will need a film created by an image setter.
  
Quality is a word that you will find brought up time and time again because it influences the beauty and the consistency of each print. Wooden Screen Frames appear to save you money but realistically the wood is unable to hold a high-tension mesh which causes the consistency of each image printed to lower drastically.     
Another factor in creating a better screen is the Mesh color used which plays a part in resolution. There are two types of mesh; white and dyed mesh. White mesh causes light to scatter and dyed mesh absorbs light reducing scatter. When searching for a proper white mesh their mesh counts are usually less than 110 while dyed mesh counts are 230 or higher. Dyed mesh is the preferred aid in creating a better screen because it has a better durability and overall quality, however, dyed mesh must be exposed longer to obtain a complete emulsion.

As you go through the process of creating a better screen you will find that the stencil is pertinent in the emulsion process. You must always make sure to check that the emulsion will work with the inks and press wash being used as well as the capillary film. EOM aka Emulsion over mesh when done right will aid in the image being processed consistently and at a high quality. If EOM is done incorrectly it can cause mishaps such as sawtoothing or ragged edges, the print can become wavy or have uneven ink deposits. Print Tests must be performed each and every time so that we can be sure the printing process is of high caliber. A great way to find out more information is to contact the distributor or manufacturer who are always more than willing to help.                  
                               Sawtoothing can occur if EOM is done incorrectly
  
The last step in creating a better screen is exposure which is the most important factor in creating high-quality stencils. Every product you use will have an effect on the overall print. The mesh, stencil thickness, emulsion type, and brand will play a part in how the overall print comes out. Even environmental factors such as humidity or changing a UV bulb can impact the print.
  
We have learned some important steps in creating a better screen; quality of the frame and mesh, EOM, exposure whether it be the products being used or environmental factors, and last but not least performing exposure tests regularly and contacting the manufacturer of each product if you have any questions.
Posted by Ryan Bolin - Outside Sales on 9/5/2016

Texsource Inc. is hosting their annual Open House & Customer Appreciation Day September 30th from 9:30am -4pm at their corporate facility in Kings Mountain, NC.

This event is well known throughout the Southeast not only by the customers who attend, but also by the many different manufacture representatives in the screen printing industry who put on classes and demonstrations throughout the day. These manufactures fly in from all over the U.S. to support Texsource as their events have continued to grow since its first Open House in 2007.




This year Texsource is expanding outside the normal footprint of past open houses into a brand new 5,000sq. Ft. facility. This new addition will not only host these types of events in the future but will also become the new home to all screen printing classes and serve as a fully functional equipment showroom. With this being said it is also open and will be used for vendors to host training seminars.
               
 In addition to the new space Texsource will also be introducing their brand new Automatic Color Matching Dispensing system. This new color matching system is the only one of its kind in the U.S. and will be operating all day for customers to watch the automatic PMS process. Texsource will be giving out free PMS samples (pint container) of the pantone color of your choice!

 Along with the new additions attendees will be able to speak one-on-one with industry leading manufactures, attend seminars, demo new products and screen printing equipment, and receive great discounts. Not to mention the amazing food (which is said to be Ribs and Pulled Pork BBQ) that many of the past attendees come for year after year!

 For more information on this FREE event or to register, please visit www.screenprintingsupply.com or call 1-888-344-4657.
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