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How to Create Your Own Plastisol Heat Transfers
Screen printing heat transfers can seem daunting but in reality, it’s fairly simple. If made properly, plastisol heat transfers can last almost as long as a screen prints and can be much easier to apply in certain scenarios like decorating hats, neck labels, names for sport apparel, and more.
Let's walk through the basic components and process of screen printing your own heat transfers.
How to Prep Plastisol Ink for Screen Printing
When you buy a bucket of plastisol ink, it might have been sitting on a shelf for a bit before it got to your shop. You might notice that your ink has separated a little bit. Even ready-to-use inks can separate over time. Let’s talk about why this happens and what you can do to prep the ink before you head to the press.
Decoding Poly White Inks & Dye Blocker Inks for Screen Printing on Polyester Fabrics
You may have been perusing the market, looking for inks that’ll help you print on polyester materials like a pro. Have you noticed that there are a few types of polyester inks like a dye blocker ink and Poly White ink? What’s the point? Do you need both? Can you get away with having one or the other? Let’s take a deeper look at dye blocker inks and Poly White inks to see what roles they play in screen printing.
Waiting for the Right Time to Get an Automatic Press? Here’s What to Do in the Meantime
Ready to upgrade your screen print shop to an auto? It’s an incredible feeling to outgrow your current space, but a little daunting to be making a leap to automation. While you’re looking at presses to invest in, take a look around your shop, too. There are probably some tasks you could do while you’re weighing your automatic press options. Here’s a checklist to help you get started.
Reflections from the 2023 Impressions Expo Atlantic City
Who doesn’t love a trade show? The deals, the face-to-face connection, the free swag, and the samples, it’s always fun at a trade show. And even better, these expos are finally coming back after a long hiatus due to the pandemic. A team from ScreenPrinting.com joined the trade show circus again this March, at the Impressions Expo in Atlantic City. Here’s what they had to say about the experience.
Pigment Dyeing vs. Garment Dyeing: What's the Difference?
When dyeing a garment, two methods exist — pigment dyeing and traditional garment dyeing. These two processes create different dyes in a garment. Both are great options for screen printers. So what’s the big difference? Let’s jump in and find out.
Answers to 5 Common Screen Printing Questions
Print expert Jamie Leinbach went live on Instagram recently to talk about printing with white plastisol ink on black garments. During the live stream, she answered plenty of questions from the audience. Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions.
If You Had to Pick One, Which Would You Choose: A Flash Unit or Tabletop Conveyor Dryer?
As much as a new business owner may wish and strive for it, not all have a budget to cover all their startup expenses. So, decisions have to be made and creative solutions have to be discovered. New screen printers may find themselves in this dilemma. Sometimes, they might have to pick one piece of equipment over another, like deciding between a conveyor dryer and a flash dryer. How do you know which is the better investment? Well, it depends on what you want to do. Here are three factors to consider to help you decide which is better for your shop.
How to Print White Plastisol Ink on a Black Shirt with a Smoothing Screen
Printing white ink on black shirts is a popular design combination. For this design choice to be most effective, the ink needs to be clean and bright. For the best results, printers should use a smoothing screen. Want to learn how to do it? Print expert Colin Huggins has the answers.
3 Ways to Create Soft Prints with Plastisol Ink
Soft hand prints are best achieved with water-based ink but can be done with plastisol ink as well. Between the inks you choose to use, the garments you're printing on, to the available ink additives, achieving soft plastisol prints is possible. Let's take a look at three ways to create soft hand prints with plastisol ink.
Tips for Printing Puff Plastisol Ink Additive to Achieve High Detail Designs
There’s no doubt that Puff ink is awesome. It’s a favorite for printers of all types because it can be added to so many different types of prints. Whether the design is block text or fine-line detail, Puff makes it stand out. How much detail can you achieve with Puff? Print expert Colin Huggins wants to find out.
How to Handle Plastisol Ink in Cool Temperatures
Are you dreaming about warm summer days when your ink flows oh so smoothly? Winter and its cooler temperatures sure make it difficult for a screen printer, especially with white plastisol inks. The ink feels thick, stringy, and stiff. It requires more effort to lay down a good ink deposit. Does it have to be this hard? Nope. Ink and chemistry guru Colin Huggins shares his secrets to making white plastisol ink easier to handle during the cooler months.
