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Printing with Plastisol vs. Water Based Ink
Screen printers debate which is better: plastisol or water-based ink. Some printers start out with plastisol ink, while others opt to jump right into water-based printing. But how are they different? Why would you use one over the other? Ink master Colin Huggins lays out the differences and nuances to printing each type of ink. You’ll be able to decide which ink is best for your shop.
Research Suggests that FN-INK™ is the Most Opaque Plastisol Ink
When 12-year-old Lucy Wisnasky was assigned to do a science project, she knew she wanted to do an experiment related to screen printing. Her parents own Shirts Galore & More, a print shop where Lucy has uncovered her passion for screen printing. Why not perform an experiment that's interesting to her and potentially improve an aspect of their business?
The Easiest Way to Make a Print Pop on a White Shirt
Golden Press Studio turns up the heat with a multicolor, Miami Vice-themed print for a tattoo shop. Needing to print a two-color pocket, four-color back, and one-color sleeve, the shop takes on the challenge to make this bodacious print. Watch the team burn the screens, register, print, and cure to make a vibrant, vibin' print. All done with standard FN-INK™ colors.
Helpful Tips When Printing Glow Inks
Did you know that the intensity of the glow is tied to the brightness of the color behind it? Screen printing aficionado Ronald Peters demonstrates how the ink color will affect the results of the glow.
How to Create a 5 Color Print Using 3 Colors
There may be a time when a customer requests a multicolor print that requires more colors than your press can handle. Luckily, you have a few tricks you can do to make it work. Screen printing expert Colin Huggins will walk through creating the artwork for the print and how to set it up on press.
How to Screen Print Wet on Wet Halftones and Color Blends for a Vintage Look
Remember when expert Colin Huggins showed how to create halftones and blends in Adobe Illustrator? Now he's printing that design. Watch to learn how to print wet-on-wet halftones and blends, tips to get the best colors and blends, and how shirt colors affect the look of the print.
Four Ways to Print Black Plastisol Ink on a Black Shirt
Printing black plastisol ink on a black shirt — trendy, right? As with everything in screen printing, there are multiple ways to achieve this goal. From using a puff base to printing with clear base to curing at higher and lower temperatures, printers can offer a variety of effects and looks to their customers. Let's take a look to see how each technique turns out so you can decide what's best for your next print job.
How to Print Black Plastisol Ink on a White Garment
We learned about printing white plastisol ink on a black shirt, but what about black plastisol ink on a white shirt? In our latest video, expert Colin Huggins explores the nuances of printing black plastisol ink on light-colored garments.
How to Register on the Riley Hopkins 250 Press with Tilt Micros
Got your brand new Riley Hopkins 250 Press, but not quite sure how to register it? In our latest video, expert Colin Huggins goes through each step of the registration process by using the four-color design he created in the video about creating a white base in Illustrator. He offers a ton of helpful tips to ensure your print job stays in place. Watch and learn!
How To Screen Print With Plastisol Heat Transfers
Screen printing heat transfers can seem daunting but in reality, it’s actually 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. Here are a few ways screen printing your own transfers can help your business.
Mesh Count and You
Different mesh counts are used for different applications in the screen printing process. What is mesh count? Well, mesh count is a measure of how many threads of polyester (used to be silk, centuries ago, hence ‘silkscreening’) cross each other per square inch of the screen. For example, a 110 mesh screen would have 110 threads crossing per square inch. The higher the mesh count, the finer the holes are in the screen.
The Screen Printer's Best Friend: FN-INK™
FN-INK™ grabs your artwork by the shoulders, shakes the sleepiness out of it, hands it a cup of coffee, and pushes it out into the world. FN-INK™ m...
