Notes

Reliable DTG Printing on Dark-Colored Wardrobe

Whether they belong to screen printing or direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, the "help-me" calls I take each week have an usual string: Customers are having problem printing white ink on dark garments.

Actually, anybody can publish on light garments, despite the design technique. The method-- or issue-- with this typical concern comes from printing an ink color that is lighter than the garment color and also using a white underbase to make it all work. For instance, publishing a full-color, photo picture on a black Tee shirts can be a difficulty.

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We utilize water-based inks in DTG printing, and also the shades (CMYK) are transparent. To see the photo whatsoever, we must initially apply a white base print and afterwards include shades ahead. This base print is the essential to an intense as well as lively picture. Obtain the underbase right, and the rest of the print naturally will fall into place.

THE GARMENT

All Tees, sweat t shirts or plackets are not produced equivalent. Some garments are much better matched for a bright and crisp published photo than others simply due to the textile weave and finish. This will certainly require some experimentation on your part. As well as yes, there will be ruined garments included. However it is essential for you to see exactly how numerous garment brand names as well as styles will certainly take the ink in different ways. In doing so, you'll see that the exact same printed photo will certainly be various from garment to garment.

Ask your equipment supplier or distributor to speak about the garments they have had success printing, and also which have actually triggered headaches in obtaining an intense, vivid picture. They've already done a lot of testing so they can show their equipments at optimum capacity. They'll additionally have a listing of garments they would not touch when it comes to this printing process. DTG printing is an extra delicate community than display printing, and also the slightest variation in garment weave and surface will influence the resulting image on the tee shirt.

The solutions your vendors provide might stun you. Even if a garment is a prominent name brand or style does not imply it is the best garment on which to print. Search for a garment that has a nice, limited weave to hold the ink better, and a smooth surface to emphasize the fine information that DTG printers are capable of accomplishing.

The outright finest substratum is 100% cotton material, since the water-based ink systems for DTG printers particularly are made for publishing 100% cotton fabric.

You still can publish on fabric mixes to 50% cotton/50% polyester, yet 100% cotton constantly will certainly yield the very best, most dynamic print, as well as the best washability after the sale.

Make sure to stick with the very same brand and also design of t shirt within the exact same production run. While two various t-shirt brand names may offer you entirely appropriate as well as commercial outcomes, showing them to the consumer side-by-side might send up a red flag when the images vary between these brand names.

CORRECT PRETREATING

When I obtain phone calls about individuals dealing with printing, they virtually constantly initial announce that the problem is the ink. Nevertheless, 99% of the moment, it's something else the driver is doing incorrectly that is the root of the difficulty.

Two points happen with DTG printing when it concerns on dark garments: Either the print looks boring and faded, or the print has washability concerns. These troubles almost constantly result from improper pretreatment application.

Apply inadequate pretreatment, and also your print will appear plain and rinsed. Add way too much, and also the garment will certainly have a luster and also rigidity throughout the entire shirt surface in the cured area, your photo may even wash out entirely. In this extreme case, the ink has actually not complied with the material at all; it is just resting atop the pretreatment remedy on the shirt and the ink removes, along with the pretreatment, in the first cleaning.

It takes a little practice to obtain a right print. When you alter garments or brands, you require to do more testing with pretreatment application. That indicates a little perishing, and also a bit more time spent on your craft.

In DTG courses, we show pretreating utilizing a hand-held paint sprayer. Keep in mind, extra is not better when it involves using pretreatment.

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You just need to use a haze of pretreatment to a garment rather than saturating it with the option. Utilizing a hand-held power sprayer, spray to and fro a couple of times throughout the garment, taking around 5 secs to obtain the correct amount of solution on the t shirt.

An automatic pretreatment machine eliminates the variable of irregular pretreating. If you have 3 drivers in your store all pretreating garments, the result will resemble finger prints-- no two individuals pretreat specifically the same way. An automated pretreater will pretreat each garment in specifically the very same way each time. Dial in your suitable time/amount and also each shirt will be regularly pretreated, hence eliminating the guesswork.

PRINTING ENVIRONMENT

Because DTG devices make use of water-based ink, appropriate humidity is critical to the process. You need to keep at the very least 40% -50% moisture in the room whatsoever times. If your humidity degree is listed below 40%, you can expect ink-clogging issues in your print head.

Your room temperature level additionally is very important. If it's too cool, the ink circulation will be slow-moving, resulting in dull images. As well hot-- in the 95 ˚F or greater variety-- as well as the ink can start to run out in the print head. A regular workplace temperature level of 72 ˚F is optimal for best outcomes.

PRINT MODES

You generally have control of the quantity of ink used in your white underbase via your RIP software. Optimum ink laydown generally is not needed for a white underbase. Experimentation will assist you identify that &quot;delighted area&quot; where you achieve a perfect brilliant white base with the least amount of white ink needed. Bear in mind, the colors are clear, so it is important that you have a crisp, white underbase before proceeding to the shade pass on your equipment.

HEALING THE PRINTED GARMENT

In some cases, a print will certainly look fantastic when you remove it from the DTG device, however can dull during the treating procedure. With a heavy laydown of damp ink, the warmth press could possibly press this damp ink down right into the textile, causing a dull finished product. To battle this, initial hover the warmth aspect over the image to attain a surface area remedy of the ink while maintaining it in addition to the fabric. Second, cut back on the pressure from your warmth press. Medium stress is more than sufficient to heal the ink and maintain the picture's brightness.

DTG printing on dark garments can be challenging, however conveniently corrected. Attaining crisp, vibrant, vibrant completed images on tee shirts can be attributed to: 1.) the appropriate t-shirt and material; 2.) the appropriate amount of pretreatment; 3.) a great atmosphere for your printer; as well as 4.) putting down enough white ink to accomplish a brilliant white underbase.

Terry Combs is a 35-year expert of the garment printing sector, and also has managed production shops large and little across the nation. He is the author of the e-books &quot;Display Printing: A Practical Guide&quot; and &quot;Direct-to-Garment: A Practical Guide,&quot; both offered at Amazon.com. For visit this site , go to terrycombs.com.

Suggested Checking out

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