The maximum size of a screen could be 3 m wide by 6 m long.
However the problem is not to make the screen and engrave it.
The real problem is to use it by hand and without a special machine.
For example, it would be very difficult to pull a 2 or 3 meter long squeegee by hand.
I would suggest that it would be better to print your 5 meter sheet in smaller sections on a smaller screen.
Is it possible to screen print on screens 2m wide by 5m long? What is the largest size possible? Can I unroll plastic sheet off a roll and screen print 5m lengths? Thank you very much.
I just bought SCREEN - SOL 400 BLU and i don't have 5000w halogen bulb, what alternative can i use to replace that for exposure? thanks in advance
It is not important whether you have 5000w or less, what is important is that it must be a UV light.
For example, a fluorescent tube of 36 w is enough to engrave your screen (with whatever emulsion you decide to use) if it is a UV tube.
Screenprintingstore has in stock kits of fluorescent tubes UV lights.
An alternative is to use a special kind of emulsion, e.g. the QLT Emulsion, which we have in stock. With this you can engrave your screen under a standard cold light (blue light 5000-6000 °K).
I hope this answers your question
Hi, I need some information about lights. When I spread the emulsion on the frame I use a red light and let dry the frame inside a airy oven completely dark. What about the next phases (engraving and rinsing)? What I don`t have to do?
You do right using the red light during spreading emulsion: it just need a yellow light to ensure a good visibility. It`s absolutely right also to let dry the frame in the dark. The other operation of exposition and develop can be done using the same light you use to spread the emulsion. After the develop of the frame you can use the natural light or a more strong light to make the emulsion harder.
Hello. I was wondering if it is possible to print two colours onto a t-shirt using a single colour machine.
In theory it is possible, but in practice it is extremely difficult, especially if the two colours are close to each other.
In practice there are two ways of doing this:
- Print the first colour; but do not remove the t-shirt from the table; remove the screen and replace it with the new colour. Adjust the position of the screen (but not the t-shirt) and print the second colour.
Or:
- Print the first colour on all the t-shirts. Then remove the screen and replace it with the second colour.
The next process is very slow and difficult because you must reposition each t-shirt on the table in order to get the perfect register.
It is clear that both processes take too much time, particulary from a business point of view.
However, if you are printing for love, then of course it is possible.
In practice there are two ways of doing this:
- Print the first colour; but do not remove the t-shirt from the table; remove the screen and replace it with the new colour. Adjust the position of the screen (but not the t-shirt) and print the second colour.
Or:
- Print the first colour on all the t-shirts. Then remove the screen and replace it with the second colour.
The next process is very slow and difficult because you must reposition each t-shirt on the table in order to get the perfect register.
It is clear that both processes take too much time, particulary from a business point of view.
However, if you are printing for love, then of course it is possible.
I tried for the first time to print some t-shirts using a water based ink. The first four or five t-shirts were very good. But then I had a problem: the ink began to dry onto the screen, consequently closing the holes of the mesh and I couldn't print anym
This is a typical problem for a biginner or a small printer.
Because water based ink tends to dry very quickly.
To solve this problem you must:
Because water based ink tends to dry very quickly.
To solve this problem you must:
- To work quickly
- To add a small amount of "slowing agent" to the ink
- After every four or five prints you must lift the screen and spray a little water onto the underside of the screen; then you must print once or twice onto wast paper to avoid any damage to the t-shirt; then you can restart printing
- If, during the printing process, the ink becomes too viscous, you can spray a little water directly onto the ink
- It is important to remember that when you use water based ink the design area must always be covered with ink, because the constant movement of the ink helps to prevent drying.
If you would like any further information or help, please do not hesitate to contact me again.
Kind regards
Franco Ratto
What is the best ink to print on to soft leather? The leather will be made in to bags so needs to be both flexible, durable and water resistant. Many thanks
Lisa good morning and thank you for writing.
The most suitable ink for your needs is our "Nyloflex" ink.
It's a solvent based ink which dries at room temperature over about eight hours.
You can use it with a 225 Mesh screen.
You also need to dilute the ink with our 290.15 dilutent.
The printed surface is very thin, flexible and also water resistant.
If you would like any further information or help, please do not hesitate to contact me again.
Kind regards, Franco Ratto
The most suitable ink for your needs is our "Nyloflex" ink.
It's a solvent based ink which dries at room temperature over about eight hours.
You can use it with a 225 Mesh screen.
You also need to dilute the ink with our 290.15 dilutent.
The printed surface is very thin, flexible and also water resistant.
If you would like any further information or help, please do not hesitate to contact me again.
Kind regards, Franco Ratto
Hello. I recently printed some t-shirts using water based inks. However, I had a big problem. When I put them in the washing machine, the colour almost completly disappeared. Also, when I wore the t-shirt, the colour transfered onto another garment I was
In order to answer your question I need to know which kind of ink you used and also if you use a dryer.
However I can give you some general advice.
1- Read carefully the instructions relateing to the ink and if they recommand using a CATALYST this is important, USE IT.
2- If your ink is the type which dries at room temperature, you must wait a minimum of 72 hours to fix the ink. After 8 hours the ink MAY APPEAR TO BE DRY, but it isn't: you must be patient and wait for the ink to fix permanently.
3- If your ink is the type which requires a dryer, you must dry it at 150°C for 2 minutes.
4- When you wash your t-shirt, remember that all ink manufacturers test their inks at a temperature of 60°C maximum.
There are no inks which allow washing above this temperature
5- If you already follow these instructions, it is possibile that your ink is defective. I suggest that you make a note of the batch number and contact your supplier.
However I can give you some general advice.
1- Read carefully the instructions relateing to the ink and if they recommand using a CATALYST this is important, USE IT.
2- If your ink is the type which dries at room temperature, you must wait a minimum of 72 hours to fix the ink. After 8 hours the ink MAY APPEAR TO BE DRY, but it isn't: you must be patient and wait for the ink to fix permanently.
3- If your ink is the type which requires a dryer, you must dry it at 150°C for 2 minutes.
4- When you wash your t-shirt, remember that all ink manufacturers test their inks at a temperature of 60°C maximum.
There are no inks which allow washing above this temperature
5- If you already follow these instructions, it is possibile that your ink is defective. I suggest that you make a note of the batch number and contact your supplier.
I hope this reply is useful.
Good morning, how can I re-use a frame already utilized for a UV gelatin emulsioned work?
You can clean it with the Strip Liquid Emulsion.
which one of your water based inks should I use for screen printing dark t-shirts also with multiple colours?
Modatex inks are the ones suitable for screen printing cold drying t-shirts. In order to obtain bright colours on dark fabrics, it is necessary to print a white cross-hatch with a 43 mesh count, and then print the other colours on it. Leave the cross-hatch to dry before spreading the following colours. Between colours, one can wet print, as long as not too much ink leaks trough. A spray remover, sprayed under the frame, on the printing side, may help. For the wet on wet printing to work, you want a good off-contact distance (the distance between the frame and the t-shirt), of up to 3 mm; make a light flood stroke with the squeegee with just enough pressure at a high speed. The tilt of the squeegee is also decisive; however, with hand screen printing it cannot be thoroughly accurate.
With regards to screen printing using a manual screen printing machine, it is by all means easier to let each colour dry, using a dryer or an equally suitable tool; the printing process will be slower, but the failures will be notably reduced.
With regards to screen printing using a manual screen printing machine, it is by all means easier to let each colour dry, using a dryer or an equally suitable tool; the printing process will be slower, but the failures will be notably reduced.
What is the flock and how do you print it?
The indirect flock consists of a sheet of velvety fabric, available in many colours, which is applied hot on t-shirts or on other things, according to the chosen design.
The procedure:
With the screen printing technique one prints the thermo-adhesive on the t-shirt, as it was a colour, engraving on the frame the design which one wishes to flock. One the adhesive is dry, one lays this flock sheet on the t-shirt, and then it is pressed for about 15 seconds at a temperature between 160 to 180°C. Remove the unglued flock once cold, and the flocked design remains on the t-shirt.
The procedure:
With the screen printing technique one prints the thermo-adhesive on the t-shirt, as it was a colour, engraving on the frame the design which one wishes to flock. One the adhesive is dry, one lays this flock sheet on the t-shirt, and then it is pressed for about 15 seconds at a temperature between 160 to 180°C. Remove the unglued flock once cold, and the flocked design remains on the t-shirt.
i-am-interested-in-screen-printing-t-shirts-with-roughly-an-a3-format-and-i-would-like-to-know-if-it-is-necessary-to-use-a-frame-45x64-or-if-a-smaller
The format 45x64 is suitable for the screen printing of an A3 design (30x42 cm). I advise you against screen printing on bigger formats with this frame, as the space between the design and the frame plays two important roles: to create a "inkwell" for the ink and not to stress the mesh under the pressure of the squeegee.
This is Franco Ratto,