Screen Printing Inks and Tee Shirt Printing
Published February 8, 2012 | 
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Screen Printing Inks and Tee Shirt Printing
Screen printing inks are moderately viscous inks which exhibit different properties when compared to other printing inks such as offset, gravure and flexographic inks though they have similar basic compositions (pigments, solvent carrier, toners, and emulsifiers). There are five different types of screen ink to include solvent, water, and solvent plastisol, water plastisol, and UV curable.
UV Curable
UV curable inks consist of liquid prepolymers, monomers, and initiators which upon being exposed to large doses of U.V. Radiation instantly polymerize the vehicle to a dry, tough thermosetting resin. They also require less energy, overall, to dry or “cure” compared to gas or electric driers.
The down side of UV inks is they can cost as much as three times that of regular inks and must be handled differently than conventional inks due to safety issues. Additionally, solvents are required for clean-up which results in some VOC emissions.
Plastisol Inks
Plastisol inks (both solvent and water based) are used in textile screen printing. Plastisol inks are widely used in garment printing. They are easy to print, do not dry in the screen, can be very opaque on dark garments, and will adhere to most textiles. They are composed primarily of two ingredients, PVC resin (a white powder) and plasticizer (a thick, clear liquid). Plastisol inks have one outstanding characteristic, they must be heated to dry. They will not dry, or cure, at normal temperatures. For a complete cure, they must reach 290-330º F (143-166º C).
Plastisol inks can be printed on virtually any surface that can withstand the heat required to cure the ink and is porous enough to permit good ink penetration. Plastisol inks do not color the fibers like a dye. Instead the ink wraps around the fibers and makes a mechanical bond with the fabric. For this reason, they will not adhere to non-porous substrates such as plastic, metal, and glass. They also will not adhere well to woven, waterproofed nylon material without adding a bonding agent. [1]
Solvent Inks & Water Inks
Solvent and water based screen printing inks are formulated with primarily solvent or water. The solvent evaporates and results in VOC emissions. Water based inks, though they contain significantly less, may still emit VOC’s from small amounts of solvent and other additives blended into the ink. The liquid waste material may also be considered hazardous waste.[2]
Custom shirt printing offers a variety of inks, foil, and colors. Call 435-623-2382 for more information.
[1] http://www.unionink.com/articles/geninfo.html
[2] http://www.pneac.org/printprocesses/screen/#Inks
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T-Shirt Screen Printing Process
Published February 6, 2012 | 
T-Shirt Screen Printing Process
Screen Printing Overview:
Screen printing, also called silk screening, is a way to print custom or personalized logos, text, or artwork repeatedly on t-shirts, sweatshirts, koozies, bags or any other apparel you wish to customize. Basically, a screen is imprinted with your design, placed over the item to be printed, and then ink is forced through the screen with a squeegee onto the item. The item is then place through an oven to cure the ink.
Screen Printing Process:
We decided to explain the process of screen printing to help you understand the steps it takes to create your custom screen printed t-shirts.
Step 1 Artwork:
Artwork is either sent to us from the customer or we create it from the customer’s idea. We prefer to use or create vector type files because it provides nice sharp images no mater what size is used.
Once we have the artwork, we generate t-shirt composites, that we place on our website, for the customer to review and approve. This is not an actual printed t-shirt but a computer generated t-shirt, which will be a really good representation of what the artwork will look like and shows placement of the artwork. The customer is required to approve this t-shirt composite before we go to the next step. At this time you can instruct to make any changes. We’ll work with you until you are 100% satisfied with the design!
Once the artwork is approved we print the design as a positive on a transparency. If the design has more than one color, we have to separate the design and print a positive for each color so that we can create a separate screen for each one.
Step 2 Screen Preparation:
The screens that we use are mounted on a wooden frame and there are different screen mesh sizes. The mesh size to use is determined by the detail of the artwork. The more fine line detail, the higher the mesh count screen is required.
The screen has to be prepped by cleaning with screen wash and then with a degreaser. The screen is then dried. Once the screen is dried it has to be coated with a photosensitive emulsion. This has to be applied under yellow light because any exposure to UV light will activate the emulsion and render it useless. The screen is placed in a dark drying cabinet so the emulsion can dry.
Step 3 Screen Exposure:
Once the emulsion has dried the positive film transparency is temporarily taped to the backside of the screen. It is positioned according to how it will appear on the t-shirt. Then the screen is placed into the exposure unit. The exposure unit shines UV light on the screen, which exposes the photosensitive emulsion that is not being blocked by the artwork on the transparency.
Once exposed, the screen is placed in the wash-out tub and the screen is sprayed with high pressure water. The emulsion that was blocked out by the artwork washes away with water. The emulsion that was exposed to the UV light is now chemically bonded to the screen and does not wash out with water. So after spraying the screen, the only openings on the screen, is the artwork image. If there is more than one color you do this for each screen.
Step 4 Screen Printing Process:
After the screen dries, the screen must be blocked by taping the border of the screen and any unwanted openings. Pinholes are filled in using a block-out pen. This process is repeated for all screens.
The screen is then placed on the press. There are several types and sizes of presses; we use a 4-platen 6-color manual press. This means we are capable of printing designs with 6 colors and the ink is applied manually. The screen is clamped in the press and aligned so that the image will print in the correct place on the t-shirt. If there is more than one color then there is a screen for each color and they have to be placed on the press and each one is aligned with the other screen so that when the ink is applied, each color is in the correct position. The alignment is done with registration marks and a careful eye.
Once the screen or screens are on the press, now it’s time to apply the ink. The ink is plastisol ink and we use Union ink for it’s excellent quality. The specific color of ink is spread along the base of the screen or screens. A squeegee is used to apply the ink. The t-shirt is placed on the platen. The screen is put into position above the platen. To apply the ink, we first have to flood the screen with the ink by pulling a thin coat of ink across the top of the screen with the squeegee. The screen is then lowered down over the t-shirt. We use the squeegee to push the ink through the screen onto the t-shirt. The press is designed so that the screen is always in alignment with the platen, therefore you can be sure the screen is always in the same position. So if you are doing more than one color, the t-shirt remains on the platen, the next screen is rotated over the platen and the new ink color is applied to the t-shirt. This process is repeated for every color of the design. Sometimes, in order to print one color over top of another color, it may be necessary to flash the previous ink on the t-shirt. To flash, the platen is rotated under the flash unit, which is a heater the size of the platen. The flash unit will heat the ink very quickly, in a matter of a few seconds, so that it gels over, which allow you to print the next ink directly over top. This is important especially when doing an underbase that all other ink colors are printed directly on. Once all colors have been applied, the t-shirt is removed from the platen and put through the conveyor dryer oven. Plastisol type ink only cures with heat, so the t-shirt has to be heated to at least 300°F to set the ink. The t-shirt is finished when it comes out of the oven, unless there is another design being printed on the opposite side and / or sleeve, then the screen printing process is repeated. This process is the same for printing on t-shirts, sweatshirts, fleece wear, koozies, bags or other apparel. [1]
Customshirtprinting.net offers a wide variety on screen printed apparel. Call 435-623-2382 today for a quote and find out just how much we can do for you.
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Customized Hoodie In Washington
Published January 31, 2012 | Customized Hoodie Washington
Custom hooded sweat shirts are slowly transforming the fashion scene all over the world. The term “hoodie” is generally used to depict a popular style of sweatshirt in the market. Hoodies have become mainstream fashion transcending the hood’s original utilitarian purpose, similar to jeans. This has found its way into a variety of styles, even so far as to be worn under a suit jacket. There are many benefits of wearing custom hoodies over the regular hoodies:
• Helps to carve a distinct identity – Many people squeeze themselves into the hooded sweat shirts only during the time of socializing. There might be many others who also do the same, but customized hooded sweat shirts help them to carve a distinct identity from all those who made it to the party wearing a regular hoodie.
• Gifting – If you wish to gift something special to your near and dear ones, then there are very few options which can equal the uniqueness which customized hoodie demands. If you wish to express feelings of closeness, a custom hoodie can do the trick.
• Boosting Morales – Generally, hoodies are considered an expensive form of clothing but they can be used in a very systematic way to boost morale of your high school team mates, company socials, or friends getting together. Hoodies personalized with team logos will be loved by everyone and it will be a great hit amongst students too.
Customized hoodies are the best thing if you wish to set yourself distinct and unique from the rest of the crowd.[1]
Customshirtprinting.net offers clients the option to customize hoodies by either designing them on-line or calling in and working with customshirtprinting.net designers to create the perfect and unique design for their hoodies. Call or visit www.customshirtprinting.net to see all that they have to offer you today.
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Family Reunion Shirts
Published January 30, 2012 | Family Reunion Shirts
A family reunion is an occasion when many members of an extended family get together. Sometimes reunions are held regularly, for example on the same date of every year.
A typical family reunion will assemble grandparents, great-grandparents and up for a meal, some recreation and discussion. The older attendees are generally grandparents, parents, siblings or first cousins while the youngest could be second, third or fourth cousins. It is also not uncommon for regular family reunions to be sponsored by family organizations or family associations centered around a more distant common ancestor.
Traditional family reunion activities include an afternoon luncheon or early evening dinner and program featuring music, song, poetry reading, history recitals, honorary recognition of elders, community contributions and educational achievements.
Historic skits. Reenactments that highlight pivotal points in a family’s history. Participants are introduced to the art of developing a timeline as well as period research with a focus on costume design, customs, dialogue and social, economic and technological developments.
Story telling. A fascinating art that brings to life tales of ancestors and their accomplishments. Along with stories of legends of the past, life lessons are taught. The meanings behind family traditions are shared while relaying important family history factoids and the ties that bind.
Genealogy tours. Takes the family on an exciting tour of important genealogical hot spots including the family homestead, the towns in which the family settled, the jobs they held, machines they worked, markets they traded and streets they walked as well as social activities they immersed themselves into.
Genealogy presentations. A Presentation of historic documents and vintage artifacts that identify timelines, economic status, historic events and locations of ancestors.[1]
A fun way to commemorate your family reunion is designing custom printed t-shirts. Customshirtprinting.net is the perfect source to help you with your family get together. Our design online tool helps you implement your creativity and customization. Simply upload any artwork or choose from a variety offered and submit for a quote. With a fast 10 day turnaround, customshirtprinting.net can add a unique and memorable option for your family reunion.
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Custom Election 2012 T Shirts
Published January 18, 2012 | 
Custom Election 2012 T Shirts
With the political season beginning and all eyes on South Carolina, it is now time to take your campaign up a notch with Custom Election T Shirts.
We can customize your slogans and election information quick and easy. Whether you are representing Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Santorum, Paul or Perry… We have the custom tee shirts that you need.
Call today at 435-623-2382 for more information.
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Best Shirt Printing In Utah
Published January 17, 2012 | Best Shirt Printing In Utah
Looking for the most affordable and best quality tee shirt printing company in Utah? Then look no further than Custom Shirt Printing.net. Call us today for your Custom Tee Shirt Project.
Family Trip T Shirts
Published January 16, 2012 | Family Trip T Shirts
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If you are planning a trip as a family or in the beginning stages, may we introduce our company to help you make the perfect shirt for your trip to your favorite destination. We have assisted many people with family trip t shirts, particularly those that have traveled to Disneyland.
Let us help you by calling us today at 435.623.2382 or click on the contact button to learn more.
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Get Custom T Shirts For 2012
Published December 29, 2011 | Get Custom T Shirts For 2012
With a new year coming fast, what events are you anticipating that you will need custom t shirts. Are you prepared for all of your sporting events, clubs or music festivals. Call today and speak to our professional sales team to get your custom shirts printed. Call 435-623-2382.
Look what others are doing to help others – Neighbor kindness segment.
By Mike Jones In what is becoming an all-too-familiar ritual, workers at a Bridgeville company are once again rolling off thousands of T-shirts memorializing a fallen police officer. X-Deco, a screen printing and embroidery company on Union Street, …
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Call today for your shirts and have a wonderful 2012.
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Free Shipping of Tee Shirts
Published November 28, 2011 | Free Shipping of Tee Shirts
Receive free shipping when you order within the USA. Make a purchase by either clicking on our design it yourself software or call us today at (435) 623-2382.
In the embroidery and screen printing industry, especially in Burlington, NC, traditional tee shirts, polos, oxfords, sweatshirts and hats have been a mainstay for many years. Clothing manufacturers are creating innovative twists to these stand-bys and consistently expanding their apparel products with nonetheless enticing new fabrics, colors, cuts, styles and decorating techniques. The imprintable sportswear field transformed a lot with the creation of moisture wicking apparel, which can be screen printed or embroidered to provide businesses an effective, comfortable performance shirt that looks excellent, too. Consumers consider moisture wicking t-shirts and polos to be considerably more comfortable in hotter weather than conventional 100 % cotton shirts.
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Cyber Monday – Tee Shirt printing
Published November 28, 2011 | Get Free Shipping on all orders placed on Cyber Monday
Get free shipping on all of your tee shirt printing or customized hoodie orders placed on the Week of Cyber Monday. November 28- December 2, 2011.
Custom Shirt Printing (Teeshirtsrus.net)
Call (435) 623-2382 for your order today.
