Comparing Heat Transfer Films with Screen Printed Graphics

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A high quality polyurethane heat transfer film will outlast a screen printed garment hands down. In fact, if you properly process and care for a polyurethane heat transfer, the applique should last the life of the garment.  We all know what happens to a screen printed shirt after a dozen washes.  Plastisol inks crack. By comparison, I have a tee-shirt with digitally printed applique  that still looks great after 30 washes.  While the heat transfer material looks new, the base color of the fabric has faded.

 
After 30 washes, my Indian motorcycle applique still looks great!

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Selecting the Right Screen Print Fabric

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Selecting the Right Screen Print Fabric This article provides recommendations in selecting mesh for screen printing signage and large format graphics. By Jim Hingst @hingst_jim One of the most important aspects of screen printing is selecting the right screen print fabric for the job. The screen print fabric serves two key functions. First, it supports […] Read more »

Imprimatura: Toning the Substrate

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It doesn’t matter whether you are painting on canvas, a metal panel, Masonite, wood or MDO. If your substrate is white, the stark brilliance of the surface can be overpowering and distracting. For this reason artists have toned their painting surfaces for centuries.   Read more »

Screen Printing Acrylic Sheet

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Painting is not the only solution for decorating plastic signfaces. For high-volume jobs, screen printing with either solvent or UV curable inks is an economical solution. In selecting an ink system, ask your screen print supply distributor for a recommendation. The ink manufacturers’ technical bulletins will give you printing specifications. The type of mesh, squeegee, […] Read more »

How to Flash Press FlexCut™ Sticky LT

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Heat Transfer Tip Saves Time & Money RTape has a new heat transfer solution that saves time and money. Here’s how. When decorating a heat sensitive fabric, RTape’s FlexCut™ Sticky LT (low temperature) is typically heat pressed at 235°F (115°C) for 17 seconds Read more »

Stretching Garments Prior to Heat Pressing

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Some screen printers, who print directly onto t-shirts or who print plastisol heat transfers, will stretch the garment before printing or heat pressing. By doing this, the weave of the shirt opens up allowing the ink to better penetrate the fibers of the fabric. This practice is believed to prevent cracking of the ink. Read more »

Illuminated Signs Help McGruff Take a Bite Out of Crime

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The National Crime Prevention Council sanctions illuminated signs as a crime prevention tool. Find out how on-premise signs can help your business ­ and your community. Need a new angle to sell on-premise illuminated signs? Several studies that show lighted signs help reduce crime are good weapons in your sales arsenal. Read more »

What Causes Ink Adhesion Problems?

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The $64 question is: what causes ink adhesion problems when screen printing polycarbonate film?  While some have suggested moisture absorption as the culprit, the most likely candidate is exposure  to UV light and oxygen.  As the polycarbonate absorbs UV light, it excites the photons of the atoms, which in turn creates free radicals. Free radicals […] Read more »

How to Select the Right Overlaminate

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Selecting the right overlaminate for a particular graphics application requires just as must consideration as selecting the right digital print media. And for many, it can be just as confusing, if not more so. For starters, just page through any distributor catalog, and you will find a wide array of options, nearly as extensive as […] Read more »