Covering All Underbases

Sept 1, 2008

When screen printing on dark-colored garments, print a white underbases to achieve a bright print. However, when the design requires the use of white, use another white layer in the color order on top of the underbase rather than letting the underbase itself serve as the white in the design.

The key to obtaining bright prints on dark-colored garments is through the proper use of a white underbase. However, it's not necessary to have an absolutely white underbase to achieve a high-opaque print. The underlay's job is to block some of the garment's color and provide a foundation for the overprint colors.

A good underbase white ink leaves a matte finish, giving the top print colors something to grab onto. A white underbase print on a black garment, for instance, might turn light gray but will still provide the necessary coverage and opacity to result in a bright final print.

Also, it is important that you don't use underbase white as a stand-alone white ink in your design. Print another white layer in the color order — on top of the underbase — to serve as the main white color in the finished design. Using a glossy underbase is a common mistake. It slows down flash times and is a poor surface for the top colors to stick to.

Finally, experienced screen printers turn to finer mesh counts for underbase white prints. They use 156 to 195 monfilament mesh, and some even go to the extreme, with 230 mesh counts. — Information provided by James Ortolani, Hix Corp., Pittsburg, Kan.

Shining Stars
Despite an overcast economic forecast for many industries worldwide, the decorated apparel trade continues to glimmer through the clouds, as is evident by the finely crafted entries Impressions received for the 30th annual Impressions Awards competition.
January 05, 2009

The Next Level: A Business Expansion Case Study
Raw Talent Inc. co-founders share the experience of a recent upgrade from one manual and one entry-level automatic press to two high-output, 8-color automatics.



On a good day's worth of production, Cody Murray and Corey Bramlett, president and vice president of custom apparel company Raw Talent Inc., Bethlehem, Ga., pull in what a majority of their peers earn in one salaried year.
December 17, 2008

DIGITAL EDITION

Buckle Up for a Thrill Ride
The decorated apparel industry, despite substantial challenges in the U.S. economy, is alive and…well, we could be doing better. Wall Street — and the economy in general — are on a wild roller coaster as the credit crunch continues and decorated apparel is not exempt. While no one can predict the future with certainty, this survey-based analysis suggests we'll be along for the ride, but perhaps on a smaller coaster that doesn't rise as high or plunge as fast as the monster whipsawing the rest of the U.S. economy.
December 01, 2008

Ink-Matching Tips
Screen printers have two options when it comes to ink color-matching systems: pigment concentrates (PC) or finished inks. Using pigment concentrates, printers can measure concentrated pigments according to the ink manufacturer's formulation guide and mix them with a plastisol carrier base. A finished ink system already has the correct base-to-pigment ratio, so the inks come ready to print.
December 01, 2008

How to Handle Dissatisfied Customers
Learn the best ways to handle customers who are unhappy with your shop's work.
Even the best decorators in the industry occasionally are confronted with customers who are unhappy with their work. The real question isn't who's at fault. The issue is: How should you handle a dissatisfied customer?
December 01, 2008