Tips on choosing screen printing accessories

Screen printing is the most adaptable and widely used printing method in the world. The basic theory of screen printing is use screen printing screen as a plate and press the ink through it on the fabrics by using screen printing squeegee.

In this way, the pattern will be transferred on the fabrics.

In order to achieve the best effect, it is vital to choose right screen printing accessories, especially the screen printing mesh, screen printing squeegee and inkjet film. Today, we will talk about how to choose them.

The inkjet film of screen printing serves to carry image and is mainly used to transfer image  to the screen printing screen. In screen printing technology, the image to be printed needs to be made onto the inkjet film in advance. In details, it is to output the image on a milky substrate, process it into the image form required by the screen, and finally place the film on the screen, allowing the image on the screen to be exposed through the inkjet film, thereby forming the pattern on the screen printing screen.

There are two kinds of inkjet film, the clear inkjet film and the milky inkjet film. The milky inkjet film are more popular because it is waterproof. Waterproof inkjet film also has other advantages, such as high-resolution, instant-drying,excellent ink absorption, excellent dot sharpness and solid black reproduction for superior image quality and stay-flat and anti-curl. The thickness, transparency and other characteristics of the film will have a certain impact on the printing quality. Therefore, when choosing films, attention should be paid to specific performance parameters.

There are some methods about how to preserve the inkjet film better. Inkjet film is very sensitive to temperature and humidity, therefore it need to be stored in a temperature of 18-24℃, humidity of 50-60% environment. Maintaining a relatively constant temperature and humidity can help reduce the risk of film fading and damage. Inkjet film is susceptible to the quality of light,therefore exposure to bright light should be avoided. At the same time, the transparency and flatness of the films need to be maintained. To avoid contamination, it is usually necessary to carry out cleaning treatment before use.

Screen printing mesh is the most important in screen printing process. Usually, there are three choice. Polyester mesh, nylon mesh and steel mesh can be screen printing mesh. And the polyester mesh is the most common and suitable fabric for screen printing. Generally, the mesh count can be 6T-180T. The choice of mesh count depends on the level of detail in a design and the thickness of ink. Images with high detail should use screens with a higher mesh count. Those fine dots of detail will fall through the holes in low mesh count screens. Thinner ink, like water-based ink, should also be printed through a high mesh count. Thin ink will flood through larger holes in low mesh count screens, blurring the image. Thicker inks, like white plastisol ink, should be printed through low mesh counts. A thick ink printed through a high mesh count will take much more effort to create a good ink layer on the shirt.

For screen printing squeegee, one of the important factor is hardness. A durometer measures how hard, firm, and flexible a screen printing squeegee is and determines how much ink it deposits. The higher the number, the harder the squeegee is. For example, a 60 hardness squeegee is softer and has thicker ink deposits than a 90 hardness squeegee.

Harder squeegees (e.g., 80, 90) are best suited for delicate and highly-detailed designs or prints on clothing.It’s worth noting that harder squeegees are suitable for automatic presses. This is because they can withstand the higher friction that comes from being used on a high-speed automatic press because of their durability. Less hard squeegees (e.g., 50 to 60), on the other hand, are often used for thick, less detailed imprinting, as well as special effects such as glitters and shimmer. Of the array of squeegees available, 70 hardness squeegees sit at a “sweet spot” that makes them the most versatile lot, suitable for spot colors and halftones. This makes them the most popular choice for many printing choices.

Screen printing squeegees should be stored at temperatures of 60-70°F. Storing below this can reduce their hardness. In addition, they may lose their structural integrity when subject to very high ambient temperatures.

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