Though a ring-spun cotton shirt may cost a few extra bucks, the overall quality of the screen print will increase dramatically when you use premium garments. Higher quality cotton weaves are a screen printer's favorite! Less ink makes the print feel softer and lighter. The shirt's surface is smooth and reliable for printing. The benefits of ring spun cotton are twofold: Since you don't need to push ink into the shirt, you can deposit less ink – which makes the print feel softer. Because of the tighter weave, ink is deposited higher up on the fabric. The "holes" created by the gaps in the shirt's woven fibers are smaller on a ring-spun shirt because the cotton is woven together tightly. The composition of that weave – the quality of the fibers, the density of the weave, and the overall uniformity of the fabric – determines whether the t-shirt is great for screen printing (versus merely acceptable). Why are ring spun shirts better for screen printing?Ĭotton t-shirts are nothing more than thousands of thin cotton threads woven together. They retain more detail, are a better printing surface, and are softer to the touch compared to carded open-end cotton shirts. Ring spun cotton shirts are ideal for screen printing. Tip number 1: Print on the right type of shirt An image from Bella + Canvas demonstrating the difference between cotton fabric weaves on a t-shirt.įor soft screen prints, you want a ring spun cotton shirt versus a carded open-end cotton shirt. This is due to loose fibers on the t-shirt contaminating the ink. Fibrillation is when the fibers on a t-shirt show up as visible debris on the print.How do you get a soft screen printed t-shirt? Additionally, you can add soft hand additives (and curable reducer) to your inks. However, you'll also need to use the thinnest possible mesh, deposit the least amount of ink, and use a roller squeegee to help soften your prints. Also recommended: Wilflex Epic Bright Tiger.International Coatings 7014 Legacy White ink.Some of the most popular white plastisol inks include: Using special techniques and additives to soften your inkĬan plastisol make soft screen printed t-shirts?īy combining the right fabric and the right ink, plastisol can make soft screen prints.įor soft hand printing, the following brands have superior fabric:.Using discharge inks, which dye the fabric itself.Using a soft t-shirt, like a tri-blend or woven cotton.This can be accomplished through different techniques: The soft hand feel is what customers are after. Soft screen printed shirts are one of the most popular types of prints. Have you ever purchased a t-shirt and noticed that the print feels like it almost isn't there? Loose fibers on the t-shirt contaminate the ink. Fibrillation is when the fibers on a t-shirt appear on the print.It's derived from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and can last for the lifetime of a t-shirt. Plastisol is the most common type of screen printing ink."Soft hand" is a way to describe a soft print. Hand refers to the way a shirt or print feels.You can get soft screen printed t-shirts (even with plastisol ink) but there are a few things you should know first. #Silkscreen apparel how to#Whether you're a customer that wants a soft screen print, or a screen printer that wants soft hand prints, here's how to get softer screen prints.
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