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HIDDEN · December 21st, 2009

We have been messing around with the DTG printer and finally got some over the zipper prints to come out. The process is simple with the new batten that we custom made for the printer. If anyone wants info on this PM me.

Steps.
1- Heat press (this gets the fabric as low as possible over the zipper)
2- Position hoodie onto batten
3- Tape off high areas (we have been using packaging tape over the pockets and near the neck)
4- Position table with height block
5- Print away
6- Heat press to cure the inks

DONE!

Here are some images of the final product:

Flagrant-T · December 21st, 2009

Awesome work, I was just searching around for a vinyl design over a zip hoodie and I stumbled across this. Nice work.

DAGuide · December 22nd, 2009

Hidden,

Nice Job. I also recommend heat pressing the front of the hoodie before trying to print on it, especially if there are pockets. The last thing you want is to get a head strike. Here is a video that shows me printing a hoodie on a GT-782 printer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HPbZqpc2kY

Because the GT print head is farther away from the garment than the Epson-based dtg printers, you don't have to have a different platen - although it would be much easier. It just takes some testing to get the seams / zipper to pass below the obstruction bar on the GT printers. However, I have been asked by several companies to create a platen system that will allow for the printing on polos, button down shirts and hoodies; as well as pockets, coasters and other items. I have a couple of different concepts that I have been prototyping over the past couple of months and "might" have something to play with at the ISS Long Beach Show.

It is really hard to bet the soft touch of CMYK dtg inks on hoodies. Just need to get a high cotton count hoodie. The 50/50 blend hoodies make it challenging to get a bright print.

Mark

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[Pictures of DTG Printed Garments] Printing over zipper on a zip hoodie