Low quality shirts need more pretreatment: true or false?
I've got two types of shirts right now that I'm working with: 1) smooth, soft, dense hi-quality cotton shirts 2) homeless-grade Gildan brand shirts.
For type 1, it's super easy to apply pretreatment and after rolling (some of you use brushing) you can clearly see where the solution has been applied.
For type 2, the solution soaks up right away, the fibres are a lot more difficult to flatten and if I don't use more pretreatment the print will usually turn out worse.
In your experience, does the print look better on crappy shirts if you lay down more pretreatment? If not, might save some pretreatment and some time for me and anybody else who's out there wondering.
Re: Low quality shirts need more pretreatment: true or false?
I think of course American Apparel shirts print better then Gildans, and that has to do with them being Ringspun cotton. I am not so sure of the whole less or more pretreatment though. I usually spray mine equally so I have never tried with less. I do love the way the American Apparel prints, as far as the way the ink lays down, but I have never really tried to print with less pretreatment. I guess I figure my pretreatment method works well so why change it I dont think there would so much savings on less pretreatment, as there may be loss of quality of the garment printed.
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Re: Low quality shirts need more pretreatment: true or false?
We print (almost exclusively) on Gildan 2000 6.1oz 100% cotton shirts with great results. We've recently started using the Gildan 64000, which is a 4.5oz ringspun shirt for those who want a fashion fit shirt and doesn't mind the higher cost.
I spray an even coat of pretreatment, and then use my rigid squeegee (sp) to lay down the fibers. Once dry, I have a flat surface to print on. When I dry the shirt under the heatpress, I get an even better surface, but many times I can't tell the difference between the two methods.
Re: Low quality shirts need more pretreatment: true or false?
Quote:
Originally Posted by QV
I've got two types of shirts right now that I'm working with: 1) smooth, soft, dense hi-quality cotton shirts 2) homeless-grade Gildan brand shirts.
For type 1, it's super easy to apply pretreatment and after rolling (some of you use brushing) you can clearly see where the solution has been applied.
For type 2, the solution soaks up right away, the fibres are a lot more difficult to flatten and if I don't use more pretreatment the print will usually turn out worse.
In your experience, does the print look better on crappy shirts if you lay down more pretreatment? If not, might save some pretreatment and some time for me and anybody else who's out there wondering.
My take on this is less mass= less pretreat. You may feel like you need to treat more, but "gobbing" it on leads to wash problems. Sure, you may get bridging of fiber, but if there's no fabric to hold the ink, it's not going to look good after the wash. Fine jersee or rib knit prints best. If you have thick fabric that really drinks the pretreat, give it a mist of plain water first.
Low quality shirts need more pretreatment: true or false? 
I dont think there would so much savings on less pretreatment, as there may be loss of quality of the garment printed.
