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Deivid · January 27th, 2008

This is about ways to combine screen prints and heat pressing. Now, what if I had one of those plotter/cutters which is also a printer - not really sure what you call those appliances (printer cutter?). It's inkjet (I think) and makes heat pressed graphics successfully with bright colors.

My question is, what happens if I screen print a background graphic on a shirt first, then cure it, and then heat press another (inkjet printed) graphic right on top of the screen printed picture? Would that create a problem for me? Or is it just a matter of how thick the screen printed layer of ink is?

I guess I could do it by leaving the heat pressed area in the background graphic totally blank so there's no ink between the transfer and the actual fabric of the shirt. But is that necessary?

JeridHill · January 27th, 2008

If you screen print first then heat press, your print will become very smooth. Depending on how much pressure you used and how much ink was laid down, it may even spread your design to an undesired result. You can mix the 2, but most of the time, you would want to do the transfer first then screen print. The problem with that is registration. That is where something like a laser targeting system comes in handy.

Deivid · January 27th, 2008

Dang it! I knew it wouldn't be as simple as it seemed. I guess there's no going around it, then. Gotta think of something else.

Chani · January 27th, 2008

We just discovered something last night...we pressed a shirt with screenprint sheets that you cut on your plotter, then we pressed t-shirt vinyl and flock over that. The flock came right off in the wash.

SO I'm not sure if inkjet transfers will stick to screenprint, either.

JeridHill · January 27th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chani


	We just discovered something last night...we pressed a shirt with screenprint sheets that you cut on your plotter, then we pressed t-shirt vinyl and flock over that. The flock came right off in the wash. SO I'm not sure if inkjet transfers will stick to screenprint, either.

You can press them together on the same shirt, but I don't believe you will have success pressing them on top of each other. You are not getting a bond that you need to the fabric.

Chani · January 27th, 2008

Yes, that's right. We hadn't read anything here about that, tho, so for a personal shirt (not to sell) we conducted our little experiment.

So far the vinyl is sticking, but the flock didn't. I wouldn't trust either one for a shirt to sell, tho.

But, yes, you can definitely use multiple methods on different areas of shirts, just not on top of each other...

marlo45 · January 27th, 2008

Are you guys experimenting with water based or plastisol ink prints? I'm guessing that water based inks would make this idea a bit more realistic.

Deivid · January 27th, 2008

Aha! So basically all I would need to do is leave the "target area" empty when screen printing the surrounding area to create an illusion of a "background" graphic? That way I just position the plotted graphic exactly where it needs to be and there would not be any ink between the shirt and the graphic I want to heat press. This way the plotted picture attaches directly to the garment itself.

Am I right or am I right?

JeridHill · January 28th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deivid


	Aha! So basically all I would need to do is leave the "target area" empty when screen printing the surrounding area to create an illusion of a "background" graphic? That way I just position the plotted graphic exactly where it needs to be and there would not be any ink between the shirt and the graphic I want to heat press. This way the plotted picture attaches directly to the garment itself. Am I right or am I right?

That would work, but then again, you are having the issue of achieving a really smooth screen printed design (from plastisol). You may want to try screen printing something first, then pressing it to see the result I'm talking about. Wanna talk about a rubbery feel, this definitely has it! It was also mentioned waterbase inks would work, and you can print them first then apply your transfer. You most likely will be able to place the transfer over top the image since waterbase inks will dye the shirt. You can always test it.

Deivid · January 28th, 2008

Alrighty. Gonna try heat pressing a screen printed shirt first (I use plasticol) to see how rubbery it gets. As far as I know there's no place for me to get Matsui waterbased inks where I live and I won't even bother trying the other brands. But somehow, some way, I will make this work.

marlo45 · January 28th, 2008

You know, i've had this in mind for a while and i just haven't bothered to try it. When i do, i will be using waterbased inks, though. Hope it works out for you.

lancelot · January 29th, 2008

As stated you can heat press on water based inks (I do it ) Manukin (from Italy)water based Inks are the best on the market I think ,(the new line they released cure's itself ,no heat) the black dries in like a bastard though.

JeridHill · January 29th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by lancelot


	As stated you can heat press on water based inks (I do it ) Manukin (from Italy)water based Inks are the best on the market I think ,(the new line they released cure's itself ,no heat) the black dries in like a bastard though.

I know Union Ink has a waterbased ink that you mix in a catalyst. The inks can air dry as well. I believe it takes a 24 hours before fully dried. Do the Manukin inks require a catalyst?

lancelot · January 29th, 2008

The new mono line has no catalyst,so you don't wast any,it has a good shelf life too. I leave mine on hangers for 24 hrs just to be sure.

cronosSTYLE · March 12th, 2008

Sorry, i have read all the thread...but i still d'ont know if it is possible to heat press transfer paper on screen printed?

Maybe not all the tranfer, but just a little.

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