Matto

Can you print with waterbase inks on 100% polyester shirts that have had dye sub. Done to them? If so any secrets would be greatly appreciated.

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tlbays

Hi Matt

There are "air-dry" and "catalyzed" water-based inks available,
but the lack of heat-set curing tends to make them lack durability for repeated washings.
On 100% Poly, an undercoat layer is often recommended for water-based acrylic inks.

If using "heat cured" inks (water-based acrylics or standard plastisols), consider the second print to not exceed 300-320F;
recognizing that 340-350F and higher is bordering the heat level that will cause the sub inks to migrate.

As an example, if we have a preprinted sub-transferred bicycle jersey and wish to add another print to it,
it's very important to control and limit the cure temp needed on the added print
so as not to "re-sublimate" the existing original ink transferred.

Note that most curing systems tend to cycle in a wave of temps from the min to max;
you'll want to see how tight your system can control that as you investigate a test on the printed poly.

Happy trails!

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Matto

Went ahead and did a test print with both. customer did not like either. Told them the only other option was heattransfer which would probably not work and would damage the dye sub design. anyways no skin off my back and experience gained. Thanks for your reply tlbays.

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T.Roberson

Quote: Originally Posted by Matto Went ahead and did a test print with both. customer did not like either. Told them the only other option was heattransfer which would probably not work and would damage the dye sub design. anyways no skin off my back and experience gained. Thanks for your reply tlbays.

The best way to do a Polyester shirt is to do a screen printed transfer that has catlist added. Pro Print/ sash in Dallas will make them for you and they run around 6.75 each depends on how many colors. Now i wear Black Polyester shirts every day and i have screen printed them with no problems what so ever. You need to run them through the oven at around 325 with the speed turned up and run them twice. white stays bright white and i have had other screen printers say it cant be done. well i just done 2000 of them last week. but make sure that you don't apply to much heat because you will get bleed are a off white look. good luck. www.xtremeinkz.com

 

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