Emulsion over/under exposure

3390 Views 6 Replies 4 Participants Last post by BitB_Shirts, Jul 10, 2010

inkthat

Discussion Starter · Jul 9, 2010

I am so thoroughly confused!! I have been burning screens roughly 5 minutes and 45 seconds. Yet today everything I have burned has washed out. I did my exposure calculator and burned it for 11 minutes and 25 seconds. I am going to attach a picture of the results. According to my calculations, the test is completely cured at the full time. So assuming my bulbs are needing replaced, I bumped my exposure time up to the 11 minutes and 20 seconds. The first screen wouldn't wash out at all, the next screen I lowered to 8 minutes and it was really tough washing it out and the inside of the "A"'s blew out. The next screen I sprayed for several minutes before anything lifted and then all of a sudden everything started lifting off.

Of course I'm in the time cruch of my life! Any words of wisdom, advice, suggestions, etc.?? I'm at my breaking point!

Chrissy

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inkthat

Discussion Starter · #2 · Jul 9, 2010

Also, as usual, I clean my screens with ink remover, emulsion remover then degreaser. I allowed to dry thoroughly, let my emulsion dry over night.

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InkedApparel

· #3 · Jul 9, 2010

well my first question is

how old is the emulsion?
what type of emulsion are you using?
what type of exposure unite are you using?

are you using a pressure washer or garden hose for wash out?
what type of film do you use...ie , is it film or vellum and are they dark enough?

these are all questions you need to answer before we can give an answer ..... to help you out.

Inked

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inkthat

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jul 9, 2010

InkedApparel said:
well my first question is

how old is the emulsion?
what type of emulsion are you using?
what type of exposure unite are you using?

are you using a pressure washer or garden hose for wash out?
what type of film do you use...ie , is it film or vellum and are they dark enough?

these are all questions you need to answer before we can give an answer ..... to help you out.

Inked

I purchased the emulsion in April but didn't add the diazo (sp?) until probably the end of April.
I am usising a light box. It doesn't have a name brand on it however it has 4 15 watt bulbs in it.
I am using a pressure washer.
I am using a waterproof film positive from Ryonet. I believe they are dark enough. They are solid black and cannot be seen through.

Thanks for any help.

I have now tried from 11 minutes down to 4 minutes exposure time. It's all the same. I begin washing out, wet both sides, let sit for 40 seconds, begin to work on it and after like a minute it starts to come out and then all of a sudden it just starts blowing out everywhere. I went and bought new emulsion today because I am at my wits end! I don't know what to do with the new emulsion or the old!! The new emulson is Ulano QTX and the old was DXP from Ryonet.

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Ace of Spades

· #5 · Jul 10, 2010

I've had similar problems and narrowed it down to humidity/proper drying time before burning my screens. The Ulano Qtx is a good emulsion. I prefer that to the QX-1 they try to push, but also use the TLX for durability.

Are you sure your degreaser pad is free from contaminants? Sounds like you are taking the right steps towards solving your problem.

Unfortunately it could be a lot of things causing your issues. I've had to just keep going with my trial and error to figure them out.

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InkedApparel

· #6 · Jul 10, 2010 (Edited)

many diazo dual cure emulsions have a 30 day shelf life...so if were me and I was having problems burning screens all of a sudden ...I would think it was emulsion first of all...so maybe try a new quart of emulsion .....

Inked

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BitB_Shirts

· #7 · Jul 10, 2010

I had that problem only once, and it was my screens. I had to degrease them twice. But it was also old emulsion... I guess I don't really know either.

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