[vicaritees]

Hello. This is the first time I am printing with plastisol (third time ever screen printing). After 12 successful shirts, printing gold on a black shirt, the ink thickness has increased in part of my image on the shirt. It somewhat sticks to the frame when I pull it up. I immediately thought off contact, but all my previous shirts were okay. Am I pressing too hard and too much ink is going through the mesh? I tried a light stroke and same thing. Suggestions?

 

[jeron]

How much off contact do you have?

It's the image still coming out sharp or is it looking smudged?

Sent from my SGH-M919 using T-Shirt Forums

 

[vicaritees]

How much off contact do you have?

It's the image still coming out sharp or is it looking smudged?

Sent from my SGH-M919 using T-Shirt Forums

Part of the image is accumulating excess ink, a thick deposit. When I put the frame down again to do another run with the squeegee, it becomes smudged, probably because I am pushing the extra ink that is on the shirt? Other than this part of the image, it looks great. My off contact is a quarters thickness. Thanks for replying promptly!!

 

[jeron]

explain how you are printing... it sounds like you are pushing to much ink through on your fill stroke... How may prints do you do before you consider the print to be done??

 

[Ripcord]

Give it a bit more off contact. If you have tight screens and a tight press you can get away with a 1/8" or even more. Use enough adhesive to hold the shirt firmly so the mesh lifts off by itself. Don't try to force the ink through the mesh. Smoothly stroke it and "shear" it through the stencil. There should be no ink or blotchy spots left in the stencil after you complete your stroke.

 

[eldamo]

Is the screen holding down to the area, or is the shirt lifting? The first could mean not enough off-contact or poor mesh tension. If the shirt's lifting you probably need to refresh your adhesive. Sounds like the latter if you managed to get 12 good prints.

 

[Stitches]

Warped platen?

 

[debbbbsy]

Is the screen holding down to the area, or is the shirt lifting? The first could mean not enough off-contact or poor mesh tension. If the shirt's lifting you probably need to refresh your adhesive. Sounds like the latter if you managed to get 12 good prints.

I would agree. You need to be retacking your platon.