[lkt1954]

A couple of weeks ago we had a bleed issue on LAT hot pink and yellow tees with a left chest logo when using IA light pt. Tried different amounts applied and still bleed, switched to IA dark and the bleed issues went away. A few days later we got in another shipment of LAT yellow and hot pink tees and I tried the IA light again NO bleed this time. Same methods, same amount pt applied, same design-- just no bleed. Even tried LAT sports grey using light IA with a design that had a white underbase and white in the design- very good print and it help up to washings.

Now in the attached pictures are two prints of the same design on using IA light and one using IA dark on hot pink LAT tee. First print run shirts 1 & 3 had bleed (as you can see) and the middle tee did not. So I switched to IA dark and we got 3 excellent prints (second picture). Again same methods, same amount pt, etc.

I talked to Brian at direct2 shirt when this first happened and he was as confused as I was. The only thought we came up with is somewhere along the line something contaminated on lot/batch of tees. Which I would agree with on the first issue, but a month later and a different shipment and the problem is back............

Any thoughts here??

Thanks
Larry

 

[treefox2118]

You use the light PT with white ink?

 

[EricDeem]

Check to see if the shirts came from two different countries of origin. I have seen an order of shirts come thru where half the order came from El Salvador factory and the other half from Honduras. The prints were A to Z different. The white ink soaked into the Honduras shirts and then sat on top of the El Salvador shirts. The most consistent country that manufacturers garments is Bangladesh. Not sure what it is but shirts coming out of there print awesome!!

 

[lkt1954]

Brian- yes I print white ink using IA light when I am printing on a light to mid color shirt.

Eric- thats kinda where my thoughts are also. I will check tags tomorrow and see if they are marked.

Thanks

 

[lkt1954]

Eric

I checked and both the shirts in the picture are from Bangladesh. The only other thought I have is maybe the IA light is getting old, we get it right when it was released for sale and we don't use light everyday like we do dark. It still gets shook good before it is used.

 

[DTGPRINTERPARTS]

Sometimes I blame garments, manufacturers put weird waxes on things sometimes. Always boggles me

 

[tshirtdrop]

Same issues we've had before and it's ended up being the garments

 

[lkt1954]

Well then maybe we need to wash all tees before we print...ugh what a nightmare.

 

[lazographics]

I've seen the same bleeding issue with another brand of light pretreatment, fastbright, many times. A lot of moisture exiting the white allowing for the black to bleed into it since there's no underbase under black. With DuPont you don't have to worry about using two different pretreats. Can be used on all colors.

 

[DTGPRINTERPARTS]

Yeah there's so many dang variables

 

[Brian Walker]

Not sure what's going on there, but there is a VERY good reason to use a LIGHT and a DARK. It just works better, and those that have used them know the difference

And yes, the LIGHT formula is usable with a white under base if you so choose. Or, you can just CMYK the print, OR you can not under base black but all other colors. It gives a lot more options.

A lot of pretreatments will NOT allow you to print just CMYK unless you under base the CMYK with white. Others will not allow you to print WHITE at all if you want to under base.

 

[jmcgurren]

This image above is a print I was having some trouble with. I have seen this effect before and not sure if it is from too much pretreat or what. Look at the area around the Zebra. There is like a dark wet looking water mark all around it. I assume it has to do with migration of the black ink. Is this similar to your issue? Viewing on my phone so I can't see your photo well. This shirt was pretreated with IA dark.

 

[lkt1954]

Articulate- that looks close to the halo effect I think that our air fusion press was causing due to its pressure. Try 1 press @ 90 seconds/20psi and 1 press @ 45 seconds/20 psi and see if it goes away. Doing that cured our halo issue.

On a side not to the main topic of the post, this week I have done at least 6 light color LAT's (hot pink & yellow) treated with IA light, viper one on 3 turns and 2 passes and no bleed what so ever like my original post pictures. I went from approximately 18 grams to 24 and I think the problem is solved.

 

[jmcgurren]

It is happening at the printer not on the press.

 

[snowman6962]

What is the total length of time you are using with your fusion for prints with white ink? We have been doing to hits of 90 secs. Looking for others who have a Fusion for ideas. Thanks.

 

[lkt1954]

We have went to [email protected] 90 and [email protected] for any print with white underbase and it seems to be working just fine.

 

[Brian Walker]

Jeff

Try the LIGHT IA on the pink. Should resolve that.

 

[snowman6962]

We just started using IA. Have you printed any high Vis 50/50 with the IA? Curious what your amount of pretreat was for them. When we just tested; our shirt stained at 2 x 90 cure time. Which sheet have you found works best when setting the pretreat before printin; teflon or kraft paper?

 

[Brian Walker]

Have not tried the Hi-Vis.....

I like the KRAFT paper for setting the PT. Then I utilize the white parchment for curing the ink..... if you use the KRAFT paper I found that it dulls the white ink optical brightness down some making it not as bright.

 

[g.lupo]

Did you use same layouts for each print. If you add to much ink. You will get bleed if to much pretreat also.