[Adampatrick]

Hi,
I was wondering if I could get some options.

The question is "Is off contact needed?"

I ask as ive been told that it is and that it isnt.

Originally I asked this question to a printing tutor, and they said they have never used off contact, when printing and they have never had any issues.

Ive since spoken to a couple of guys who print for a living and they both said that they never set up any form of off contact, and as long as you have a t shirt board your good to go.
One of them said it was an american thing....

Ive seen in a couple of books that there is no off contact, and a few that do have off contact.

So im none the wiser,
Any other options as to if it is needed or not in the printing of t shirt.

Thanks

 

[NoXid]

With thin inks like regular water base, many would say it is not needed. With thicker inks, like Plastisol and opaque water base, most would say it is needed.

 

[gardenhillemb]

As NoXid said, it depends on your ink. A thin ink (either waterbased or plastisol) will usually release ok with no off-contact. Thicker inks and whites will release better with some off-contact because it allows the screen to relax off the ink as you pull or push the squeegie as opposed to just pulling the screen straight off with no off-contact.

 

[PatWibble]

Printing tutors, if they are in a school or college, are likely to be using waterbased ink, mainly for health and safety reasons. The print technician at my local colege had never heared of off contact, mainly because she had never used anything other than college friendly inks.

As the others have said, off contact for plastisol (or any other thick ink that you are laying ontop of the fabric). Waterbased ink is much thinner andusing off contact will probably cause you problems due to too much ink going through the mesh.

 

[Adampatrick]

thank you for all the replies.
it has answered my question, I mainly use water based inks, so until I change to thicker inks, I will continue with no off contact.

once again thanks

 

[printsfordays]

Off contact will save you in many different printing situations.

 

[Ripcord]

I think for finer detail it results in a crisper print even with thinner inks because the screen only touches the shirt for an instant at the point of squeegee contact rather than the whole thing sticking there until you lift it off.

 

[Sulp]

Off Contact matters no matter what ink u are using. U want that screen to release the stencil as the squeegee passes over it. It becomes more important as the ink gets thicker and the shirt gets thicker. If ur printing t-shirts with no off contact and then switch to hoodies without adjusting off contact u will have problems. Inks won’t clear properly, coverage uneven, rough prints, etc. Just use it. I don’t understand why u wouldn’t. a lot of printers don’t use it because they don’t understand it or they are afraid of it. The concept is very simple and all machines have off contact adjustments for a reason.