I have a 4 color print that one of the colors is a princess pink glitter( Plastisol) . Per the distributer I used a 40 mesh screen, Photo blue emulsion. When I am pulling the ink across the design ( open areas and 1/8 inch lines ) only part of the ink is dropping thru the mesh , the underbase white looks only peppered with glitter, tried a flash and repeat and little to no improvement. Added about 2 percent Reducer, ended with about 10 percent reducer with no real improvment. To me it looks like the glitter is just getting locked in the mesh . Any suggestion as to what could be happening ? Other colors in the design is Crystlina and they fall thru and the mesh with no issues .
Pink Glitter Ink
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very open design , the 1/8 inch lines are the tightest detail, it's the open part that the glitter is just not dropping.Supplier suggested that I may have a under exposed screen.So far all the tests I did says I was pretty close ( they felt that the Clear of the Emulsion might be getting hung in the screen when I washed out the design, paper towel across the back , no emulsion and the Emulsion does not feel slimy.Going to see if customer will consider a change to Crystlina.
Union princess Pink Glitter, have added between 2 and 10 percent cureable reducer ( started with 2 percent ended with 10 percent ) with little or no change thru a 40 mesh .It has a White underlay thru a 125 mesh.All things point to being correct but the glitter just will not drop( like I am used to with having printed silver and gold glitter) . I looked at the color chart( Union chart where they print on pellon material ) thru a loop and it is solid, not speckled like my print is doing.
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Next time, try a 25 mesh instead of 40. And go left to right (both directions, several times) instead of the normal push or pull stroke and that should get better coverage. Also, instead of a white under base, use pink under that glitter. The white under base is so noticeable under glitter. This may add another screen to your job...but we always explain that it yields the best quality on glitter jobs (especially when that glitter slowly begins to flake away after washing), and let the customer decide if they want the extra screen.
Best wishes!
www.icreatescreenprinting.com
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You do have to be careful, but it's just like pushing and pulling the squeegee on those tough registration jobs. It's a screen printing "no no" but we all do it from time to time to cover that white base. With correct pressure and angle, the back and forth won't mess with your print, but it does take some practice.
There is nothing worse than a white under base peeking out (IMO)...yuck!
Good luck!
www.icreatescreenprinting.com
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The highest I've ever printed glitter is on a 36 mesh. I usually go with a 24 mesh. I also concur with the above post, instead of a white underbase go with a color that matched your glitter. This helps to hide any imperfections in coverage and makes the print look better, longer when the glitter eventually begins to wear off.
You will not be able to hold much detail with it and you'll need another couple of screens to back it up with a complementary pink and possibly a white to back that up depending on what you are printing. We print a lot of glitter and it takes a lot of screens to do it right.
Thanks for all the advice,customer saw the Pink Glitter and fell in love , but the sample was exactly what I thought it was, color with Crystlina covering it all.I had never had this kinda issue with Glitter before but can understand how the 24 mesh would help having seen the glitter pile up on the screen. I just worked out screens for the ink instead of the glitter and printed off a sample for the customer to see( it looks just like the sample she supplied. I appreciate all the advice, I learned a valuable lesson, never let a customer see the ink supplier ink chart LOL...
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If you think the glitter is not getting throught screens because of a bad wash out or diazo filling the holes check with a different color ink threw the screen. If indeed thats the case , reclaim and re-burn the screen. wash out and make sure that you don't have water left in your screens , blot with news paper , use a compressor and blow it out or a vacuum. adding reducer will thin the glitter and make it more transparent if you add too much .
Picture always help diagnosing problems when posing here.
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