Pretreatment HELP!!!

4958 Views 27 Replies 7 Participants Last post by sunnydayz, Oct 23, 2008

jsmith1189

Discussion Starter · Sep 26, 2008

I am still learning and am pretty new the DTG world. I have the white shirts down. Thought that I was making head way on darks. I have had some success. But then I think I am doing the same steps and I get peeling and cracking. But know I feel like I am back at the beginning. I get my supplies from Colman & Company. I have a Kiosk. How do I know if I have too much pretreatment or too little, do I need to dilute the pretreatment, how much pressure when I press? Should the shirt be totally dry after the 10 - 15 sec of pressing? Do I need to let the pretreat soaking before I roll/brush it or do I roll/brush it right away. I am very frustrated and am tired of wasting money trying to get it right. Are the steps the same for t-shirts and sweatshirts?

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. I am ready to throw in the towel.

1 - 20 of 28 Posts

vinyl signs

· #2 · Sep 27, 2008

Too much pretreat the ink peals off when washed but the white really looks good.

Too little pretreat the white looks washed out/not bright!

Reactions: 1

jsmith1189

Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 27, 2008

Ok so too much pretreat will make it peel, and too little will make it fade? Do Ineed to dilute the pretreat?

I am pressing for 2:40 @ 345 with light pressure. Does that sound right?

martinwoods

· #4 · Sep 27, 2008

I am new to the pretreatment also but on my bottle it says 50% distilled water 50% pretreatment.
You can dry them or let them dry overnight.
There is a thread here about it and I will try to locate it and be right back

martinwoods

· #5 · Sep 27, 2008

http://www.t-shirtforums.com/direct-garment-dtg-inkjet-printing/t52278.html
This may help a little.

Sunny tells how she does it and it seems to work well.
Hope this helps

Reactions: 3

jsmith1189

Discussion Starter · #6 · Sep 27, 2008

I will try those step and let you know my results. Just to be sure this is the pretreat for the white ink. Right?

martinwoods

· #7 · Sep 27, 2008

jsmith1189 said:
I will try those step and let you know my results. Just to be sure this is the pretreat for the white ink. Right?

That is correct. let me know how it works out.

Reactions: 1

equipmentzone

· #8 · Sep 27, 2008

jsmith1189 said:
Ok so too much pretreat will make it peel, and too little will make it fade? Do Ineed to dilute the pretreat?

I am pressing for 2:40 @ 345 with light pressure. Does that sound right?

You should not dilute white pretreatment when using it for dark shirts. You should also make sure you are using the right cover sheets when heat pressing - uncoated parchment or butcher paper for pretreatment - silicone coated parchment paper for drying finished prints.

Harry

Reactions: 1

IGS-UK

· #9 · Sep 28, 2008

Hi,

I print between 200 & 500 dark shirts a week. The best pre treat is from Innovative Garment Solutions. No dilution is needed.

Best practise is pre press the shirt for 10 seconds @ 165c high pressure. Then pre treat, press with non silicone paper for 10 seconds very light pressure, normally just the weight of the heat platen. Remove paper and press 15 seconds high pressure. Works every time for me.

Hope this helpd.

Colin

Reactions: 1

jsmith1189

Discussion Starter · #10 · Sep 30, 2008

OK, I had much better results. I did several test area and washed twice with much better results no peeling. I do notice that I have some white poking through in red lettering. Is that do to too much pressure or to much heat. I have a knight clam press and am using very little pressure. Just the weight of the top plate resting on the shirt. There is not enough pressure for the press to release on it's own. For temp I am using 345 for 2:40. Tahnk for your help!!

jsmith1189

Discussion Starter · #11 · Sep 30, 2008

Do you know if that pretreatment can be used with the Bright Inks from Colman & Company?

IGS-UK

· #12 · Sep 30, 2008

Hi,

Glad its helped, I am not sure if it can be used with those inks. I use fast ink 3 & its available from the same people. If you want the contact details email me.

Colin

IGS-UK

· #13 · Sep 30, 2008

Forgot to ask, are you in the UK ?

vinyl signs

· #14 · Sep 30, 2008

Try hovering the heat press over the shirt with no protectant sheet for the first drying time (2.5 min @330 deg) then cover image and heat press ad usual!

Reactions: 1

martinwoods

· #15 · Sep 30, 2008

jsmith1189 said:
OK, I had much better results. I did several test area and washed twice with much better results no peeling. I do notice that I have some white poking through in red lettering. Is that do to too much pressure or to much heat. I have a knight clam press and am using very little pressure. Just the weight of the top plate resting on the shirt. There is not enough pressure for the press to release on it's own. For temp I am using 345 for 2:40. Tahnk for your help!!

Hi Julie
Which method worked best? did you dilute the pretreatment or no?
Thanks

jsmith1189

Discussion Starter · #16 · Sep 30, 2008

No the US. I found them on the Web Thanks

jsmith1189

Discussion Starter · #17 · Sep 30, 2008

I did both. I have some already diluted so I did it both ways. There was not that much of a difference. It was only diluted by about 30%.

jsmith1189

Discussion Starter · #18 · Sep 30, 2008

vinyl signs said:
Try hovering the heat press over the shirt with no protectant sheet for the first drying time (2.5 min @330 deg) then cover image and heat press ad usual!

Well I am still having the white show through my red ink after pressing. Also after a 3rd wash the red is coming off and the white is showing through even more. Why can I not get this!!!!! Not sure if it matters but I am doing a hoodie.

sunnydayz

· #19 · Oct 5, 2008

What is the content of the hoody? This can make a big difference.

sunnydayz

· #20 · Oct 5, 2008

What print resolution are you printing at and how many layers, this can also have a big impact on your results. I will try to help if you can give me the exact process you are using for pretreating, printing and curing as all three of these factors need to be right to get good results. Let me know these and I will try to help you get better results

1 - 20 of 28 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.