Screen printing On 100% Polyester


Screen printing (also known as silk screening) is a printing technique that uses stencils and ink to create designs on fabric. Although it requires significantly more set-up time than digital printing or heat transfer, screen printing is the most economical method for producing large quantities. Commonly used on cotton or cotton blend apparel, screen printing can be done on 100% polyester using special inks and additives.
SCREEN PRINTING PROCESS |
Screen printing on 100% polyester presents two unique challenges. The first is dye migration – ink discoloration that occurs when exposure to high temperatures causes dye to “migrate” from the garment into the screen print ink. To prevent this problem, use highly opaque ink or print a base layer of a barrier material, and cure at the lowest recommended temperature. The second challenge is shrinkage. To avoid this, careful handling is essential when applying heat to polyester fabric, which can shrink or burn at high temperatures. |
Work with your ink supplier to select the correct ink for your project – usually a one-step nylon ink or an opaque plastisol ink with a nylon hardener. (The hardener will shorten the life of the ink, however, so prepare only as much ink as you will use in an hour of production.)