SILK SCREEN PRINTING

[AJLA]

Can anyone tell me ...


Does the appearance of an image printed silk screen method appear to be impregnated into cloth the like the subli shirts as opposed to a bit of plastic stuck onto the cloth/

Does Plastisol sit ontop with a plasticky feel too?

Or do they appear the same?

[Paul]

its sit on top. and it has funny feel too.

[AJLA]

They both sit on top?

[Paul]

I am not sure if i got you right...
silk printing is this same as screen printing. you can use plastisol and waterbased ink. both sit on top. but waterbased ink has less feel. is more smoth. but I dont know to much about it. I only used plastisol. great stuff btw

[AJLA]

I probably didn't explain it very well Paul. I often see t shirts which are printed but the print is almost in the material and you can't really feel it.
Some you can see and feel that sit ontop,

So I understand that the same equipment is used but a different type of ink to acheive this?

[John G]

It used to be called silk screen printing as the mesh used on the screens was made of silk - that was in the early stages and I have never used a silk screen - all either steel, nylon or polyester now.

Plastisol does sit on the top of the material - you can get additives to give it a soft feel etc. If the image is in the material I think its either woven, dye subbed or dyed.

Cheers John

[AJLA]

WOVEN

Do you dye your shirts John?

Which method appears to be more flat or soft?

And do these last longer than vinyl?

How long is a peice of string I know because it depends so much on how you wash etc I produced myself and staff vinyl printed tees more than 3 years ago and we are still wearing them (weather permitting in rainy Cornwall)

[John G]

Hi, I meant the ones you see in shops like Topshop etc with prints on, all over the top, are either dyed, woven or even dye subbed.

Plastisol printed tops in high st shops are making a come back but yes - the print does sit ontop of the fabric and can't be ironed.
I screen print all my tops as that's the business I'm in - screen printing. That is unless they are for hen nights or individually personalised - I use vinyl for these.

Being quite new to dye sub I haven't had the time to source or try any of the dye sub garments yet but will look into adding these to my promo range when I get the time. I use my Ricoh/press for mugs only at the moment.

Cheers John

[AJLA]

So dye ing is a process that you or I cloud do with different equipment?

[John G]

No - I don't know anything about dyeing and haven't got the equipment to do it - but I think thats the way they manufacture the T'shirts, dresses etc you see in high st shops. They are not poly but have the image impregnated so I think its some sort of dye process as you can iron over them without knacking the print.

Cheers john