INK TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE
ISSUE POSSIBLE CAUSES POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
• Use ink formulated for wet on wet printing.
• Use sharper squeegee
Colors merging or blurring
together Ink buildup on bottom of screens excessive
• Minimize print strokes
• Hold squeegee at a higher angle
• Wipe back of screens as needed to reduce buildup
• Check the off contact on the press. Should have a distance between garment
and back of screen of 1/8’’-1/4’’
Ink selection incorrect
• Use high opacity inks on dark garments
• Use low bleed ink on dark polyester garments
Ink deposit has poor opacity
or looks washed out
• Use low bleed ink on dark polyester garments
Garment dye color bleeding into ink
• Cure ink longer at lower temperature
(dye migration)
• Use a barrier base grey or clear to “seal” the garment
• Use 100% cotton garments when ever possible
Ghost image in print Mesh reclained incorrrectly • Redo stencil and try using a haze/ghost remover
Screen tension insufficient • Use properly tensioned screens
Squeegee angle too low at end of print stroke • Use higher squeegee angle at end of print stroke
Print is blurred at the top
Excessive ink in screen well or when doing
• Reduce the amount of ink in the screen to avoid flow back onto image
of design only
the flood stroke
Off contact uneven • Check the level of the pallets to back of screen making sure it is even.
Flood stroke too short • Extend length of flood stroke to go past image
Screen tension insufficient • Use properly tensioned screens
Mesh too course for image detail • Use finer mesh count for detailed images
Print losing detail/sharpness
• Increase number of emulsion coats for a thicker stencil on print side of screen
Stencil to thin
and use the round edge of the coater.
Squeegee edge to dull • Sharpen or replace the worn squeegees blades.
• Use screens that are tensioned to proper levels and all screens in set up are
Screen tension insufficient
around same tension.
• Level pallets to same height in relation to one another
Multicolor image difficult
to register
Off contact uneven
• Adjust off contact to be consistent
• Check for warped pallets
Artwork films are not registered properly • Remake films to register properly
GUIDE SHOOTING TROUBLE INK 54 TOLL FREE 800-968-7550 Prices listed in this catalog are subject to change with out notice.
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