Discharge underbasing of SimProcess jobs

[Rockers]

We started to get a lot more SimProcess jobs recently and have been considering now instead of using a white plastiosl under base to use discharge clear and then print the top colors using the fashion soft base from Wilflex. So as for the underbase would we just straight swap the white ink for discharge clear or would have to do some alterations to the underbase itself first?

[Dottonedan]

My guess is that the clear (is not going to represent white) when discharged. It's going to be a more egg shell, off white, natural color.


It's great to use for having the colors print directly to natural shirt color, and leaves a great hand, but if ever needing white in the art, I suggest then, a top white highlight or adding white pigment to the discharge underbase. It will be a softer hand but depending on how well the mix is and lay down. Thats where I'm seeing people having various results.

[Doug S]

I mostly add 10 to 15 percent white pigment to the clear base in addition to printing a highlight plastisol white. 

[ScreenPrinter123]

Is the cracking issue notorious for printing on to dc white noticeable right out of the dryer or not until after washed?  Have a sim process job that I want to try a dc base and have been told in the past just to use base straight - but I know some of you are adding 10-20% white to the base -  just scares me with the cracking issue but I imagine you're getting more vibrant top prints. So would u feel comfortable adding 10-15% white to base on a 6k piece job? :-) How confident are you? :-)

[Doug S]

Is the cracking issue notorious for printing on to dc white noticeable right out of the dryer or not until after washed?  Have a sim process job that I want to try a dc base and have been told in the past just to use base straight - but I know some of you are adding 10-20% white to the base -  just scares me with the cracking issue but I imagine you're getting more vibrant top prints. So would u feel comfortable adding 10-15% white to base on a 6k piece job? :-) How confident are you? :-)

I've never had any problem as long as there is no more than 10 to 15% white is added to the clear.  I've wash tested several of the prints I've ran and haven't noticed any cracking. I don't know about a 6k piece run but I've printed several 300 to 600 piece runs and haven't had any problems. 

[Parker 1]

I have run every thing from 100% base to 50/50 Base to DC_White with no cracking or washing issues.  Useing CCI products.  Addng the white Helps with problem colors and 50/50 shirts.

[ABuffington]

Yes a discharge base with white pigment creates a softer hand.  There may be a slight color shift if you leave the discharge clear and go with the greige goods color of the fabric.  Not all shirt colors will discharge to the same color and all colors have a different discharge rating.  Gildan does a good job of rating how well their shirts discharge.  For example a turquoise or royal fabric does not discharge well at all compared to a 100% cotton black.  So if there are multiple fabric colors in the order I would stick with plastisol base through a Murakami 150S, 180S, or 225S depending on tonal needs and halftone line count.  The other area is ink wicking of waterbase discharge. Too much squeegee pressure can cause unwanted dot gain.  I choke the base slightly, or use image contrast or level adjustments to allow more ink to be printed.  It is better to use softer squeegees or a little more angle or to slow down print speed or on contact printing to achieve a brighter base plate.  Adding squeegee pressure increases the mechanical abrasion action of the squeegee and speeds up any potential breakdown of the emulsion.

Alan
abuffington@murakamiscreen.com