Poll

How many times do you normally hit each color to get good coverage?

Process prints       1 time each color
Process prints       2 time each color
Process prints       (as many as needed), each job is different.
Standard printing  1 time each color
Standard printing  2 time each color
Standard printing  (as many as needed), each job is different.
« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: # of times you print the same color to get coverage?  (Read 2044 times)

Offline Dottonedan

  • Administrator
  • Ludicrous Speed Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5912
  • Email me at art@designsbydottone.com
# of times you print the same color to get coverage?
« on: June 27, 2011, 08:38:27 AM »
I've seen some people doing what is considered (unconventional printing) before...and more so on occasions. I wanted to see how the majority are printing process prints and regular on a manual or Auto. either way. How many times do you normally hit each color in process printing and also, how many times do you hit your regular printing or non process prints? 

You have two votes here. One for process and one for standard printing. Standard is anything outside of process.
I should say, (as a standard practice of printing in your shop),

Please do not be judgmental or slam anyone for doing less or more than you.
Just state your practice and why.
« Last Edit: June 27, 2011, 10:32:36 AM by Dottonedan »
Logged
Artist & high end separator, Owner of The Vinyl Hub, Owner of Dot-Tone-Designs, Past M&R Digital tech installer for I-Image machines. Over 35 yrs in the apparel industry. e-mail art@designsbydottone.com

Offline blue moon

  • Administrator
  • Ludicrous Speed Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6368
Re: # of times you print the same color to get coverage?
« Reply #1 on: June 27, 2011, 09:34:05 AM »
98% is one stroke.

About the only consistent exception is when we have to PMS match. The mixing system inks we use are pretty translucent and have to go on a white underbase or the color is off. In those cases we stroke the underbase twice to get it as close to white as possible.

The other times we stroke twice is if I made a mistake and used the wrong mesh or we did not have the right one and grabbed something finer. So we need to get more ink through . . .
Logged
Yes, we've won our share of awards, and yes, I've tested stuff and read the scientific papers, but ultimately take everything I say with more than just a grain of salt! So if you are looking for trouble, just do as I say or even better, do something I said years ago!

Offline ZooCity

  • Gonzo Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 4914
Re: # of times you print the same color to get coverage?
« Reply #2 on: June 27, 2011, 11:05:15 AM »
Quote
The other times we stroke twice is if I made a mistake and used the wrong mesh or we did not have the right one and grabbed something finer. So we need to get more ink through . . .

I'll second that.  If I can get away with a double hit or a dry stroke rather than going back to pre-press I'll do it. Printing manually I also "cheat" a lot and do things like a hard fill stroke with a soft flood over top then stroke to get just a bit more ink down or help the screen clear.  I doubt there's any way to double flood an auto unless you had a machine that could somehow adjust the squeegee/flood pressure and height during the print cycle. 

Lately, with proper selection of the s mesh and good pre-press and registration it's almost all single hit.
Logged

Offline RICK STEFANICK

  • Gonzo Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 1925
  • INDUSTRY CONSULTANT-OPERATIONS SPECIALIST
Re: # of times you print the same color to get coverage?
« Reply #3 on: August 27, 2011, 02:00:46 PM »
For us 100% of the time its 1 stroke with process and simulated process ( with the exception of the underbase on simulated which i will double sometimes just for smoothness and matting) as for regular designs i think pierre nailed it for us also..
Logged
Specializing in shop assessment's, flow and efficiency
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »