Clear Discharge Question

[Hey Monkey]

If I do a clear discharge on a shirt does it basically bleach out to white or just a more muted tone of the shirt color (which is what I am after). If I have red shirt and want the design to be a few shades lighter would doing clear discharge achieve that or should I pantone match and just mix the custom color and go from there?

[jvanick]

*following this...

I'm under the impression that clear discharge if fully activated will discharge to the original color of the fabric...

However, I wonder if you can 'partially' activate it to achieve this result?

-- this being said, clear discharge is a great way to catch 're-dyes'... dab just a touch inside the shirt in a inconspicious location, send through the dryer and see what the color is.

[Hey Monkey]

I guess a follow up question is this as well...

If the discharge agent says mix 4% to 6% which percentage make the discharged result brighter?

[Frog]

you might also get a similar effect on 50/50

[ebscreen]

Depending on the base it will go to a greige or full white (CCI), depending on the fabric of course.

You can vary activator amount to chase what you're after but consistency is nearly impossible, and it can be sad face time at the end of the dryer. We don't vary much from 5% here for just about anything.

Hate to say it, but this is one thing plastisol does well. Take some clear base, and a bit of white, and test. Much more consistent. We have several "clear tint" percentage mixes on the shelf. Same thing for going dark as well, just use black.

[IntegrityShirts]

Pantone matched discharge is the closest you'll get without doing plastisol. Red shirts are tricky and don't play predictably so you'll need to test.

[kingscreen]

If I do a clear discharge on a shirt does it basically bleach out to white or just a more muted tone of the shirt color (which is what I am after). If I have red shirt and want the design to be a few shades lighter would doing clear discharge achieve that or should I pantone match and just mix the custom color and go from there?

Try activating your DC base by only 1-2%.  That should give you the result you're looking for.

[Hey Monkey]

Thanks everyone! I'll will play around.

[mimosatexas]

I have done this with no activator and white mixed with clear base, usually only like 5% white is enough to get the right effect.  The unactivated discharge will still lighten a touch when cured and the white keeps it from going wonky if the shirt color is more brown than offwhite.

[tonypep]

If I do a clear discharge on a shirt does it basically bleach out to white or just a more muted tone of the shirt color (which is what I am after). If I have red shirt and want the design to be a few shades lighter would doing clear discharge achieve that or should I pantone match and just mix the custom color and go from there?

Try activating your DC base by only 1-2%.  That should give you the result you're looking for.

Wink

[IntegrityShirts]

Lowering the % activator works, BUT at such low percentages it's hard to control your results. Add in the hand of a manual printer and your results, shirt to shirt, might be a bit varied. But have fun testing either way and post up your results!