first time printing on dri fit

[Mark @ Hurricane Printing]

any tips for a first timer printing on dri-fit shirts?

half the shirts are blue...the other half black....the colors going on them are white and metallic gold...and black.

I attached pics of the "blocker" inks I have

I was going to do an underbase of the grey blocker then the white blocker on top of that and also use that as white in the shirt....then the black and metallic gold on top of the white.

i literally have no idea how to approach it...do i put them under the flash before i print anything?...can they melt?..do i cure them to temp the same as i would regular plastisol?

again..first time doing it and not even sure if i need to use both blockers.

[Colin]

What's the brand of dry fit shirt?  Style number etc?

[cbjamel]

OK on the dont underbase the top score. Pf on white as under base then other on top and hit the highlight white top score. They will pop. In my opinion, I do print alot of sanmar, UA, and nike dry fit. I you dont want to highlight white then do they grey.
Shane

[screenxpress]

Last year I printed on Grey Sport Tek Dri-fit shirts and this past weekend on Safety Green Glidan Dri-Fits

Colors used were QCM XOLB-911 Black and QCM WOW-4101 Star Red.

Don't know if that helps but I just printed with normal curing temps and had no problems.


Update-I just reread the original post and my experiences probably don't fit the colors you're needing to work with.

[Mark @ Hurricane Printing]

What's the brand of dry fit shirt?  Style number etc?

here are some pics of the tags..i did not purchase/order the shirts.

[Mark @ Hurricane Printing]

another pic

[Mark @ Hurricane Printing]

OK on the dont underbase the top score. Pf on white as under base then other on top and hit the highlight white top score. They will pop. In my opinion, I do print alot of sanmar, UA, and nike dry fit. I you dont want to highlight white then do they grey.
Shane

so you are saying do not use the grey blocker?..just use the poly white as the underbase?

[jvanick]

we print poly every day here...

Wilflex Performance Series white (use it both for underbase and top white)... if doing colors, we mix our own with their PC system.  Inks cure at 290 degrees... we have a gas dryer.. temps at 295, belt speed about 10fpm in a 10' chamber. 

Never have a problem with curing or anything.

for digital camo, we now do Matsui waterbase 301-CL (HSA inks)... underbase blocker black 2 hits, flash, then white, flash then whatever else is needed... cures at 230 with Fixer-N!.  No dye migration whatsoever, and the ink is reusable.

[Mark @ Hurricane Printing]

we print poly every day here...

Wilflex Performance Series white (use it both for underbase and top white)... if doing colors, we mix our own with their PC system.  Inks cure at 290 degrees... we have a gas dryer.. temps at 295, belt speed about 10fpm in a 10' chamber. 

Never have a problem with curing or anything.

for digital camo, we now do Matsui waterbase 301-CL (HSA inks)... underbase blocker black 2 hits, flash, then white, flash then whatever else is needed... cures at 230 with Fixer-N!.  No dye migration whatsoever, and the ink is reusable.

is the poly white in my original post good to stop the dye migration?..I have never used it by itself....i've only used the ink once when doing camo with florescent orange....for that job i used the grey blocker...then poly white on top of that then laid the florescent orange.....and it took 4 hits of the orange to make it pop...it was my first AND last time using all three inks and camo.

[jvanick]

The top score white will definitely prevent dye migration...

HOWEVER... it won't stop dye migration if you get the garment too hot (over 320), and if you're trying to cure colors on top of the top score, you'd have to be dead-on accurate to get the top color at 320+, and the top score to not exceed 300 at the garment.

if you're using the top score by itself.. yes, cure at 300 and you should be just fine.

If you decide to try to use top score colors, realize that it's not a wet-on-wet capable ink, so you need to flash in between.  If I recall correctly, Top Score was created for athletic names and numbers, not general printing.  That being said, it prints and looks great.

[BKerfes]

here is the Tech Data Sheet for the Top Score ink you are using. i Hope this helps!
Printing Tips
 For optimal bleed resistance, print Epic PolyWhite or Top Score White as underbase. Set the dryer belt at the
highest possible speed while still ensuring that the ink film reaches 300°F (150°C). For optimal stretch, print
Epic Performance White as underbase. Set the dryer belt at the highest possible speed while still ensuring
that the ink film reaches 290°F (145°C).

[Mark @ Hurricane Printing]

should i use some stretch additive mixed in with the top score poly?

[Orion]

Bullet from Wilflex Top Score PIB:

Low cure properties. Delivers high stretch and bleed resistance in one package

[Printficient]

Xenon Mustang would work.

[brandhouseink]

Top Score works best for us on Dri-fits. Use as underbase and highlight white... Cure at lowest temp possible. Colors should pop and hold up to many washes..