Ideas on how this was done?

[srabadan]

Went for some training at the CHT ink company and they had this, done with one of their products mixed with an adhesive. It looked pretty incredible in person.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/u4zjenqhftnq3j2/Unknown.png?dl=0

We will also need a casting like this to reproduce the technique.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/16dthvp94etu7gv/Unknown-4.jpeg?dl=0

My friend at the ink company gave me the print notes and the mixing instructions for the product but she was not there for the printing and does not know the mechanics of how its done. The only guidelines she had for us was that the art needs to be slightly bigger than the mould it is printing over.

That's where you guys come in...

Any ideas on how this would work on a press? Anybody ever seen it done before? I am thinking the casting is placed underneath the screen, the thermoplastic ink is printed directly on it, and both are sent through the dryer after printing.

[abchung]

High electricity press. The mold is pressed into the plastic or fake leather. High amp or voltage is then applied, I think the electricity melts the plastic just enough.

[tonypep]

Its high frequency welding (most likely) or done an emboss/debossing machine like Permaboss.

[Frog]

Its high frequency welding (most likely) or done an emboss/debossing machine like Permaboss.

To me it just looks like embossing like is done on paper stock a lot as well. Is that fabric? I've seen in on shirts and jeans.

[Ross_S]

Debossing.  Probably have aPermaboss press

[tonypep]

When he first started out Robert offered inline screenprinting with the emboss/deboss set up but he may have abandoned it. It was pretty rudimentary. Newer machines are more robust. Back then you could purchase the molds from him or they would hook you up so you could make your own. They were brittle and would need to be replaced and not cheap.

[srabadan]

Thanks as always for the quick and thorough replies. This site is such a great resource. The sample in the photo was done on cotton jersey.

Definitely looks like this will be a bit too costly for our guys in the states.

[Frog]

I've always wondered how debossing and embossing on fabric holds up to laundering