Discharge Question

[screenxpress]

When printing plastisol on black garments, underbase is used to help with the opacity of the top colors. 

That underbase is always a halftone.

When doing discharge and using a clear discharge for an underbase, wouldn't that be a 100% color and not a halftone?   

[RICK STEFANICK]

Ok, We rarely use a halftone under base unless printing sim process or something with higher end seps. Why are you running a clear discharge base with discharge over the top? But for whatever your reasons it probably needs to be solid depending on your design..

[screenxpress]

Ok, We rarely use a halftone under base unless printing sim process or something with higher end seps. Why are you running a clear discharge base with discharge over the top? But for whatever your reasons it probably needs to be solid depending on your design..

What's going on is I recently obtained some clear discharge and some plasticharge.  I've been having some problems with a print using plastisol on cotton shirts.  The underbase screen that I made was an 85% halftone to help the opacity of the top (plastisol) which is not a sim process.  Solid colors on top. 

So in the back of my mind I was thinking of trying some of the discharge products but then suspected I would not want to use the existing underbase which was the halftone.  Hence this question post.

Not sure if this is the job to try experimenting on but wanted to verify that if I was going to try, I would have to print out another underbase film at 100% for the clear discharge base.

Then I would probably use plasticharge/plastisol for the top.

But what I think you're alluding to is......since this is NOT a sim process and IF I wanted to experiment, I would go straight to the plasticharge/plastisol only.

That sound about right?

[RICK STEFANICK]

Yes but I would do a 85/15 base white mix for your base instead of straight up base with NO water and maybe a little penetrant. You will probably have to flash in order to get a good full cure depending on your dryer.

[screenxpress]

Yes but I would do a 85/15 base white mix for your base instead of straight up base with NO water and maybe a little penetrant. You will probably have to flash in order to get a good full cure depending on your dryer.

Rick, I'm a little confused.  Here is what I was working with.  Basically two solid colors on black.  So for plastisol, I made an underbase of 85% exposure of all the image for white.  Then printed the two colors (blue and golden yellow) on top which were not halftones.

I was thinking to achieve the same results using discharge, I could skip a white halftone underbase and just mix plasticharge with the blue and plasticharge with the golden yellow and print wet on wet.  Blue and golden yellow are solid prints.  Yes/no?  Or is there more to the puzzle?

[RICK STEFANICK]

Yes but I would do a 85/15 base white mix for your base instead of straight up base with NO water and maybe a little penetrant. You will probably have to flash in order to get a good full cure depending on your dryer.

Rick, I'm a little confused.  Here is what I was working with.  Basically two solid colors on black.  So for plastisol, I made an underbase of 85% exposure of all the image for white.  Then printed the two colors (blue and golden yellow) on top which were not halftones.

I was thinking to achieve the same results using discharge, I could skip a white halftone underbase and just mix plasticharge with the blue and plasticharge with the golden yellow and print wet on wet.  Blue and golden yellow are solid prints.  Yes/no?  Or is there more to the puzzle?

no i was confused.. Yes, thats correct no base needed. plasticharge straight up.. print your blue first   sorry man

[Frog]

Yes but I would do a 85/15 base white mix for your base instead of straight up base with NO water and maybe a little penetrant. You will probably have to flash in order to get a good full cure depending on your dryer.

Rick, I'm a little confused.  Here is what I was working with.  Basically two solid colors on black.  So for plastisol, I made an underbase of 85% exposure of all the image for white.  Then printed the two colors (blue and golden yellow) on top which were not halftones.

I was thinking to achieve the same results using discharge, I could skip a white halftone underbase and just mix plasticharge with the blue and plasticharge with the golden yellow and print wet on wet.  Blue and golden yellow are solid prints.  Yes/no?  Or is there more to the puzzle?

With these particular inks especially, there is more to the puzzle.
There are some discussions here on Plasticharge hybrids from Wilflex and Union. May be in the ink section.
Understand that these hybrids and real discharge are not created equal!

Especially when shooting for a specific color, the hybrids are notorious for going in the pastel direction and require a lot of fiddling and experimentation..

[screenxpress]

Don't be sorry Rick.  I'm still in a trial and error mode and definitely appreciate you taking the time to respond.

Point taken Andy.  I have the ability to do either.  Well, ink wise that is.  I may just try the plasticharge but using plastisol with high pigments.  I have some Union Maxopake which is high, I believe.  Depending on those results, I also have Clear discharge base and a mix of waterbase inks. 

I know my weak point is the dryer.  Its an old Vastex Economax electric, but has a way deeper tunnel than the newer ones.  I'll slow the belt way down and it is exhausted to the outside.  This is more for testing the waters, so to speak.

[RICK STEFANICK]

The maxopake will really help your colors. remember on the reds and yellows i think the recomended activator is 3 percent with union plasticharge.

[screenxpress]

LOL, any idea what the pct is for Ryocharge?

[TORB]

Hi Screenxpress, you should try a solid discharge base and print plastisol on top, don't forget to use a 230 mesh or higher (for plastisol) to achieve a good hand. Depending on what your design is you could try to print the halftones with plastisol, you will be very surprised about the results .Good Luck and keep trying .

[RICK STEFANICK]

LOL, any idea what the pct is for Ryocharge?

No idea.. Probably 5 percent. 3-5 in the reds and yellows

[screenxpress]

Thanks everyone!