screen printing > Separations
Choosing LPI For Output
drdot:
@Orion,
It's a tradeoff between detail and dot gain. I've got all sorts of graphs that show the optimium possible. It comes down to how calibrated (level and parallel in the same plane) your press is, how sharp your squeegees are and how careful you are. The single biggest player is the ink. With the right thixotropic profile, you can do amazing things. Here is a really cool trick. Add 2% - 5% high density base to you colors and you will dramatically improve (reduce) the dot gain in the midtones and significantly open up the shadow detail. This allows you to use a finer line count to capture more detail and still maintain full tone range.
bimmridder:
High density base? Not high density clear? Same thing or different?
tonypep:
Mark...... I'm pleased you mentioned blade sharpness. Quite often one of the most overlooked interdependant variables. I know of many flatbed printers that dispose of the squeegee material when finished with the run and simply replace it just for the secure knowledge that it is a stable variable. Correct me if I'm wrong; I know of no tool to measure this.
On a quick sidebar often when printing straight process on white we often create a "wet white" (non flashed)underbase that helps to control staurated hues as well as soft pastel shades. Also improves fibrillation. Sort of goes against the rules and some may call it a bandaid but I have to say it works quite well.
Best tp
Orion:
On the high density base, I believe Mark is talking about an additive. I have some made by Wilflex.
http://www.polyone.com/en-us/about/businessgroups/Inks/Literature/Wilflex%20High%20Density%20Additive.pdf
Colin:
Mark is making an excellent point about how the "body" (the rheological properties, how much it flows/pours vs. keeping it's physical shape) of your ink has a large impact on how the dots hold their shape when deposited on the substrate. Be it the garment itself or a white base plate.
It is VERY important that the ink be just ridgid enough to maintain it's dot shape both during the initial ink deposit (will not flow out under the edge of the stencil) and when it is "steped on" during the wet-on-wet process.
Some ink lines will need an additive to acheive this "controlled ridgity" while others already exhibit these properties.
Loving the discussions here by the way! I've really missed this level of interaction...
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