Home with sick kids.. how about a question day

[jsheridan]

You could also get a quarter piece of plexi or some other plastic to act as a sandwich to keep it more "averaged" thickness of shirt.

If trying to read the shirt density with our meters that little needle point just won't cut it on knit fabric.  plastic would read right through and then you would know shirt is X and shirt + Ink is Y.  Do the math!

You have to account for off contact.. plexi is usually 1/8 thick and you can't send it down the dryer.

use transfer paper as you can send it down the dryer and take readings of dry ink. Wet ink is in a different state and requires the heat set to get accurate results as the plasticizer expands to adsorb the resins and pigments. This expansion can and does make a difference in readings.

[Inkworks]

My understanding was that EOM only effected deposit thickness in very close proximity to the emulsion edge. Great for fairly fine detail, but effectively null in large open area prints no?

[jsheridan]

My understanding was that EOM only effected deposit thickness in very close proximity to the emulsion edge. Great for fairly fine detail, but effectively null in large open area prints no?

Yes that's true with large open areas. We counter that with elevated screen tensions and 1/2 tone base plates.

[Screened Gear]

What is an easy thing every shop can do that does not cost anything and will in the long run make them more money?

[alan802]

What is an easy thing every shop can do that does not cost anything and will in the long run make them more money?

I know this is John's thread, but I got an answer for this one...knowledge.

[ebscreen]

What is an easy thing every shop can do that does not cost anything and will in the long run make them more money?

Stage.

[jsheridan]

What is an easy thing every shop can do that does not cost anything and will in the long run make them more money?

I know this is John's thread, but I got an answer for this one...knowledge.

Be a great leader of your people and show that you care about your business.

[Gilligan]

You could also get a quarter piece of plexi or some other plastic to act as a sandwich to keep it more "averaged" thickness of shirt.

If trying to read the shirt density with our meters that little needle point just won't cut it on knit fabric.  plastic would read right through and then you would know shirt is X and shirt + Ink is Y.  Do the math!

You have to account for off contact.. plexi is usually 1/8 thick and you can't send it down the dryer.

use transfer paper as you can send it down the dryer and take readings of dry ink. Wet ink is in a different state and requires the heat set to get accurate results as the plasticizer expands to adsorb the resins and pigments. This expansion can and does make a difference in readings.

John, you misunderstood me slash, I didn't explain myself well.

I meant send the shirt down the dryer, then you have the metal coin on the back side of the shirt and the plexi coin on the front side... shoot your meter through all of it to see how thick the shirt is and how thick the shirt + ink is.

If you don't sandwich the shirt then that pin that sticks out of the meter will bury into the shirt and to a lesser extent the ink giving you a false reading.  This sandwich SHOULD let you average out the shirt density/thickness as well as the print density/thickness.

This is obviously easier done with a nice big open area test print style design for the sake of checking these variables.  In the real world I'm not sure how effective it would be on many jobs other than large area spot color designs.

[Inkworks]

My understanding was that EOM only effected deposit thickness in very close proximity to the emulsion edge. Great for fairly fine detail, but effectively null in large open area prints no?

Yes that's true with large open areas. We counter that with elevated screen tensions and 1/2 tone base plates.

Without 1/2 tone, what do you think the maximum affected distance can be attributed to OEM?  I'm curious as to what one could reasonably expect as I was always under the impression that it wasn't much more than a few times the emulsion height.

I do realize that a more opaque outline afforded by the OEM gasket does generally fool the eye into thinking the center is opaque too.

[Sukittwice]

Hi guys, I am new to silk screening and am wondering what's the difference between ink and paint, because I here both being thrown around. Also when burning a screen do I put the film on the screen first then put emulsion on? And how do I go about burning it.i am working out of my garage so I am limited.

[PrintLife]

^^^You can call it either. I prefer to call it paint. I've been professionally screen painting for about 17 years now and often base down my plastisol inks with exterior house paints so ink, paint whatever floats your boat man. Feel free to ask me for any advice

[inkman996]

^^^You can call it either. I prefer to call it paint. I've been professionally screen painting for about 17 years now and often base down my plastisol inks with exterior house paints so ink, paint whatever floats your boat man. Feel free to ask me for any advice

17 years printing and you call it paint hmmmmmm........

Three amigos it seems a new attack is afoot wow.

[Nick Bane]

all the people ive heard refer to our ink as "paint" are people that have no clue about printing and have likely never set foot in another print shop before that time.

just my experience.

[Frog]

I think that the answer to the ink or paint question can be answered very simply by reading the label of the container.

[Frog]

Three amigos it seems a new attack is afoot wow.

"Attack" may be a little strong  for a seemingly silly answer to a painfully un-knowledgable question between two Sandy Eggians, but may indicate that the conspiracy nuts talking about something in the water supply down there may be on to something.

At least note that the exchange, quite appropriately, is not in the Screen Printing section.