What kind of ink do you think this is?

[Gilligan]

This is a shirt someone else printed.  It's too good to be from a shop around here.  I'm thinking this is a transfer.

Couple of reasons, it's super opaque and pretty well printed.  The numbers on the other side also have a very sharp edge to them.  If you run you finger on the edge of the print you can feel the edge as like it could almost be peeled off if you could get under it enough (but you can't).  Also there is no mesh imprint on the top, just the shirt pattern coming through.

I do see a small amount of "ghosting" or squishing from the under side of the print... maybe registration, maybe ink squishing out.

Trick is, now I've got to print some more of these for them.  It's on 100% poly (royal blue).  The ink is orange (might get lost in the color shift of the cell camera).  We print pretty well here, but I'm not sure I can pull off something this nice on 100% poly.

What do you guys say?  At least what ink do you think they are using to get such a print without an under base?

[Binkspot]

Try the Wilflex Top Score. We have been running the crap out of Adidas soccer stuff lately using the orange and blue with excellent results.

[3Deep]

Could have been printed with a low mesh count with a soft squeege giving it that nice thick feel

Darryl

[blue moon]

looks like a poly ink through a thick mesh. . .

pierre

[Inkworks]

I'd agree, too much bleed on the fabric weave to be a transfer. Low mesh, good stencil, PFP.

[ZooCity]

Wilflex Top score or performance, (or any full bodied poly ink) low/open mesh, thickest stencil possible. I haven't had great results with these inks (or most wfx for that matter) pfp and tend to under base.  Certainly depends in the fabric though, some poly holds a great print.

[Gilligan]

What bleed are you seeing?  It might just be camera artifacts, but there is no bleed in the actual print.

On a side note, how do you under base with Poly ink?  We tried and it "bubbled" too much to make a good base.  It was passable but funky to us.

[mk162]

yup, direct print, transfers are smooth as glass in most cases.  there is a little bit of fibrillation in those pics too.

any good poly ink should work fine. 

[244]

Looks like a silicone ink print.

[mk162]

i think silicone has a more matte finish.  it's hard to tell without touching it...silicone feels "funny" to the touch.

[CastleKing]

Most likely a vinyl transfer. You can buy the vinyl from someone like Stall's and cut your own graphics and numbers.

[inkman996]

Most likely a vinyl transfer. You can buy the vinyl from someone like Stall's and cut your own graphics and numbers.

Not with halftones.

That is definitely a direct print heavy stencil as been said.

As much as it sucks dealing with the heat issue with poly garments it is tho such a nice material to print on, unlike cotton ink sits so nicely on top with crisp edges.

[blue moon]

i think silicone has a more matte finish.  it's hard to tell without touching it...silicone feels "funny" to the touch.

it does not look like the Nazdar silicone, it is too shiny.

pretty sure it's poly or athletic ink.

pierre

[Gilligan]

Maybe that's the trick.  Poly/athletic ink and since it's a poly substrate it printed well for them.

I don't know the shop directly that printed it but this town is full of printers that just get by. 1:1 sharp edge and wooden or aluminum statics... Only one other shop in town has newmans according to my supplier and they are huge (for our town).

No way it's silicone, I'm sure I'll be the first in town printing silicone. Also it's not stretchy at all.
Also not cad cut, that is actually what we are going to do.  I didn't realize that was what was already sold to the guy and my guy was just showing me the print in general.  We will be dropping the halftones, they are extremely subtle and don't really add to the design. Plus there are different numbers on the back and that's our only way to do numbers right now.

[Rob Coleman]

I think it is just a glossy athletic plastisol.  Union PATH is pretty glossy.  Wilflex Top Score is very matte, which is rally what many brands and consumers desire.  I do not think it is silicone either.


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