Screen Printers Wish List

[ebscreen]

No, not asking for a Challenger 3 in your stocking.

There's a bunch of stuff that doesn't exist that I wish did. Some of it may even be feasible,
so I thought I'd start this list and see, A, if anyone else is interested in the same thing, and B, if
maybe we can cajole some of the manufacturers into making them.


First and foremost is a non-water-soluble blockout that can be reclaimed like emulsion. Obviously
for printing with WB/DC inks. Right now we use emulsion, but that requires long drying times, exposure,
and in some cases, hardening. You can't tape the bottom of discharge screens (well you can, if you like disaster)
so something to block out reg marks and (god forbid!) pinholes would be nice.


Next, kind of figures in with the first item, is if FilmMaker could print the registration color (for reg marks) in
Cyan or Yellow or something. We need the reg marks to line up the film on the FPU, but typically don't need them
when printing. Right now we cut them off, rendering the film useless for further use. Having reg marks in a color
that won't develop on screen would be awesome.

That's all I've got for now, though there's man more. Feel free to add your own.

[sweetts]

I thought I saw block out pens or you could use nail polish which come in a pencil like applicator
For the registration marks why not change your registration color in your program ?


Roger
RT screen designs
Www.rtscreendesigns. Com

[Screened Gear]

Ok I will add one.

A database of bad customers. Guys that don't pay, that are pain in the ass, one that quote all the time but never order, ones that after the job is printed complain about anything and everything to try to get a discount. It would be a industry website that all screen printers could post to.

I have about five I could add to the list right now.

[Parker 1]

Kiwo Blockout WR

Been using it for a few months and works very well.  Ran 1,000+ with no problem.

[ebscreen]

I thought I saw block out pens or you could use nail polish which come in a pencil like applicator
For the registration marks why not change your registration color in your program ?

Nail polish doesn't breathe, and eventually does what tape does. (discharge seeps around it, making odd
discharge marks and ruining garments)

The printed color of the reg mark would have to be different, not in the art itself. RIPs treat everything as black.

Ok I will add one.

A database of bad customers. Guys that don't pay, that are pain in the ass, one that quote all the time but never order, ones that after the job is printed complain about anything and everything to try to get a discount. It would be a industry website that all screen printers could post to.

I have about five I could add to the list right now.

Dude no foolin'. We're pretty lucky with not having the after the fact guys, but we do have a few effing weirdos that request 17 quotes once a month or so,
never ordered anything. One guy calls just about every week, and after getting his estimate says "this is great, I'll call back later today to place the order!" and never has. This industry attracts some strange ones.

Kiwo Blockout WR

Been using it for a few months and works very well.  Ran 1,000+ with no problem.

Thanks! I though I remembered someone mentioning one, I'll have to see if I can get it in.

[Gilligan]

Is it just the cheap nail polish I'm using but ours doesn't like to let go when reclaiming.

[Mark @ Hurricane Printing]

mine would be more business.....I got tumble weeds going on over here.

[ZooCity]

Both great ideas.

That Kiwo blockout sounds great.  You could eliminate post expo potentially.

We do buy the blue blockout pens and they work fine for WB. 

I too would jump at a chance to print reg marks in another, non resolving color, we use them to pin up but have not used them on press in a very long time.

[Frog]

Is it just the cheap nail polish I'm using but ours doesn't like to let go when reclaiming.

Mine has always blasted right out, especially from the squeegee side (since it doesn't penetrate through much).

[TCT]

Next, kind of figures in with the first item, is if FilmMaker could print the registration color (for reg marks) in
Cyan or Yellow or something. We need the reg marks to line up the film on the FPU, but typically don't need them
when printing. Right now we cut them off, rendering the film useless for further use. Having reg marks in a color
that won't develop on screen would be awesome.

I have thought about this for a while, but we just changed our printer over to all black. If there was a easy way to do this though I would change a channel back. But I was thinking a Yellow may be hard to see on our PRU and if I'm not mistaken we had Cyan print on a film and it developed mildly. Either way if someone could figure this out and add it to the RIPs that would be a real nice selling point. We usually print details about the film/job on the film also, so this is another thing we end up blocking out.

[TCT]

Is it just the cheap nail polish I'm using but ours doesn't like to let go when reclaiming.

Mine has always blasted right out, especially from the squeegee side (since it doesn't penetrate through much).

Ditto Frog. Sometimes we need to adjust the nozzle to the fine point though, but from the squeegee side for sure! 

[alan802]

I'd like a floodbar or even better a squeegee type blade for our fill stroke/flood stroke that when there is no longer ink in the well it will make some sort of a sound so the operator can hear that he's running low on ink.  Once every few weeks one of my guys will come to my desk with a shirt that was pulled from the press that is missing ink in the middle of the print area. 

Would you guys believe me if I told you this happened with a one color black ink on red shirts, ON THE MANUAL PRESS the other day?  How in the hell does that happen?  Out of all the dumbest things I've ever seen that takes the cake.  He flooded, didn't notice, printed, didn't notice, lifted the screen and apparently didn't look at the print and didn't notice, then pulled the shirt!!!  I'm still amazed by that one. #DUMB

[ebscreen]

Yeah, manually that's pretty bad Alan. Though to be honest, I've printed pallets manually.

I'd say %90 of our mis-prints are running out of ink. I've often considered security cams for each head.
Tony posted one of those giant reflective globes awhile back...

[mimosatexas]

Dude no foolin'. We're pretty lucky with not having the after the fact guys, but we do have a few effing weirdos that request 17 quotes once a month or so,
never ordered anything. One guy calls just about every week, and after getting his estimate says "this is great, I'll call back later today to place the order!" and never has. This industry attracts some strange ones.

This is likely another shop or a print broker who doesnt want to do the pricing work themselves.  I would tell them to freak off for wasting your time. 

We had one of these bug us about quotes and ask all kinds of detailed info about inks and methods etc.  On the fourth time without getting any business I explained we weren't in the business of quoting, we were in the business of printing, and we would not talk to them again until they placed an order.  Never heard from them again and could care less.

[ebscreen]

First assumption was that he was from another shop, but he's actually sent art, it's his designs.
A startup clothing line.


In that vein, I would warn anyone to stay away from any charity based in Northern California.
Particularly any involving, get this, helping sea creatures.
Pretty sure the worlds a$$hole factory is located in Marin county.