Author Topic: Your go to emulsion for halftone work  (Read 9181 times)

Offline Rockers

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Your go to emulsion for halftone work
« on: October 15, 2013, 07:39:46 PM »
Which one is it, what are you using for all your halftone needs? I was hoping there is a good one from Murakami.


Offline Printficient

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Re: Your go to emulsion for halftone work
« Reply #1 on: October 15, 2013, 10:36:52 PM »
There is a phenomenal one from Xenon.  Nova.  Designed as a high detail emulsion.  I have not seen one better.
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Offline Rockers

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Re: Your go to emulsion for halftone work
« Reply #2 on: October 16, 2013, 12:18:12 AM »
I think we will give the Murakami SP-9500 a try. Easy to get. Would  love to try the Xenon but I doubt you have a distributer here in Japan. But feel free to send me some samples. We generally order a lot from the States but this time we a short on time. But yeah samples are welcome.

Offline JBLUE

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Re: Your go to emulsion for halftone work
« Reply #3 on: October 16, 2013, 02:18:35 AM »
Photo Cure Pro is much better than the SP 9500. 9500 is a little tougher to get out the low percentage dots where Photo Cure Pro washes right out. That has been our experience with the two.
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Offline Prosperi-Tees

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Re: Your go to emulsion for halftone work
« Reply #4 on: October 16, 2013, 02:22:27 AM »
Photo Cure Pro is much better than the SP 9500. 9500 is a little tougher to get out the low percentage dots where Photo Cure Pro washes right out. That has been our experience with the two.
How's it hold up to discharge?

Offline Rockers

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Re: Your go to emulsion for halftone work
« Reply #5 on: October 16, 2013, 02:29:43 AM »
Photo Cure Pro is much better than the SP 9500. 9500 is a little tougher to get out the low percentage dots where Photo Cure Pro washes right out. That has been our experience with the two.
The Photocure is not available in Japan, that`s one of their products made specifically for the US market. Same for the SP-7500 which I originally wanted to order.

Offline Colin

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Re: Your go to emulsion for halftone work
« Reply #6 on: October 16, 2013, 08:06:34 AM »
I loved the photocure pro, especially on week light sources.  I used it for years. 

Right now I am using Polycol S from Kiwo, which is a single part emulsion.  It has realllly nice resolution capabilities, but only 38% solids.  Which is great for high mesh counts, but takes and extra coat for low mesh.

I think a great question to ask is - What's available in Japan right now?
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Offline ericheartsu

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Re: Your go to emulsion for halftone work
« Reply #7 on: October 16, 2013, 09:27:23 AM »
I really like the nova. Not a huge fan of the price. but the zero issues with detail, or breakdowns on discharge make it worth it.
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Offline alan802

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Re: Your go to emulsion for halftone work
« Reply #8 on: October 16, 2013, 10:06:28 AM »
We don't try to hold 3% 65 line halftones so HVP as a pure photopolymer and a strong light source has worked well for us.  If we added the diazo I know we could do even better with the detail but we get enough out of the HVP straight out of the bucket.  We've used the Polycol S that Colin mentioned and it will hold some very fine detail, but since moving to higher solids pure photopolymer we've given up some of that detail capability for faster exposure times. 
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Offline Parker 1

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Re: Your go to emulsion for halftone work
« Reply #9 on: October 16, 2013, 11:04:21 AM »
CCI WR-14

Offline tonypep

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Re: Your go to emulsion for halftone work
« Reply #10 on: October 16, 2013, 12:11:20 PM »
Switching to this. Should be able to xpose @60 sec/units

Offline ZooCity

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Re: Your go to emulsion for halftone work
« Reply #11 on: October 16, 2013, 02:57:08 PM »
Aquasol HV all around.  Holds more than enough detail for us although the dual cures can definitely take it over the top if that's what's needed.  Ulano's Proclaim and Kiwo's Polycol Z always impressed me, I'm sure each emlusion mfg has a great dual cure for high detail. 

I don't see a need for the crazy fine detail for printing on most fabric, there's a point of diminishing returns.  Flatstock and transfer printing is a whole different situation however.   Where it gets interesting, in my opinion, on fabric is that other emulsion characteristics come into play aside from ability to hold detail.  The Polycol Z I mentioned has an insane RZ value and sharp/hard squeegee blades will glide over it like butter on a hot griddle.  Factors like this make the difference sometimes.  If the stencil holds it but you can't consistently get it down on the substrate...well what's the point? 

Offline Parker 1

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Re: Your go to emulsion for halftone work
« Reply #12 on: October 16, 2013, 04:16:33 PM »
Switching to this. Should be able to xpose @60 sec/units

WR-25 exposed @ 112LU  (Later found that it should have been around 160)
WR-14              @ 56 LU

Offline dirkdiggler

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Re: Your go to emulsion for halftone work
« Reply #13 on: October 16, 2013, 06:54:59 PM »
Switching to this. Should be able to xpose @60 sec/units

WR-25 exposed @ 112LU  (Later found that it should have been around 160)
WR-14              @ 56 LU

on my msp 3140 it still exposes slow.  180ltu
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Offline JBLUE

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Re: Your go to emulsion for halftone work
« Reply #14 on: October 16, 2013, 07:31:16 PM »
Photo Cure Pro is much better than the SP 9500. 9500 is a little tougher to get out the low percentage dots where Photo Cure Pro washes right out. That has been our experience with the two.
How's it hold up to discharge?

Not very well. It is not meant for that.

Right I am testing Kiwo one coat. Been through about 4 gallons. I like how it is working so far. Great detail and exposes super fast even with Diazon on our 3140.
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