Glow in the dark ink on a black underbase

[Sbrem]

Yes, a black underbase. I had a request for this in an email this morning. They want a black ink on black shirt print with a glow in the dark on top of that. Theoretically, I could see it working somewhat, but maybe not all that spectacular. Any thoughts, particularly from those of you with a lot of special effects inks experience? Of course, there is testing...

Steve

[Fresh Baked Printing]

I suppose they'll get some effect but I think the results will be very underwhelimg.
At least use a coarser mesh to lay down as much glow ink as possible.

[Evo]

If I may...

I worked at a shop that printed tens of thousands of glow in the dark prints per year. It was their "thing". (lots of kids shirts for museum shops,  space centers, etc)


Some tips:

Use as coarse a mesh as will still allow you to hold the detail. Don't worry is very fine details get pinched or lost, as most glow prints don't show much detail in the dark anyway.

If you are printing on top of black, consider starting with a RFU glow ink and adding even more phospho pigment powder to give it more punch. Add 3-5% additional pigment at a time and test the results. Mix with a drill whip and thin/reduce as required.

Thick stencils are your friend.

To that end, thick ink deposits require full cure. Make sure you test for wash-fastness. Glow ink can be touchy in this regard.

If you want to knock the customers socks off, toss the finished print in the exposure unit for a minute and then show them the result in a totally dark room.

[mk162]

excellent tips.  We've done a little bit of glow ink, i am not a huge fan of it...the effects are cool though

[Sbrem]

Thanks Evo, just what I was looking for. I've printed a fair amount before, just not on a black underbase. My thought was that since the GID is in the ink, that it would work somewhat no matter what it was on top of...

Steve

[Evo]

Thanks Evo, just what I was looking for. I've printed a fair amount before, just not on a black underbase. My thought was that since the GID is in the ink, that it would work somewhat no matter what it was on top of...

Steve

Your most welcome.


We used to make a "glow white" for certain designs. We were limited to a 6 color auto, so we'd make a white underbase WITH glow pigment in it.   

Typically one full pound of pigment per gallon of low-bleed white. Typical uses would be stars, space, planets, etc.

[Artelf2xs]

We used to do a large quantity of Black shirts with glow in the dark for a local High school that would black out the Hockey stadium and hit it with Black lights, Printing the ultras translucent Glow in the dark on the black shirt directly was not that great. You could barley see it till the black lights hit it. Which is what they wanted because we suggested a white base and they said no.
Turns out printing a clear or even Black base for it to sit on made it way more powerful under the lights.

[ebscreen]

Union even recommends a white base on white/light shirts.