Black Ink on Black Garments?

[CBCB]

What's your favourite ink / process for black ink on black garments? What combo gives a sharp look with contrast, but without being too subtle?

Had a client note recently that their prints were more subtle than they anticipated. We used Wiflex Epic Matte Black, through a higher mesh.

Obvious answer seems to be dropping the mesh count and putting more ink down but I want to keep the print feeling soft. What about a glossier ink, maybe a Print flash Print through a higher mesh?

[ericheartsu]

We've run into this issue before.

Best bet is to use a clear ink! some folks like cureable reducer, but we've just always used a tinted clear.

[johnny]

you could also try adding a little bit of puff additive to help it stand out a bit more

[Frog]

Just running a soft base or tinted base will also give the soft hand you want.
If I were you, I'd make a test strip of matte black, glossier black, base and tinted base for your custy to see for himself.
Pretty tough to read the mind of someone who asks for black on black and then says that it is "too subtle"

[kingscreen]

Wilflex HD Clear vote here.  But we also use Union Black with excellent results.

[Colin]

Do they want a subtle black or a shiny black?

ANY black with puff in it will look like a dark charcoal against a black garment.  This means all Black inks that have a MATTE finish.

If you want a very subtle black, use a thin clear ink (softee/chino/fashion soft/primer clear/etc), maybe with some black pigment.

SOFT BLACKS work best on a garment with POLY content.  The polyester reacts and gets a wet look when a clear is printed over it, this helps it stand out much better.

If you want a GLOSSY BLACK:  You can use Stretch bases, HD Clears, Old School Gells, etc...  You can also add them to a black ink of choice or add black pigment.

LOW MESH like a 150s with a thicker stencil or 110/etc mesh works great.

Your best look is always achieved by doing a print flash print.

Tldr:  get a clear understanding of what your customer is expecting.  Frog has an excellent suggestion!

[GoWestRob]

We've been getting a lot of requests for black on black lately, seems like you guys are seeing that trend as well!

[SEPSINK]

http://www.theshirtboard.com/index.php/topic,20051.msg188397.html#msg188397

[Frog]

http://www.theshirtboard.com/index.php/topic,20051.msg188397.html#msg188397

Yeah, just about  year ago, we had this discussion

[Sbrem]

We've always used a straight black, usually Union or Wilflex. The idea is that it shows up after a couple of washings. Are these people idiots? What do they expect? Not trying to be rude, but damn!

Steve

[tonyt79]

We just use Wilflex Matt black only done on next level shirts. We do a lot for game wardens here and a fitness clothing line. It looks basically the same as using a clear. The fitness guy couldn’t decide between 2 different blacks and 2 different clears. All looked the same for the most part.


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[CBCB]

Thanks everyone! I didn't think that other thread was so recent, my bad - but I appreciate the input. It seems like printing the sample strips is the best bet to set customer expectations. Going to try the clear base! That seems like an easy way to get the finish most people are after.