why is this happening/how can i avoid it

[ericheartsu]

Ok so i'm screening some transfers:

230 mesh-poly white
230 mesh-485 red

Super tight registration, colors aren't really bleeding, but i'm getting this weird puckering look, where there are potholes of white missing, and it looks textured. I know it's from the white buildup on the red screen, but i can't figure out how to stop it.

The white is being printed once with no flood, so it has a pretty thin deposit, and the red has the same.

what can i do to stop it?

I should have a pic in a minute

[Inkworks]

Pre-shrink your transfer paper through the oven, print the white using a 3-point jig, cure through the oven just enough to gel the ink. Then print the red using the same 3 points you jigged to for the white, sugar them and cure.

[ericheartsu]

ink works, i tried that in the past, made registration impossible, especially with this art, cause it's so close.

i was drying at 230, was that to high?

here is the pic:
-edit, how do i make it not huge

[Inkworks]

Pre-shrinking is very important, as is minimizing cure for all colours except the last one, I'd dial down your cure until they come out wet and then bump it just a little. Art should have a bit of trap too if you can, just remember you have to think backwards as the first coat ends up on top of the print.

I'm far from an expert, but 230 seems like a very high mesh for transfers, we use mostly 109 and 156.

[aauusa]

when i do multi color transfers.  I have a piece of embroidery foam on the pallet taped down spray a light film of spray tac down just enough to hold the paper down when you lift the screen, then pre shrink the paper;  print the first color, flash for 3-4 secs just enough to get a gel.  then cool for a sec or two.  then print the next color and remove,   adhesive powder and through the dryer

but from what it sound like from your description i think it is the wet on wet which is making the  issue you are having.  especially if you use a hard platen to print on.  but without a pic hard to tell for sure.  hope it helps.

[ericheartsu]

i tried lowering the temp, and pre curing, and that worked wondefully.

Thank you both for the help.

That pic is here by the way:

http://www.nightowlsprint.com/images/pucker.jpg

i still can't get it to load

[Frog]

Here's your pic. It was physically too large

[Inkworks]

I should have mentioned using a light mist of platen adhesive, then take a bit of the initial tack off with an old t-shirt or what-have-you. I forgot because we are spoiled with a vacuum table. 

Glad it worked out for you. I'd be interested to hear if some other transfer printers think 230 is high for mesh count for transfers or not.....?

[ericheartsu]

Here's your pic. It was physically too large

thank you sir!

[GaryG]

"i was drying at 230,"
Drying at a temp of 230 is high for any transfer ink.
It will drive off binder and leave dry, not adhering well.
Gel only through dryer before pressing.

We used to do halftones with 305 mesh, but for spots,
I'd say yes, 150-196 highest count.

[ericheartsu]

weird, that seems super low to me, especially for tight registration, but i'll try it for the next job