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Ink Curing 101 - How to Cure Screen Printing Inks

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Curing screen printing ink is a crucial step in the screen-printing process. To create a durable and permanent print, the ink must dry completely at the correct temperature. Curing ensures that the ink solidifies and adheres to the substrate. Incomplete curing can lead to poor adhesion, resulting in the ink peeling or flaking off the substrate. For textiles like T-shirts and other garments, curing is essential to make the print withstand multiple wash cycles without fading or deteriorating. It also prevents the ink from bleeding or transferring onto other fabrics. Screen Printing Inks Water-based and Plastisol screen printing inks must both be cured when printed onto textiles. Water-based ink should not be cured when printed onto paper. Ink curing temperature times vary depending on the ink manufacturer. While different manufactures may have different temperatures, a few things are pretty constant with screen printing ink. Most ink must be cured for at least one minute at the manufactu...
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How to Screen-Print Water-Based Ink on Paper Products

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  Water-based inks and paper might sound like a natural match, but if you've ever ended up with a blurry, over-saturated, or cracked print, you know the process has some quirks. The good news is that once you understand how water-based ink behaves on paper stock, the results are outstanding.  In this post, we're walking through the full process from screen prep to cleanup, plus the common mistakes to avoid and the questions we hear most from printers making the switch to paper. Keep reading till the end and don't miss the video showing the whole process in action. SUPPLIES What You'll Need Before you pull your first print, make sure you've got the right gear. Water-based ink on paper is less forgiving of equipment mismatches than fabric printing, so the setup matters. Supply What to Look For Screen & frame 155+ mesh count depending on detail level. Higher mesh for fine lines and halftones. Water-based ink Avoid fabric-specific formulations that may not bond well...
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How to Develop a Business Plan for your Screen Printing Shop

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Are you ready to make your screen printing hobby a business? Or maybe you are already printing for profit and want to take the next step. If you're thinking of starting a serious business out of screen printing, it's important to create a business plan to help guide you towards success. Here are the steps you can take to create a comprehensive business plan for your screen printing shop. 1. Executive Summary: Start with a brief summary of your business plan, highlighting the most important aspects of your business, such as your mission statement, the products and services you'll offer, your target market, and your projected revenue. The purpose of the executive summary is to give readers a quick and clear understanding of the business and its potential for success, which can encourage them to read the rest of the plan in more detail. The executive summary is therefore a critical part of the business plan and should be crafted carefully to make a strong impression and to gen...
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What Emulsion Do I Need Part 2

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In part 1 of "What Emulsion Do I Need" we left you with fundamental information on the two types of screen printing emulsions. From the last blog you should now know that: Pre-sensitized emulsion   means that the emulsion does not require diazo, and is ready to use. This emulsion is less water resistant but has a longer shelf life and a tight exposure window. Diazo based emulsion   is going to be more water resistant but once you mix in the diazo, your shelf life becomes very short. You are also going to have a much wider exposure window. Today we are going to discuss the following: When to use pre-sensitized emulsion and when to use diazo sensitized emulsion How long should emulsion dry before exposing  How long to expose emulsion    1. Let's dive into when to use each emulsion: Pre-sensitized Emulsion  is going to be your best all around choice for textile printing and is the best emulsion to be used with  plastisol inks . Most of the time the g...
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How to Choose the Right Garment for Screen Printing

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When you’re new to screen printing, it’s easy to think  a t-shirt is a t-shirt.   But any experienced printer will tell you the garment you choose can make or break your project. Fabric weight, style, and quality all impact not only how your print looks but also how your customer feels wearing it. Let’s break down some key differences to help you pick the right blank for every job. Understanding T-Shirt Weight: When browsing wholesale apparel catalogs, you’ll see shirts listed by weight (e.g., 4 oz, 5.3 oz, 6 oz). This refers to the fabric’s weight per square yard. While the numbers may seem small, the difference is noticeable in feel and performance. Lightweight (around 4 oz) Super soft and breathable Great for spring and summer wear Often used for promotional giveaways or budget-friendly projects May feel thinner and have less structure, can stretch out more easily Midweight (5–5.5 oz) A balanced choice between softness and durability Works well for everyday wear or retail t...
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