4 color process on sweatshirts

jr_sanford's picture

Ok, I am printing a CMYK process job on 60/40 (cotton/polyester) white sweatshirts.

I'm using the exact flood/print stroke on every color, and am getting different (random) coverage almost every time. :mad:

Has anyone done a process job on white 60/40 sweats that can give me some advice?:confused:

J.R. :cool:

Location: 
United States

Cast aside your limitations;
And you shall be boundless!

Greg hamrick's picture

Sweats are thick and soft, so there will be alittle "give" making the print slightly different each time. Plus they are very rough with deep valleys that lose ink and high ridges that gets too much ink. To help with the dot gain and loss, try a clear under-base if they are white. That also works on darks before you print the white under-base.
To keep the shirt from becoming a bullet-proof vest, I would often use discharge to get as much of the color out before I printed a thin white under-base.
Sweats are tricky at the best of times J.R. So expect some difference between prints.

Good Luck...............

.

At the edge of dreams lay the far-flung ideals of true creation.

jr_sanford's picture

Thanks Greg! When I print on 100% cotton sweats, they look good and have a consistent look. Tee shirts as well. I truly believe it's the weave that these 60/40 cotton/poly have which is causing my issue. My shop has decided to never do a process job on those type of sweats ever again. Can you say "spot colors"?

J.R. Sanford
Production Manager
N.W. Awards
185 N.W. Chehalis, AV
Chehalis, WA 98532
360-748-7346
360-880-6384
jr_sanford@yahoo.com

Cast aside your limitations;
And you shall be boundless!

Greg hamrick's picture

"Spot Colors".....LOL
Your right about "NOT" printing process on those types of shirts. I won't do it or suggest it to anyone. But even if your going to stick with 100% cotton sweats...try a thin clear under-base. It will help with with the dot loss.

Take Care..........

.

At the edge of dreams lay the far-flung ideals of true creation.

jr_sanford's picture

Can you give me a link to the "clear underbase" product you are referring to?
Does it need to be flashed too?:confused:

J.R. Sanford
Production Manager
NW Awards
185 NW Chehalis AV
Chehalis, WA 98532
(shop) 360-748-7346
(cell) 360-880-6384
jr_sanford@yahoo.com

Cast aside your limitations;
And you shall be boundless!