Screenprinting - Secret to White on Black

[MonchiCabron]

Thanks Bill, good info...you repeated yourself at 4:23...

[billhoodconsulting]

@MonchiCabron - Thanks right back at you. That's nothing new, I have been repeating myself for 66 years!

[GeToLaMaR]

If so, what's the best way to cure them if I don't have a proper flash dryer or conveyer belt?

[billhoodconsulting]

@GeToLaMaR - I do not print with waterbase inks due to the VOCs that are released into the environment. I prefer to use inks that impact the world in a better way. That said, you can use air dry waterbase inks that do not require conveyor dryer. You can simply hang them in the sun to dry.

[GeToLaMaR]

Hey bill, thanks for the helpful information! I have a question for you.. Do you ever print light color water based inks (permaset) on dark color shirts? I've asked a few people but received mixed answers. You seem to know what your talking about. What do you think? Thanks!

[SunshineScreenPrints]

This is good. I'm trying to get a good white print down. I do videos too.

[billhoodconsulting]

@SunshineScreenPrints - You should be able to get a much better white, by following this advise. Thousands of students at the School of Screenprinting have been successful with this knowledge.

[thesharpieattack]

Wow. This is incredible! Thank you so much!

[billhoodconsulting]

@thesharpieattack - You're welcome. I don't know about incredible. Anyone can do this with a bit of knowledge.

[kookid4lyf]

thank you for the great advice :)

[billhoodconsulting]

@kookid4lyf - Thanks for comment.

[MueraTelevisa]

Thanks for share your experience ...

[billhoodconsulting]

@MueraTelevisa - You are quite welcome. I am always pleased when someone takes the time to respond, if only to say "Thanks!" Far too often people never thanks!

[NotStevieWonder]

Hi Bill, thanks so much for the sound advise offered here. I am just starting out in the business and am a perfectionist! The consequence is that i have to spend huge amounts of time to achieve results. Just to clarify... you coat the substrate with emulsion 2-3 times until you see the gloss, then use the coater to merely push the emulsion back to the stencil side? (rather than coating the squeegee side)... then allow to dry and follow with 1-2 bases (wet on wet? or dry between coats?) Andy

[billhoodconsulting]

@NotStevieWonder - Andy, almost - I do not just push the emulsion back through to the stencil side. This is a coating stroke as well. I do not always make face coats. I use a Stencil Thickness Gauge to determine the thickness of the stencil and how much ink will be deposited. If the stencil needs to be thicker, I do apply face coats to the stencil side. Find thickness gauges at ScreenprintStore com online.

[FarmageddonRecords]

Impressive. We are about to start printing our own merch at my record label. Most of the printing will be white on back. Do you have an email address I can hit you up at with a few questions? I'd be happy to trade you music for tips. farmageddonrecords@yahoo.com is my address. Thanks Bill, this was helpful.

[billhoodconsulting]

@FarmageddonRecords - Congratulations. You can email me at Bill at schoolofscreenprinting com anytime.

[RussFaraci]

thank.. I'm a noob at this. Ive been doing websites for years. I too have trouble with whites. My off contact is about 8th of an inch. 110 mesh ryonet opaque ink. I too push my squeegee. My issue is faded looking print/not enough coverage. My shirts stick to the mesh when i do multiple strokes. I use ryonet garbage glue thats basically watered-down elmers paper glue it seems.

My question is: what is a good spray adhesive and is that my problem?

[billhoodconsulting]

@RussFaraci - Most screenprinters have trouble printing white ink on black. Remember, "Never lose sight of the fact that all things are intuitive once you acquire the knowledge to thoroughly understand the process." Yes, most platen adhesive is very similar to the glues made by Bordens. I would NOT recommend a spray glue as it is extremely costly and environmentally unsound in its usage. I sell TEKMAR waterbased platen adhesive at the ScreenprintStore that works exceptionally well.

[RussFaraci]

@billhoodconsulting here is my first whit project. It took about 5 shirts to get this result. It still isn't perfect on the detail but it is 110 mesh. The coverage is 100 times better thanks to YOU. THANKS AGAIN!!! and let me know what you think of my print:

[billhoodconsulting]

@RussFaraci - Send me a link or the photo to Bill@billhoodconsulting followed by a dot com so I can see your results. I love to see what you were able to achieve.

[WeeboPrints90]

Very intersting!! ill give it a shot and it all seems like it will work! check out my video and let me know what you think!! thanks

[KillingOptions]

I'm trying to make a t shirt at home using Organza for a screen and fabric ink. Will I be able to do white on black? I don't mind doing a million passes, I just want to know if it will work.

[billhoodconsulting]

KillingOptions, the simple answer is yes, you can get some ink to go through the organdy fabric. The better question is why you would want to use organdy instead of polyester mesh. A piece of polyester mesh to fit a standard size T-shirt screen can cost as little as $4.35. This will give you a much better print.

[KillingOptions]

@billhoodconsulting Thank you for the advice, I will definitely get some polyester mesh instead.

[XtremeInkz]

what cause a rough texure on a print? most of the times it's when i use white for a base coat. I have tryed several diffirent screens. 156 is my all around screen to use on line art.

[billhoodconsulting]

@XtremeInkz - Rough texture can be caused by several things, but the most likely cause is heat. The more heat you use, the rougher the texture. Try this - print the image and flash gel the ink until it is just set enough to now come off on your finger. Remove the shirt and and place it on the dryer belt. Cover half of the print to hold back the heat of the dryer, i.e. a piece of wood. When it exits the dryer compare the two sections. Also, look at increasing off contact slightly.

[imnotsickimjustaboy]

THANKS ILL GIVE IT A GO

[billhoodconsulting]

@imnotsickimjustaboy - You won't regret it. Be sure to come back and let us know how it worked out for you!

[biancaTanner]

You are a good man Bill Hood... a good man.

Thanks for the info!

On another note... does anyone know how to filter youtube results so that we can do without Ryonet and Catspit videos? LOL

[billhoodconsulting]

@biancaTanner - Thanks! Hey if you figure out the filter, let me know! ;-)

[billhoodconsulting]

@biancaTanner - Thanks Bianca! It's good to have feedback!

[billhoodconsulting]

@biancaTanner - I would also like a filter for the youtees guy! Jeez, what a waste!

[punkchick506]

Wow.. thanks for the info this will be very handy to know.. also I'd like to see some of your work :)

[billhoodconsulting]

Knowledge is so much more powerful than experience. What good is experience if you are doing the wrong things?

[emoneyblue]

You go Boy!!!!

[billhoodconsulting]

Yep, I already went and came back!

[menzo22MHD]

can u put a link to your website in the description of the page part?

[billhoodconsulting]

There is a link there. You have to click on More Info to see the entire message.

[ralvis5]

Very impressed with your tutorials... with all the knuckleheads doing uninformative "vanity" pieces, you certainly stand out as a consumate professional. I'm not very experienced, but going to try your white on black technique... got some designs I hope aren't too knuckleheaded.

[billhoodconsulting]

Thank you, Ralvis. I agree that one of the shortcomings of YouTube is that it allows "anyone" to become an "expert" at any subject by posting sad excuses for "informational" videos. I post only when I "know" the information is correct and helpful. Mine are not guesses, but real tried and true solutions to problems given without a dog in the race.

[billhoodconsulting]

You will want to have high tension to assure that the mesh opening is large enough to allow the ink to pass. I only use Newman Roller Frames in production printing and my tension levels typically exceed the manufacturers recommendations.

[billhoodconsulting]

The ink determines the mesh count. Basically, you want a mesh opening that will allow three of the largest particles in the ink to be passed at one time. Inks are ground differently, so some testing is needed. I usually print with an 86 mesh for large images, 110 for medium line thickness, and up to 156 when I have detail. I have printed white halftone of 65 lines on black using a 320 mesh, which great results.

[multimediaarts]

thank you for this excellent video...

but what are the different kinds of mesh?

and what are their differences??

also what is the mesh count that is usually used for white inks??

thank you very much..

[billhoodconsulting]

Thank you for the nice comments. Sorry about the talking head video, but I wanted to get the point across.

[shyftax]

Awesome!

[billhoodconsulting]

Thanks for the awesome vote! I appreciate it!

[UKCheeseFarmer]

Very useful and informative video. Thanks for taking the time to produce/upload it.

[billhoodconsulting]

Thank you very much. Be sure to watch the other videos that I have on YouTube. Don't forget to subscribe as others are forthcoming.