How To Screen Print: Tips On Printing White Plastisol Ink

[CatspitProductions]

And if you need screenprinting supplies, please check out the Print Supplies page on the Catspit website for discounts. Use the Catspit promo codes to get 5% to 15% off list pricing plus free shipping. Offers from 3 vendors including Ryonet! See my YouTube channel page for the link. Thanks for watching! ☠

[weenerguy831]

Hey I have a question right now all I have is a black light and it's burning a screen right now as we speak but how long do u figure it would take with just one black light 18" tube to burn an image?? I plan on getting a few and creating a box but until then this is how I think I'm gonna do it because I only have nights to do this. Any info would be greatly appreciated thanks

[CatspitProductions]

@weenerguy831 Well, you need an industrial black light as opposed to a novelty unit. And exposure is something that is affected by the emulsion you are using, the film positives, the distance from the light source to the screen and even the artwork itself. The age of the bulb can also affect exposure times. You have to do a few tests to determine this for your particular factors and situation. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment! ☠

[tomkat410]

heat the pallets bro.

[CatspitProductions]

@tomkat410 Ah so you know that heating the pallets will gel the ink on contact and often gives a much different look to the print surface, yes? And the ink tends to stay on top of the fabric due to the gelling. While this may give you some better opacity it may also cause the ink to semi cure in the mesh making it necessary to clean the mesh out every now and then. It may also cause print durability issues. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment! ☠

[rich4259]

love your videos. I am new to screen printing so I am making plenty of mistakes. lol. I've made all my equipment like light table and print press. My biggest problem is getting good color seperations. I am using photoshop and illustrator for my images but it still doesn't separate quite right. Is there a way to get the color seps without using a $3000 program?Thanks again your videos are the best.

[CatspitProductions]

@rich4259 Thanks, glad you like the videos. Yes you can use Illustrator for many output needs. Sometimes it’s a matter of knowing how to use the software more than anything. Artwork can be complicated and it’s critical to know what you are doing otherwise you can have a difficult time on the press. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment! ☠

[daniellacatton]

Hi Jon,

Another great video, - As always.

From Daniella, - The UK Fan club.

[weenerguy831]

Very informative I been starting to get into screen printing and trying to get as much info as possible. Thanks u can expect an email from me

[CatspitProductions]

@weenerguy831 Thank you! You’re welcome, it’s my pleasure to help out and share information. Check out the Catspit website for a lot more free info on screen printing. Link is on the channel page. Thanks for watching & commenting! ☠

[duvalian]

As informative as ever mate, thank you very much, your vids are making my small business so much easier to to get started. I've had some great results so far thanks to your dedication to your craft, keep it going mate ! :o)

[CatspitProductions]

@duvalian Thank you very much! I am so very happy to hear that my videos are helping you in your screen printing endeavors. Thanks for taking the time to let me know how much you are getting from my videos. I really appreciate that and it means a lot. I'm happy to help out in any way and feel free to ask questions anytime. Good luck! Thanks for watching and leaving a comment! ☠

[Leadfoot299]

Nice tips! I am very happy with the Excalibur inks. The white is pretty thick but does get better as you work with it. I had some of those "dang it" moments at first but think I have it figured out with your help! The mixing it with the drill is awesome!

One question though, is a 156 mesh screen completely out of the question? Specifically, if all I have coated is 156 and have an emergency print run to do would 156 be ok for a short run or is 110 really the highest I should go for white?

[CatspitProductions]

@Leadfoot299 Hey thanks, I'm glad you like the video. I'm happy to help out in any way. Yes, you can use a 156 mesh count for white ink if you need to but it will be more difficult to get the coverage you most probably want. In an emergency you should be able to coat a screen and dry it within an hour or so if you had to. That's the benefit of having your own shop and being able to make screens yourself. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment! ☠

[mahousel]

ok now i think the video is awesome but i would have to disagree about the reducer. Thats what its for is to thin out your ink. I have never had a problem with ink lossing opacity if you know how to mix it right. However i would agree on not using it for colors though i have only used it for white and have gotten single pull white prints on dark shirts.

[CatspitProductions]

@mahousel Thanks, glad you liked the video. Yes, adding reducer will thin out the ink but it also definitely reduces the opacity and it changes the ink flow characteristics. White inks are chemically formulated for optimum opacity with minimum effort. If you mess with the formula you are paying for it defeats your efforts. And you really shouldn’t have to either. A good white ink will be thick yet creamy and smooth. But if it works for you…Thanks for watching and leaving a comment! ☠

[enernitram76]

never thought hobbies are this highly cerebral... and now I admit I'm stupid and you're such a blessing. Very good job catspit :)

[CatspitProductions]

@enernitram76 LOL... Thank you! I’m glad I could help out and educate. That’s what I am here for. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment! ☠

[oldskoolhooligans]

Informative as always. Perhaps one on plastisol transfers might be a good addition?

[CatspitProductions]

@oldskoolhooligans Thank you very much. I'm glad you liked the video. Unfortunately I do not print plastisol heat transfers. Therefore I would most likely never do a video about that. Sorry I can't help out there. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment! ☠

[Yerokian]

Couldn't you just use a curable reducer to thin out the ink to make it easier to work with?

[CatspitProductions]

@Yerokian Yes but the ink is designed by the manufacturer to be printed with high opacity and relative ease. You have to remember there is a little bit of physics involved in that the ink actually sheers from the squeegee action. Simply making the white ink “print easier” with reducer will work in some cases I’m sure but it will not perform to the best of its abilities. You will be better off learning how to use the ink properly out of the bucket. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment! ☠

[corleone50]

Thank you for the useful lesson.

[CatspitProductions]

@corleone50 You’re welcome, it’s my pleasure to help out and share information. Thanks for watching & commenting! ☠

[CRYPTJLU]

your vids are awsome and are a great help to me im thinking about making a press and starting a little local biusness Thank you!! :)

[CatspitProductions]

@CRYPTJLU Thank you very much! I'm happy to help out and I'm glad I can be of assistance. Feel free to ask questions anytime good luck. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment! ☠

[Croqosheet]

Thanks man for this video!!

[CatspitProductions]

@Croqosheet No problem. It's my pleasure to help out anytime in any way. I'm glad to be of assistance. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment! ☠

[TehElixr]

do u do them ? how much?

[CatspitProductions]

@TehElixr Do you mean T-shirts? Yes I screen print tee shirts commercially. You can see my pricing on the Custom Orders tab in the navigation menu on the Catspit website. Screen printing pricing depends on what is being printed and what types of shirts you want as well as the quantity being printed. Let me know if you have any questions. You can contact me through the website for screenprinting services. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment! ☠

[TehElixr]

@CatspitProductions

i just want a black shirt. with my logo on it.

how much would you say? i live in Mesa.

[CatspitProductions]

@TehElixr There is a 12 piece minimum for each color printed. So if you're talking about a one color shirt the least amount shirts I can print for you would be 12. If you talking about a multi color design that would be impossible to do one shirt by direct screen printing. And I don't do heat transfers commercially sorry I can't really help here. Thanks for your support! ☠

[Brew2365]

Hi, again. I used to work for WILFLEX & UNION INKS in the UK as colour Matcher and ink manufacture, my tip for you is, invest in a small. Second hand dough mixer. It will mix that white ink perfectly, and then just repot it again. Take care bud. RICK

[CatspitProductions]

@Brew2365 Hey there Rick! That's a great idea. I'm not sure I could justify the cost and space requirements unless it was a small table top unit. I know food processing equipment can be expensive. But I do have a drill press I use sometimes for this. Thanks a lot for your input I appreciate that and I'm sure everyone else does too. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment! ☠

[gizmo33rd]

thank you so much how do you clean the paint mix

[CatspitProductions]

@gizmo33rd No problem, my pleasure. I wipe the ink off with my gloved hand and then I use an empty ink bucket with solvent in it to wash it off. A brush with nice loose and flexible bristles hleps too. Thanks for the support! ☠

[gizmo33rd]

thank you so much

[CatspitProductions]

@gizmo33rd You’re welcome; it’s my pleasure to help out in any way. Thanks for watching & commenting! ☠