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screen printing => General Screen Printing => Topic started by: Donnie on February 26, 2012, 06:20:26 PM

Title: Glitter Inks...
Post by: Donnie on February 26, 2012, 06:20:26 PM
I took in some high school BB play off action this weekend. I saw a pretty amazing print done with glitter ink. The men's version had a standard orange ink but the women's had a glitter orange. It was a simple design, white and orange on black but wow the glitter popped.  I am sure many of you have done some glitters and am just wondering about the ins and outs. The best INKS, meshes ect. I am assuming around 20 to 30 mesh count but what about screen prep. Emulsion or Cap film?
Title: Re: Glitter Inks...
Post by: Fluid on February 26, 2012, 07:44:23 PM
mesh will be determined by the size of the flakes in the glitter yet most likely you can go with a 80 mesh count and get great results. Print flash print method with No underbase will yield the best result with glitter inks as well as metallic inks.
Title: Re: Glitter Inks...
Post by: hazeremover on February 26, 2012, 08:04:30 PM
A 20 or 30 mesh is not necessary. Like Fluid said, an 80 or 60 mesh will yield excellent results. Direct emulsion with a couple of thick coats on the print side. Capillary film is an alternative but not necessary unless you're super concerned about the evenness of the stencil surface but with glitter ink it's not much of a factor. No underbase.
Title: Re: Glitter Inks...
Post by: LuxInks on February 27, 2012, 02:05:25 AM
We do a fair amount of glitter & shimmers and put them through 60-80 mesh with emulsion. We usually keep those screens coated 2/2, sometimes even 3 on the print side.
For crystalina, we use a 60.
Make up a few garments with some fun designs on it and up-sell it to your customers. It's real easy to work with.
Good luck!
Paul
Title: Re: Glitter Inks...
Post by: Sbrem on February 27, 2012, 10:48:55 AM
maybe it depends on the ink brand, we couldn't get enough glitter (Wilflex) down with an 81 SDE mesh we get from Saati (think 81 with "S" threads) so we went with a 36, now that puts it down, and we've done some colored underlays while the glitter sits on top. One needs to mess around with it some, like most special effects inks... the first time I used glitter was in the 70's, a 16T mesh (what a biatch to coat)

Steve
Title: Re: Glitter Inks...
Post by: brandon on February 29, 2012, 11:58:25 PM
I'm gonna probably get crap for this but with the thick glitter of QCM we have run an underbase of the color of the glitter and then run the glitter on a 25 mesh. Yes, it is like a screen door. But one stroke light pressure with amazing results.
Title: Re: Glitter Inks...
Post by: rmonks on March 01, 2012, 07:11:32 AM
My limited experience with glitter has been testy. I for some reason have a problem getting the ink cured, the glitter reflects the heat. The first time I printed glitter it looked great, but it came off in the wash. SO I would definitely do a wash test before sending them out the door. Would love to see the shirt you are talking about.
Title: Re: Glitter Inks...
Post by: bimmridder on March 01, 2012, 10:17:23 AM
We print it through a 26 also. We make ours from glitter flakes and Wilflex Nova Base. Prints nice and has a dry glitter look.
Title: Re: Glitter Inks...
Post by: Donnie on March 24, 2012, 03:24:44 PM
Could not find the color I wanted (hot pink) from any ink company. One of my suppliers to me to call Meadowbrooks Inventions Inc. http://www.meadowbrookinventions.com/hiband/index.html (http://www.meadowbrookinventions.com/hiband/index.html).  I got some Rutland Clear Base and I am mixing my own. They suggested 15% glitter by weight. Just mixed it today... pretty easy.  Running them this week.
Title: Re: Glitter Inks...
Post by: Frog on March 24, 2012, 04:26:11 PM
Fortunately the color suits you. Prepare for traces of hot pink glitter everywhere for a few months! ;D
Title: Re: Glitter Inks...
Post by: RICK STEFANICK on March 24, 2012, 07:06:54 PM
we use a 33 mesh screen for glitter and crystaline...
Title: Re: Glitter Inks...
Post by: Donnie on March 30, 2012, 09:35:57 AM
The prints turned out great.  Used a 40 mesh and took Fluids advice on the PFP method. Got to stay on top of the ink levels in the screen though. Got to keep a butt load of ink in it at all times. For a front and back print we went through a gallon and a quarter of ink for just over 300 pieces about a third of which were fleece.  I am thinking the ladies going to be all over them like a hobo on a ham sammich and bad actin' in an Adam Sandler movie.
Title: Re: Glitter Inks...
Post by: T Shirt1 on March 30, 2012, 12:11:44 PM
Does anyone put a clear over the glitter?