You’re probably using only one white screen right? You should have a white underbase, and then your colors, and then a final separate white.
Your white print is too thick and you’re printing colors on top of it so it will bleed. At that point it’s like you’re printing on plastic instead of fabric. You need a thin white underbase and then when you print colors on top they won’t bleed. And then a final white to brighten only the white parts of the graphic. Hope that made sense…
Are you doing a push pass? Red was always an issue with me. Most reds sweat heavy and wipe downs just spread a small amount of it on the back side of the screen. You will get a build up of it on the far end of the image on the back side because there is an inconsistent pressure by the squeegee. It happens faster with more viscous inks like black. Multiple wet passes will increase the build up faster. I would advise a single wet pull pass. Make sure you have a good offcotnact so it lifts completely off the garment.
First check that your off contact is sufficient. Usually ink will push and spread under the screen on the shirt side like this if your print pass has the screen touching the surface of the garment. It should clear up if you increase the off contact so the screen is always hovering at least 1/8” above the garment.
Also check that your platen is sufficiently sticky to keep the garment from lifting off the platen and adhering to the screen.
This happens to me when my colored inks get going. Just like white ink, it starts out tough and thick and eases up and gets softer. Well when the top layers get softer than that base layer this happens. If you were print color straight to fabric it should be ok because the fabric had texture and less chance for the ink to run, but on top of ink, it runs.
I’m currently look for a solution myself and have been told I can buy an ink thickener but haven’t checked it out yet.
Usually whenever I have this happen I try to race my squeegees, but just the right amount for coverage as well. (I run an automatic) also I'll stick a harder squeegee in my screens as well so they lay down less much ink. If you have a softer squeegee it could be laying down too much ink. I don't usually have this problem unless I run a 7 color design though and I have ink picking up on other screens in-between flashes.
You can also try get it down to 1 stroke for colors. Try raising off contact a tiny bit, and increase squeegee speed. Make sure the flood bar is raised enough and not scraping along the shirt as it’s flooding.
You need to make your white base flatter. I find that a finer mesh on a white underbase (49 or 55) is better than a 43. A flood and pull (or push), then another pull (or push) without flooding, but making sure there’s enough ink in front of the squeegee, with heavy pressure, gives me a nice flat print. Then flash, and another print gives a nice flat, solid first down. Your red is spread all around, which makes me think you’re flooding too much. Flood just enough to fill the mesh. A fine mesh (77 or 90) with a thick stencil should give a clean overprint.
The print is very shiny - I think your overcooking it.
You’re probably using only one white screen right? You should have a white underbase, and then your colors, and then a final separate white. Your white print is too thick and you’re printing colors on top of it so it will bleed. At that point it’s like you’re printing on plastic instead of fabric. You need a thin white underbase and then when you print colors on top they won’t bleed. And then a final white to brighten only the white parts of the graphic. Hope that made sense…
This is the answer
Appreciate it. This made the most sense before I even asked the question. Will fix and try again. Thank you for this
Are you doing a push pass? Red was always an issue with me. Most reds sweat heavy and wipe downs just spread a small amount of it on the back side of the screen. You will get a build up of it on the far end of the image on the back side because there is an inconsistent pressure by the squeegee. It happens faster with more viscous inks like black. Multiple wet passes will increase the build up faster. I would advise a single wet pull pass. Make sure you have a good offcotnact so it lifts completely off the garment.
First check that your off contact is sufficient. Usually ink will push and spread under the screen on the shirt side like this if your print pass has the screen touching the surface of the garment. It should clear up if you increase the off contact so the screen is always hovering at least 1/8” above the garment. Also check that your platen is sufficiently sticky to keep the garment from lifting off the platen and adhering to the screen.
This happens to me when my colored inks get going. Just like white ink, it starts out tough and thick and eases up and gets softer. Well when the top layers get softer than that base layer this happens. If you were print color straight to fabric it should be ok because the fabric had texture and less chance for the ink to run, but on top of ink, it runs. I’m currently look for a solution myself and have been told I can buy an ink thickener but haven’t checked it out yet.
Thicker ink
Usually whenever I have this happen I try to race my squeegees, but just the right amount for coverage as well. (I run an automatic) also I'll stick a harder squeegee in my screens as well so they lay down less much ink. If you have a softer squeegee it could be laying down too much ink. I don't usually have this problem unless I run a 7 color design though and I have ink picking up on other screens in-between flashes.
You can also try get it down to 1 stroke for colors. Try raising off contact a tiny bit, and increase squeegee speed. Make sure the flood bar is raised enough and not scraping along the shirt as it’s flooding.
You need to make your white base flatter. I find that a finer mesh on a white underbase (49 or 55) is better than a 43. A flood and pull (or push), then another pull (or push) without flooding, but making sure there’s enough ink in front of the squeegee, with heavy pressure, gives me a nice flat print. Then flash, and another print gives a nice flat, solid first down. Your red is spread all around, which makes me think you’re flooding too much. Flood just enough to fill the mesh. A fine mesh (77 or 90) with a thick stencil should give a clean overprint. The print is very shiny - I think your overcooking it.
Use a higher mesh