Screen printing is getting more popular day by day Just like sublimation on shirts. Every beginner involved in screen printing must know about the curing step. It is an essential and crucial part of the screen printing process. Failing to cure the screen print on t shirt may result in fading and cracking the design.
Generally, two types of inks are used in screen printing.
- Water-based ink
- Plastisol ink
The water-based ink is eco-friendly and provides a soft look. In comparison, the plastisol ink is thick and imparts clear graphics on the t-shirts.
But what is the curing?
Curing is setting the screen-printing ink into the garment by employing heat. After curing, the ink goes into the screen print area of the shirt to its depth. After curing, the screen print becomes tough enough to resist the scratch.
The water-based inks cure at 300 to 320 degrees Fahrenheit, while plastisol inks need a temperature of 320 degrees Fahrenheit.
In both cases, you will have to provide heat to bond the garment with screen printing ink up to a micro level by using the following methods.
7 Proven Ways to Cure Screen Printed Shirts at Home
Various ways are employed to heat and cure screen-printed shirts domestically, but here are the proven ways to have the best results.
- Using an Iron
- Using Heat Gun
- Using the Almighty Heat Press
- Baking T-shirts in the oven
- Using Hair Dryer
- Using Halogen Lamp
- Air Drying
In the following lines, we will discuss all the above methods in detail to cure screen-printed t-shirts.
Method-1: Curing by Iron
This is one of the easiest curing methods, and most newbies use iron to cure the image on shirts.
Iron is the need in every home, and it can heat up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. To cure the screen-printed fabric, you must differentiate between the ink used. Each type of ink requires a different curing temperature.
For Plastisol inks
For plastisol ink, you have to follow these steps:
For Water Based Inks
If you use water-based ink for screen printing, follow these steps to cure the design through ironing.
There are some issues related to ironing screen-printed garments;
Method–2: Using Heat Gun
If you are starting a screen-printing business and are low on budget, you can use an industrial heat gun for curing purposes.
You can purchase a heat gun from nearby tool shops. A heat gun can achieve temperatures up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. Using high temperatures, you can ensure the complete and even curing of the screen-printed t-shirt.
After curing through a heat gun, you don’t need to apply the wash test as the bonding of ink with the garment at a high temperature is sure.
But this process could be more time efficient. It’s best suitable for curing small designs. When the screen-printed area is large, even smooth curing is impossible.
Also, focusing high temperatures on one spot can burn the image and the fabric.
It would help if you had a lot of practice on old garments and then applied this method to new ones.
Method–3: Using the Almighty Heat Press
A heat press is an essential part of every screen-printing business. This is a reliable source of heat that can be employed in sublimation printing and screen printing.
It can be used for flashing and gelling of the inks. For this purpose, you must hover the upper portion near the screen-printed design without touching it.
Don’t forget to place a brown paper or Teflon sheet above and below the shirt. Set the required temperature for plastisol and water-based ink.
No need to apply a wash test as the heat press is efficient in producing an even temperature on all sides of the garment.
Method–4: Baking T-shirts in the oven
Curing a screen-printed shirt in an oven is not recommended, but it works best when you work carefully.
The plastisol ink contains chemicals that may cause health hazards if you use the same oven for cooking. If this is not the case, then you can follow these steps.
Method–5: Using a Hair Dryer
Some hobbyists are using regular hair dryers to cure the screen-printed design. This may be good for water-based ink and, worst, plastisol ink. The hair dryer can achieve temperatures up to 120-130-degree Fahrenheit, which is suitable for water-based ink.
There are issues related to this method. Complete binding can only be achieved if the temperature is high enough. Also, the air blow can remove the ink from the surface of the design.
So, expecting the best results in this method is impossible. The print may wash away after 2 or 3 washes.
Method–6: Using Halogen Lamp
This method is suitable for both plastisol and water-based ink screen prints. Nearly everyone is using this method, whether a newbie or an expert.
It covers a large area as it emits higher UVB than other methods. The heat gun and hair dryer provide spot heating.
High temperatures up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit can be achieved more quickly than a heat gun.
Method–7: Air Drying
This is an easy method if you are using water-based screen-printing ink. The water-based ink contains chemicals and water as solvents. They will evaporate out with time when dried under the sun.
For air drying, you need a hanger so the screen-printed shirt can be hung wrinkle-free. A fan can be employed if immediate drying is required. The time needed for curing water-based ink in the air is up to 24 to 48 hours.
This method can produce much better results if combined with other procedures like a heat gun or heat press.
How to Test for Proper Ink Curing
Curing is the settling or bonding of screen-printing ink with the shirts on a molecular level. If done correctly, the screen print will stay longer on the fabrics. Generally, two tests are performed to check the strength of ink curing.
Stretch Test
In this test, the most significant area on the screen print is stretched. If the layer of ink gets distorted or cracked, the ink is not set still. If the ink is stretched more than its strength, it’s called a film split.
This test can give you an idea of whether the curing has occurred. But how will you check the bottom layer of ink has been set or not? For this purpose, we have to perform a wash test.
Wash Test
This is the second test to check the curing of ink on screen print shirts. Wash the shirt in the washing machine with water only. You apply all the washing methods which people use. Wash and dry for at least three cycles.
The washing test will tell all about screen-printing ink’s cracking and film splitting. If the ink breaks up or distorts, ink is not cured in the given time and heat. If it stays the same, you are good to go; press and wear it.
So, testing is an essential part of screen printing. Before starting the screen printing, try on old garments, then the final product.
Conclusion
The screen printing process is easy but curing the screen print is tricky. It requires expertise to select the proper method for curing which performs best for each type of screen printing ink.
You have gone through all the affordable methods which require less budget and effort, but results are fantastic. If you follow each step of the method’s life, the screen print will increase and vice versa.
Some experts advise using a conveyor belt heater, which heats and cure the screen print during the process. But the high budget is essential in this case.
Read more articles: Sublimation printing