Preparations:
Materials and Tools
Water-based ink: Select the appropriate type based on the substrate (textiles, paper, plastics, etc.)
Screen: Choose the mesh count (usually 80-200, use a higher mesh count for detailed patterns)
Scraping plate: Hardness 70-85 degrees, made of rubber or polyurethane.
Substrate: T-shirts, paper, plastics, metals, etc.
Auxiliary tools: Mixing knife, washing water for the screen, drying equipment
Printing operation process:
Step 1: Plate installation and positioning
Fix the screen on the printing table and adjust the positioning of the substrate
Screen gap (the gap between the screen and the substrate): 2-5mm
Step 2: Ink application and printing
Ink pouring: Pour an appropriate amount of ink (about 10-15 cm wide) at one end of the screen
Ink return: Use the scraping plate to gently push the ink to the starting point of printing, keeping the mesh moist
Printing:
Scraping plate angle: 60-75°
Pressure: Moderate (visible ink passing through the mesh is acceptable)
Speed: Uniform and constant, usually 15-30 cm/s
Travel: Scrape once to avoid multiple scraping causing edge bleeding
Drying and curing:
Textiles: Heat air drying, 120-150°C, 1-3 minutes
Paper: Natural drying/drying, room temperature 30 minutes or 80°C drying
Plastics / metals: Drying, 60-80°C, 10-20 minutes
Cleaning and maintenance:
Screen plate cleaning
Immediately rinse after printing (water-based ink is easy to wash off when not dry)
Use special washing water for stubborn residues
Avoid using organic solvents (they will damage the water-based system)
Equipment maintenance:
Scraping plate: Wipe with a soft cloth to avoid solvent corrosion
Screen plate: Cleaned and dried after washing, stored in a dark place
Special application techniques:
Thick plate printing: Use a low mesh count screen plate (60-80 mesh), add thickening agent, multiple overlapping prints
Four-color dots: High mesh count screen plate (200-305 mesh), low viscosity ink, precise alignment
Foaming effect: Add foaming agent, heat expand after printing
water based ink1-2
water based ink1-1
Media Contact
Company Name: Foshan Sophah Screen Printing Technology Co., Ltd.
Email: Send Email
Country: China
Website: https://www.sophah-chemical.com/
