There are few things more annoying (and costly) than ending up with a ruined job because you didn’t expect the substrate to bleed into the print. So, if in the slightest doubt, test. So, here’s the recipe for testing . . .
Materials and ingredients:
- Heat transfer clamp press heated up to 320F.
- Avient Viscosity Buster, K2910. If you use a different brand of reducer make sure that it’s the kind that shouldn’t ordinarily be added to ink at more than 1% Anything calling for more than that probably has resin, and you don’t want that for this test.
- A piece of white cloth or pellon.
- The substrate to test.
Process:
- Lay your substrate on the base of the open heat press.
- Place a spot of Viscosity Buster on the substrate (about the size of a quarter should be fine).
- Place the white cloth over the the spot.
- Heat press it for about 30 seconds at 320F.
- Open the press and remove the white cloth.
Results:
- Check the white cloth for a stain.
- Nearly all polyester fabrics will bleed to a greater or lesser degree.
- The extent of the stain will tell you the extent of the possible bleeding to expect.
Now, knowing the extent of the dye migration challenge you’re facing, you can save yourself a lot of grief (and potentially money too) by using the appropriate underbase or low-bleed ink.
If you need some help with the choice of an appropriate low bleed or dye block ink, make a quick toll-free call to one of Stanley’s Wilflex ink experts: Craig in Cambridge at 1 877 205 9218 or Wendy in Calgary at 1 800 661 1553