Ever finished a run only to realize your Royal Blue looks muddy, or your Red has mysteriously "moved" onto the back of your screens? Usually, the culprit isn't the ink or the dryer—it’s the print order.
Getting your sequence right is the difference between a crisp, retail-quality print and a blurry, buildup-heavy mess. Here is the blueprint for a perfect hit, every time.
1. The Golden Rule: Light to Dark
As a general rule of thumb, you want to print your lightest colors first and move toward your darkest. This prevents darker pigments from contaminating lighter screens if there is any minor ink pickup.
2. The Trouble with Fluorescents and Reds
Reds and Fluorescents are the "divas" of the ink world. They often contain heavy pigments that struggle to sit still. Specifically, PMS colors with high fluorescent content are notorious for "picking up" on the back of subsequent screens when printing wet-on-wet. To avoid a mess, save these for the end of the sequence whenever possible.
3. Thin is In: Mesh and Deposits
The secret to successful wet-on-wet printing is keeping your ink deposit as thin as possible.
- High Mesh Counts: Use the highest mesh possible (230–305) that still allows you to reach your desired opacity.
- Less is More: A thick layer of ink acts like a sponge for the next screen. Keep it thin, and the next color will slide right over it.
4. Know Your Inks: To Flash or Not to Flash?
Not all inks are created equal. Some Low Cure inks are specifically engineered for better wet-on-wet performance, while High Opacity (HO) inks are often too "tacky" and must be flashed before another color hits them.
Pro Tip: If you're struggling with ink buildup, try adding a small amount of Chino Base or Fashion Soft Base. This reduces the "tack" of the ink and helps it stay on the shirt rather than sticking to the back of your next screen.
The Perfect Setup: A Case Study
Let’s look at a standard 6-color design. Here is how we would stack the deck for success:
StationColorStrategy
1-White BaseHigh opacity;
FLASH
2-116 C Yellow Lightest top color; prints smooth over base.
3-Royal Blue Mid-tone; watch for pickup.
4-Red Printed late to avoid bleeding into others.
FLASH
5-Black Defines the image; almost always second to last.
6-Highlight White The "pop" on top; printed last for maximum brightness.Export to Sheets
Final Adjustments
To really dial it in, remember the "Speed & Pressure" mantra:
- Lower Squeegee Pressure: Don't drive the ink through the garment; let it sit on top.
- Faster Print Speeds: The less time the screen is in contact with the previous ink layer, the less pickup you’ll have.
