The Inkologist

Tis the season for spring and summer sports. We’ve all been there: you pull a crisp white print on a red polyester jersey off the dryer, only to watch it turn a dull, ghostly pink an hour later. Dye migration is the ultimate buzzkill, but it isn’t a mystery—it’s physics. When polyester fibers get too hot, the dyes turn into a gas and sublimate right into your ink. If you want to keep your prints vibrant and your customers happy, you need a solid "low-heat" strategy. 1. Keep it Cool: Flash &...

This video will explain dot gain, percentages, and coating techniques to get minimal dot gain and accurate color. 810 Donnell Ave, FT WAYNE, IN 46808Unsubscribe · Preferences

*I missed last week as I was traveling Iowa. Part 2 of award winning shirts will be next week. This is too important to skip this week. Shout out to Mike McSorley for calling me out! The Identity Crisis: Why Most "Gurus" Are Wrong About Your Shop In this industry, we often see two distinct worlds. On one side, you have massive, fully automated manufacturing facilities. On the other, you have the Print Shop. If you’re the owner and you started behind a squeegee,if you’re still running the...

The image above is from my first Impressions award winner for CMYK printing. Impressions awards used to showcase the best of the best prints. Some worked on special projects and would spend hours perfecting the print. I pulled mine from the middle of production runs to show what true printing fundamentals can lead to. I'm going to break this down into two quick parts; 1) How I got to that point 2) The separations. My mentor Joe Clarke taught me processes. With the proper process, anyone can...

The "Thin Thread" Advantage Standard Thread (T) vs. Thin Thread (S/LX) If you are still using standard thread for high-mesh counts, you are fighting your ink. Moving to Thin Thread allows you to print "smarter, not harder." The Comparison Standard Thread: Thick filaments (approx. 48–55 microns) block the mesh openings, creating a smaller "Open Area." This requires more squeegee pressure to "force" ink through. Thin Thread: High-tensile, thinner filaments (approx. 30–40 microns) create...

Good Morning All! Attached for you to download are my mesh and squeegee selection guides. Print them off and post them in the screen room, art dept, etc. Use as a guide for quick reference when making selections on burning screens and for training new team members. Have a great week and stay warm! -Antony Squeegee_mesh Durometer Selection Guide - Squeegee Durometer Selection Guide.pdf

Cold Temps Don’t Have to Kill Your Prints Winter is one of the toughest seasons for printing white ink. Cold shops, cold ink, and rushed setups can turn even the best white into a thick, stubborn mess that’s hard to print, slow to flash, and rough on garments. The good news? A few simple habits can make your white ink print smoother, cover better, and run faster, even in the dead of winter. 1. Keep Your White Ink Moving White ink hates sitting still in cold temperatures. One of the best...