Metallic Ink

[johnk6749]

I am trying to print on dark t-shirts using silver metallic ink. I am using a 110 mesh and a soft durometer squeegee. The print isn't coming out as sharp as I would like it.

Should I switch to a different mesh count? Should I use a hard squeegee? What are your recommendations?

[BoydRiver]

Have you asked your ink supplier if you need to under base this ink please?

[johnk6749]

No, it doesn't need an underbase. The coverage is opaque, it just isn't as sharp as I'd like. I am going to try a harder squeegee and see if that sharpens it up.

[she]

Based from my experiences with metallic ink,softer squeegee blades deposit more ink and harder squeegee does not sharpen it at all.. Metallic inks are harder to print,all i do is to press the squeegee down until it gets all the ink through the screen..

[Catspit Productions]

Actually sometimes a harder squeegee will sharpen things up but it will print less ink. If it’s a glitter type ink then I would ask the manufacturer for specific mesh counts and squeegee durometers to use.

If it’s metallic silver that just looks like shiny silver metal then if it covers well you could move up one step in mesh count. But a higher mesh count and a little harder squeegee should do the trick in the end. Also make sure the squeegee blade edge is sharp and square.

If the ink is on the thinner side and runs when you have the screen lifted up then a higher mesh count may be exactly what you need.

[Leadfoot]

I am trying to print on dark t-shirts using silver metallic ink. I am using a 110 mesh and a soft durometer squeegee. The print isn't coming out as sharp as I would like it.

Should I switch to a different mesh count? Should I use a hard squeegee? What are your recommendations?

John did you ever get the answers you were looking for? What ink were you using? I would love to see a photo or two of the finished product as others here probably would as well.

[ppdlao]

I am trying to print on dark t-shirts using silver metallic ink. I am using a 110 mesh and a soft durometer squeegee. The print isn't coming out as sharp as I would like it.

Should I switch to a different mesh count? Should I use a hard squeegee? What are your recommendations?

Hi John, did you manage to sharpen things up with the silver ink printing??