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Permalink Reply by SLCDESIGN on April 9, 2008 at 8:28pm

Dear Like what I see?

Question, how can you print to create a sparkly gunmetal look, with out it cracking? What technique does the printer need to do/use.

Thank you for the 411.
Shannon

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Permalink Reply by Northcutt Screenprinting and Design on May 15, 2008 at 7:12pm

You can just print a crystalina layer ontop the gunmetal ink. Use 10% crystalina mixed in with the crystalina base. its like an additional color.

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Permalink Reply by SLCDESIGN on May 16, 2008 at 1:40pm

Thanks for the info. I'm new to the printing game. I'm working with a factory actually in India who is printing on our "hoodies" and we can get our gun metal print sparkly enough and when it's printed on the actual printed on the garment it cracks, we don't want the "foil" look either.

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Permalink Reply by Northcutt Screenprinting and Design on May 16, 2008 at 3:18pm

Printing industry standards in India aren't what they are, say, in California. That's why its so cheap to print in India. For example, what type of plastisols are they using? What kind of base for the crystalina? I'm guessing they aren't using the top-end stuff. Not to say their products won't work for all projects, but, for sure, their products will come in sub-par for some that require a more technical ink or base.

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Permalink Reply by Klaus Lange on May 15, 2008 at 1:38pm

hi, i am a local artist. some of my work has been printed on silk and handsewn in Thailand, but I find myself locked out of domestic boutiques because of the import factor. question: of the two options, digital inkjet print in short runs but at high cost, and offset print at great set up cost but being cost effective for larger runs, which one can i get done here in the USA? where? at what price?

lost in fashion land,
klaus

www.seaklaus.com

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Permalink Reply by Northcutt Screenprinting and Design on May 15, 2008 at 7:23pm

Klaus,
I really enjoy your work. Its so hard to believe all those colors come off those hulls. I am a sailor myself, raised in the Navy, served in the Marine Corps. I love boats.
Anything I can do to help you would be my pleasure.

About screenprinting....

As an artist, I would consider purchasing your own gear, if possible. For the cost of having it done at a screenprinter's you could purchase the equipment used and do it yourself.
It's only expensive because its somewhat labor intensive.
If you do the printing yourself, its quite inexpensive.
I could even provide free instruction. It would be a pleasure to assist you.
If you are still loking to have it done at a shop, I think screenprinting is the way to go. Digital is cool and all, but I think its so new, that like you said, its relatively expensive to do.
What are the sizes of material you wish to print on?

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Permalink Reply by Klaus Lange on May 15, 2008 at 7:49pm

Big Thanks!

That was a nice reply. I was considering my own digital printing equipment. It's all out there. Jaqucard in Healdsburg sells the paper mounted fabric, Bytes2Print in Berkeley sells the big printers. The problem is that printers want to run run run, or they give you grief. I just don't have that much yardage to use at this time, so I run into the problem of over production. For the silk screening my sizes may be too large, i.e. the scarves are 18x60, the sarongs 42x60. Preferably I would like to work in sizes 45x90, because that gives me unlimited possibilities. The materials I like to work with are silk chiffon, silk charmeuse, perhaps rayon, and the like. Would that still work for silk screening?

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Permalink Reply by Northcutt Screenprinting and Design on May 16, 2008 at 1:25pm

I think screenprinting is best for oversized print because a screen can be made to virtually an size. You may find digital printers, while convenient, have serious size restrictions. I'm not sure about printing on silks. I will ask around inside the industry and see what the gurus have to say.

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Permalink Reply by SLCDESIGN on May 16, 2008 at 1:42pm

Have emailed picture of our 1st proto samples which are not correct at first, anyway, artwork is not correct in this picture, but give you an idea of what we're trying to get.

Thanks again.
Shannon

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Permalink Reply by Northcutt Screenprinting and Design on May 16, 2008 at 3:22pm

I think it would be relatively simple to get the effect you're going for
for this type of artwork. What state are you in?

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Permalink Reply by SLCDESIGN on May 17, 2008 at 12:40pm

My freelance gig is in Alexandrea Va. close to D.C. We're working with a factory in India. They produce a lot of Hurley styles, so printing they have down, they just don't seem to get we want some "sparkle" in the actual color that when printed it doesn't crack when stretched or bullet proof which is what we've received from the factory print strike offs. We don't want either the "foil" look...since it's totally overdone...Reason why I asked you...maybe I could learn something...so when getting back to the factory with some comments I could talk a little more technical with them regarding printing technique.

B.rgds
Shannon

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Permalink Reply by Northcutt Screenprinting and Design on May 17, 2008 at 10:17pm

Sure, tell them to add a crystalina layer on top, mixed at 10% crystalina to 90% Base. You could tell them to "add another color, and that color is crystalina." Have them print you a sample and send it to you. Does this help? If not let me know, I will try to assist you as best I can.I kow it can be hard dealing with a printer in person, much less overseas.

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