ImagesMagUK_June_2021

www.images-magazine.com JUNE 2021 images 27 TIPS & TECHNIQUES Ink chemistry There are some points to consider before leaping in, however, one of which is ink chemistry. With hybrid printing, the underbase is screen printed first, then the tie coat (or ‘glue’) is screened on top of that, followed by the digital layer and then a top coat to seal it, if required. MagnaColours, which is very heavily involved with the digital chemistry for hybrid machines, offers a top coat with a range of finishes, such as matte and super-soft. And, of course, special effects can also be added to the print. Magna also offers the Hybrid Fusion range, which allows you to skip the tie coat step and is compatible with the M&R Digital Squeegee. Most hybrids use water-based inks for both the screen and digital printing. The digital ink and the screen print ink need to be able to adhere to each other – if they repel, then you’ll have issues of rubfastness and washfastness down the line, which is key for retailers in the UK: it can’t fail wash tests. Switching to a water-based system is the first step when moving from regular screen printing to hybrid printing. The key thing for a potential hybrid customer currently using plastisol is to actually want to change. If you’re not convinced about changing to water-based inks from the start, then it won’t work. The best way to approach it is to say, “From X date, we’re going to remove all plastisol from the shop: we’re switching to water-based.” It’s then an easier task – there is no temptation for the printers on the machines to use plastisol ink for ‘just the odd job’, which, because of its ease of use, then becomes more frequent until nine times out of 10 they are using plastisol rather than water-based. We run a programme with Magna called Make the Switch, where we do an audit of the printer’s business, review their processes and then implement a five-step process to ensure a smooth change to water-based inks. Moving to a digital mindset Those looking to invest in a hybrid machine should expect to pay around €180,000 (£150,000) for a top-level hybrid digital station plus extra for the oval or carousel that it’ll be working with. To succeed with hybrid, it’s a case of changing from a screen print mentality to a digital mentality. With screen print, you build up the colours. With hybrid, you print the white base then add the colours digitally on top. You need to understand file formats and understand the limitations of digital files: you need to choose the correct file for the machine and ensure it’s a high-quality file, as low-res files will result in pixelated prints. The designers need to be able to separate the white base and then, usually, choke the glue to make it slightly smaller than the white underbase. The key thing is to have an open mindset and want to understand digital. If you’re doing licenced or promotional prints, it’s undoubtedly the way to go. www.i-sub.co.uk www.resultheadwear.com VIEW OUR FULL RANGE OF SUMMER STYLES RC086X RC089X RC048X Snapback adjuster Easy tear release size adjuster Easy tear release size adjuster Tear release size adjuster RC091X Roq’s Hybrid printer