ImagesMagUK_October_2020

STEP-BY-STEP: MAKING A WATER-BASED TRANSFER Prepare and separate your mirrored artwork for exposure. Transfers are printed in similar layers to those used in direct screen printing, but applied to the film in reverse Print the first layer of ink using a single stroke. Water-based transfers need to be fully cured before printing the next wet layer. Here, Melvin has used two layers of white, with each layer cured for 60 seconds at 140°C in a tunnel dryer Apply the transfer to the garment using a heat press at 120-165°C, 4-6 bar pressure, for 12 seconds. The heat and pressure activate the adhesive, bonding the print to the garment and releasing the ink from the film Use a small holed vacuum bed to hold the film in place during printing. Mark alignment positions on the bed to allow for consistent placement of transfer films during production Apply the adhesive to the transfer. Cure the transfer one final time The final design Pre-shrink the film. Curing the film before printing will eliminate any shrinkage that may otherwise have taken place during production Print a layer of MagnaTrans Migration Blocker using a 43T (110) mesh screen and cure it. This prevents dyes bleeding into the transfer print and helps to maintain the brightness of the design When the print is cold, remove the transfer film from the garment. Allow the garment to rest for 24 hours before washing for optimum washfastness 1 4 7 2 5 8 3 6 9 www.images-magazine.com OCTOBER 2020 images 73 TIPS & TECHNIQUES