Images Magazine June 2018

TIPS & TECHNIQUES www.images-magazine.com 20 images JUNE 2018 P reparation is a key aspect of the DTG printing process, and there are different and distinct stages to prepping for a DTG print: maintaining the machine daily, pre- pressing the garment, pre-treating the garment when printing on to dark fabric, researching the fabric and its make-up, fine-tuning the settings and performing tests. All of these preparation steps are equally important and need to be completed to achieve top quality prints. There is much truth in the adage ‘Fail to prepare, prepare to fail’. Simon DiNiro, systems sales specialist at Xpres, discusses the importance of preparation before you hit the print button on your DTG machine Maintaining a healthy machine The maintenance of a DTG printer is simple, quick and easy as long as it’s performed regularly. The white ink used is thicker and heavier and can cause problems if the ink settles, making the machine’s tubes and components clog up. A daily clean is required to prevent this from happening. The new Epson SureColor F-2100 DTG printer that’s available from Xpres has an automated daily clean that can be administered at the push of a button. A bi-weekly clean is also recommended to ensure that the automated cleaning runs smoothly. Keeping up with maintenance is essential for achieving the best possible DTG prints. This will also extend the longevity of the machine. Pre-press A pre-press will remove creases from the garment and give the printer a flat, even surface to print upon. Creases in the garment can affect the perceived height of the printer platen and in turn will affect the print quality. The key is to get the garment as close to the print head as possible without the head actually touching it. A pre-press is also important for extracting the moisture from the garment. Having a dry garment will help towards achieving quality DTG prints. Pre-treatment Pre-treatment is a vital step in the preparation process when printing onto dark garments. Pre-treatment liquid is a water-based solution that needs to be sprayed onto the area you wish to print on. White ink has been designed to adhere to the pre-treatment liquid whereas CMYK inks have been designed to adhere to 100% cotton or fabric with a high cotton content. White garments do not need to be pre-treated, however pre-treatment liquid and white ink can be used on light coloured garments to achieve more vibrant results. The pre-treat liquid is not designed to last on the garment so if it is left for longer than 12 hours, you will need to pre-treat the garment again. It is Simon DiNiro A test print is vital, says Simon The new Epson SureColor F-2100 performs an automated daily clean