2008 CATALOG WWW.ICCINK.COM

Can I intermix other companies’ inks if I need a special color?
It should be no problem, but we recommend that you first test print then wash test your garment before production.
Although you should be fine in most cases, there may be instances of incompatibility between different branded products.
Keep in mind, it is hard to go back to an ink company for technical help after you have intermixed different companies’ ink
products. If you do intermix inks, try to select inks that have the same cure or fusion temperature.
Why is “off-contact” printing important?
Screen-printing was designed as “off-contact” so that the ink will release from the screen once the squeegee has passed
the desired image area. Without off-contact, the screen lifts up out of the ink creating an undesirable print effect.
Are plastisol inks considered hazardous and are they safe to use on children’s garments?
Plastisol inks when properly handled and used are considered “non-hazardous”. Lead-free plastisol inks properly applied
are considered safe for children’s garments. Some children’s sleepwear may require “flame-retardant” inks. Always
check the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for any product you are going to use.
Are your inks safe to use?
Yes, used properly according to our recommendations, our inks are considered safe. Always check the MSDS (Material
Safety Data Sheet) for any product you are going to use.
How or why should I modify an ink and when?
Knowing how, why, and when to modify an ink comes with experience. Most commonly, printers modify inks with
reducers to bring down viscosity when inks are too thick, or with soft hand extenders to soften the hand or feel on white or
light colored garments. Be sure to follow the manufacturers’ guidelines and USE a scale. Be careful! Over modifying an
ink or using incompatible products will create problems.
Why are there so many different whites?
Because it is such a critical color, International Coatings and others formulate specific white inks to accommodate the
wide range of garments and applications printers are likely to run into. Printers can select white inks based on such
factors as bleed, opacity, flash and cure characteristics, or printability.
What is the best white to use?
Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question. Ask yourself what you want from your white ink. Your answer
should depend on the garment, art, desired effect, press, dryer, etc. Then talk with your supplier or ink manufacturer
about which white they recommend.
Why is my ink so thick and what can I do or use to thin it?
Plastisol inks can thicken over time, just sitting on the shelf. We recommend that you try stirring or mixing the ink. This
will help break down the “false body” that inks can get after long periods of storage. If stirring or mixing is not sufficient,
use our “Curable Reducer” at the recommended percentages.
TROUBLESHOOTING
What is the difference between “dye migration” and “pigment migration”?
“Dye Migration” occurs when garment dyes migrate up into the ink film, changing the colors of the printed inks. You may
have seen red 50/50 t-shirts printed with white ink. That printed white ink may have turned a pinkish color over time due to
“dye migration”.
“Pigment Migration” occurs when ink pigments migrate into other inks that are printed over them. Athletic printers may
print a white outline over a blue number. “Pigment migration” occurs when the blue pigment migrates into the white ink.
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