Different mesh counts are used for different applications in the display printing process. What’s mesh depend? Well, mesh rely is a measure of how many threads of polyester (used to be silk, centuries ago, therefore ‘silkscreening’) cross each other per sq. inch of the screen. For instance, a 110 mesh display would have 110 threads crossing per square inch. The upper the mesh depend, the finer the holes are within the screen.
Factors THAT DICTATE WHICH MESH Count You utilize
The first issue you should keep in mind when choosing a mesh measurement is how detailed your image is. For example, your image has extremely high detail, a low mesh display merely wouldn’t hold the element. The positive strains or dots within the picture would simply fall via the holes within the mesh, leaving you with a poor representation of what your picture needs to be. In case you have a low element image and you utilize too excessive of a mesh depend, you’ll run into issues of not getting enough ink to lay down on the shirt.
The other vital issue to remember would be the thickness of your ink itself. Thinner inks, akin to water-based ink, usually require a higher mesh rely. If too low of a mesh rely is used, then the skinny ink may doubtlessly flood via the larger holes, soaking your garment with more ink than meant. Flooding your garment would make your picture blurry as the ink bleeds. Then again, if you’re trying to print with a thicker ink, reminiscent of plastisols or white inks, you’ll want to think about decrease mesh counts. Too excessive of a mesh depend and you may run into a problem with inks not simply desirous to cross via the mesh, which may result in opacity and coverage issues.
Different MESH COUNTS AND WHAT THEY Mean
You will discover that totally different firms have totally different sizes accessible. If the mesh rely is pretty shut, such as the difference between 155 vs. 156, 196 vs. 200, or eighty one vs. 86, the distinction is so negligible that it will not matter in your ultimate outcomes. Since there are many variables involved in silk screen printing, we can’t tell you precisely what mesh sizes are used for what functions. However, we can offer you a basic define of what sizes to make use of for sure sorts of printing.
Standard MESH SIZES
110 MESH Count
The two most normal mesh sizes are a hundred and ten and 156. A mesh count of 110 will lay down a reasonably thick layer of ink. This mesh is great for block textual content letters. Larger spot shade designs. It’s additionally a recommended mesh to your underbase as a result of you’ll only must do one pass, which accelerates manufacturing. 156 mesh will lay down a moderate quantity of ink, but affords extra element functionality on your image.
156 MESH Count
LOW MESH COUNTS
38 MESH Count
There are mesh counts lower than 110, and they are most frequently used for specialty printing. The foremost place you will note decrease mesh counts used is for glitter and shimmer inks. These inks are made special to have flakes of glitter in them to give the desired look. These flakes can get caught within the mesh of your screen if your mesh depend is just too excessive, and none going onto the shirt itself. Here is more info regarding screen printing mesh price visit the web site. Glitter inks have larger, extra obvious flakes to them, whereas shimmer inks may have smaller particles to present a more subtle look. A mesh dimension of 36 is good for glitter inks, though you’ll be able to go up to a sixty four mesh. For shimmers, an 86 mesh is really helpful.
86 MESH Count
High MESH COUNTS
230 MESH Count
Higher mesh screens, 200 mesh and above, are most often used for finer element photographs and thinner inks. Graphic, discharge, and water-based inks ought to be printed by means of screens of this mesh size. The higher mesh count helps to keep the thinner inks from flooding onto your substrate. Should you want to get a softer hand really feel to your plastisol prints, these increased mesh counts can help as well. By printing the thicker ink by way of the finer mesh, a lot less of it’s laid down, allowing a thinner ‘plate’ of ink. The results are a softer feel to the print. While your plastisol prints could feel softer, you would possibly sacrifice the opacity of the ink by utilizing the next mesh rely. If your design is meant to have very vibrant, vibrant colors, pay attention to how much ink your display is letting you print.
305 MESH Count
At the top finish of the scale, you may have a 305 mesh. This size is used for jobs with the very best stage of detail, and nice halftone four color and simulated process prints. Fine halftone dots want very excessive mesh counts so as to carry and expose correctly. Otherwise, as acknowledged earlier than, the halftones and lines will merely fall via the industrial filter mesh, leaving you with a less than desirable image to work with.
Mesh counts above 305, resembling 355, screen printing mesh price 380, and 400, are primarily used for graphic printing with UV inks. UV inks are extremely thin, and many times are used for prime element printing on indicators, banners, or CDs. Using the next mesh allows the computerized printers used in UV printing to regulate the amount of ink handed by the display.
Thin THREAD VS. Standard THREAD
Hi-DRO, or skinny thread, has lengthy been the standard for printing water-based mostly ink. Its thinner thread profile and wider dimensional openings allow water-based inks to stream through simply. Printers expertise less display screen clogging in contrast to straightforward mesh. Thin thread mesh enables you to maintain. Print larger ranges of detail. Emulsion and ink are not restrained for the reason that threads take up much less house. Over the past a number of years, more shops have been gravitating towards using Hi-DRO for his or her plastisol prints, especially for their base prints.
Hi-TEX, or customary mesh, has a thicker thread compared to Hi-DRO. The Hi-TEX has been the workhorse of the plastisol textile trade for many years. The threads can hold excessive tension levels and are more resistant to tearing and popping while on the press, compared to thin thread meshes.
WHITE VS. YELLOW MESH
You’ll have seen that some screens have yellow mesh whereas others have white mesh. Why is that?
White mesh lets the emulsion expose quicker. Although, the white thread causes the light to scatter, which might end result in detail loss or fuzzy image edges. Since decrease mesh counts want a thicker emulsion coating, they typically have white meshes to help velocity up the exposing course of.
Yellow mesh causes little to no mild scattering, so you retain the main points of the image. The trade-off is that it takes 30% longer to expose. Wood screens are an reasonably priced solution for starting screen printers. Printers trying to create everlasting or long run designs of their screens. For longest life, wooden screens needs to be cleaned with press wash and restricted in-sink washing. Do not use in dip-tanks.
ALUMINUM FRAMES
The benefit of an aluminum screen printing frame is the sturdiness and longevity it retains. Unlike wood frames, aluminum frames will not warp when uncovered to water in a dip tank or washout sink. This may insure a flat frame by hundreds of prints to come back. Aluminum frames are additionally gentle weight which makes transport inexpensive and saves you cash in the long term. If you’re looking to maximize performance in your shop, aluminum frames are an important item so as to add to your display screen printing equipment.
ECO-FRAMES
ECO Frames are frames where you can attach the mesh yourself. Having the ability to stretch the mesh your self means you may get again into production faster, can swiftly change mesh counts between orders, and may have more space in your store. These frames are fit for printers who’ve been in the game for awhile, bought a handle on display screen printing and are looking for a brand new problem, and must clear some space in their store. Learn more in regards to the Eco-Frames.
EMULSION
One last thing to consider is that completely different mesh sizes hold completely different amounts of emulsion, resulting from the dimensions differences within the holes, and that can affect your exposure occasions. As an illustration, a 110 mesh display screen will hold way more emulsion than a 305 mesh screen. While the distinction isn’t extreme, you will have to range your exposure occasions slightly for different mesh sizes. A finer mesh screen will expose faster than a lower mesh screen due to this issue. The difference is small enough that it’s best to solely must fluctuate as much as 5-10% in either route, dependent on the mesh size.
Mesh depend is a major factor when considering your print job. Too excessive or too low can disrupt your job and leave you with a less than desirable print and a lot of frustration. Always keep in mind what ink you’re utilizing, and how much design you’re printing, and you’ll be choosing the right mesh counts and not using a second thought very quickly.