The first window films were invented by 3M in the 1960s. They were (and still are) clear or tinted adhesive backed products that allow viewing through the film with a minimum amount of distortion. The original films were dark and not all that transparent. Digital printing has added a whole new dimension to the world…
A closer look at squeegees and mesh, and how their properties affect specific prints. Shown are squeegee blades with different durometers, as well as some composite blades consisting of several durometers sandwiched together. Blade samples courtesy of Fimor, Serilor brand. My father is a master carpenter, and I learned early on that doing the best…
Remember four-color process CMYK digital printing? Remember the joys and frustrations of trying to match Pantones or other color specifications? Those frustrating days are long gone with the proliferation of multiple ink colors available in today’s printers. But there are a huge variety of choices, and a limited number of heads on printers. Switching colors…
A thermometer with a doughnut probe attachment is commonly used to profile heat output in dryers. The dryer preforms a very important job in a screen-printing shop. If it’s not working properly it can result in the ink that cracks, or falls off after a garment is washed. Achieving the required temperature to completely fuse…
GLEN ELLYN, Ill.—M&R introduces a new video series about successful screen printers. The “Screen Printer Success Stories” series is dedicated to bringing screen printers’ stories to light. Those stories range from the bar owners who bought a hole-in-the-wall screen printing shop without knowing what a squeegee was to the unemployed college grad who read an article…
