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GT-541 ink cures by heat. However, total
ink amount differs from artwork, either one small logo on the chest, full size
of platen 14" x 16", full of dark colors, only pastel artwork, etc.
etc. Therefore, there will be a difference in speed of temperature dropping
as the heat platen touches the printed surface, which will consequently leave
difference in time for curing ink. On the other hand, raising temperature too
high or, pressing too long a time may burn your T-shirt. And once the T-shirt
is burned, it's over. When the print size is large, or many dark colors are
used, especially in double printing, check the surface by touching softly. If
it is no sticky, it's done. After heat-presssing, take out the T-shirt
gently, and place it separately from other garments to let the remaining
moisture to be gone. When the temperature of the T-shirt drops to the room
temperature, the curing bis completed. Roughly rubbing the surface of the
printed surface while the T-shirt is still hot will stretch the ink and you
will have to throw it in the garbage. Handle with Care, Please!!
If you feel by touching a T-shirt that ink has not cured yet, we have a
little TIP for you. After the first heat-pressing, spray water lightly on the
T-shirt with a sprayer just like you iron your shirts. Add heat in a few
seconds, and cool it.
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 If you print on a
fabric with low water absorption such as polyester with a lot of ink, curing
with a heat press may cause the bleeding of the print and it will be very
messy. In that case, you can either adjust ink volume menu to reduce ink by
Printer Driver, or use oven, or hold the heat platen right above the surface
for a minute and a half or two, until the steam is coming out around the heat
press machine. Check surface by touching.
Reddish colors may
look dull while the T-shirt is still hot. Strange to say, and we all don't
know why, both printed color and colored T-shirt goes in the same way. The
colors will be back normal as it cools down. Don't panic!
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 If the ink is not
sufficiently cured, it may get on your hands as you rub the surface, and in
that case the printed artwork may easily wash off. If the printed
surface is not sticky and the surface is smooth, it is finished and has
enough washability.
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Sorry, but
no one here could properly operate the oven we have now because it only has
ON and OFF switch for the heater, and we can adjust only the feed speed of
the roller. But we presume that a heat treatment by an oven may be better
because it is indirect. Obviously it will take time, maybe around 2 to 3
minutes. So far, none of us has mastered the skills to beautifully cure a
print without burning. We need a screen printing expert to give us trainings.
If any of you have a solution, please let us know.
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