Written By: Zach Dewhurst
(March 13, 2024)
Read Time: 7 Minutes
One great way to give many textile products elegance and a high-end touch is with metallic screen print transfers. Their striking, eye-catching look makes these transfers popular in fashion, advertising products, and special occasion clothing. This blog post explores metallic screen print transfers, their use technique, and the clear benefits they offer to fabric design.
Designing the artwork comes first in creating metallic screen prints. For screen printing, this design has to be changed with all elements updated to meet the screen mesh sizes used in the operation. Once the design is finished, it is sent to a screen typically using a light-sensitive emulsion that hardens under UV light, leaving the design areas available for ink application free.
Genuine metal particles contained in a translucent or coloured base make up metallic inks used in screen printing. These inks impart a unique metallic shine to the print. Thicker than traditional inks, metallic inks demand careful handling to produce a consistent and even layer on the screen.
The made screen helps to transfer metallic ink to a certain transfer paper. To produce a good layer of metallic ink, the process could call for several passes, therefore offering total coverage and best sheen. Every layer dries before the next is laid to prevent smudging and maintain a distinct pattern.
An adhesive layer is laid over the printed, dried metallic ink layers. Later on, this adhesive will assist to heat press the metallic design to the fabric
Make sure the fabric is smooth and clean before application. Any trash or folds could compromise the general look and adherence of the transfer.
Heat-press the transfer paper on the cloth, design side down. Usually running between 320 and 350°F, the heat press should be set to the advised temperature for the glue. The pressure should be strong to guarantee complete adherence of the transfer to the fabric.
The supporting paper is then peeled away following the heat press cycle completion. The type of transfer dictates whether it is done hot or cold. While cold peels must be refrigerated, hot peels can be used straight away.
Often advised is that the fabric be cured with a heat press or run through a dryer to guarantee the longevity of the metallic pattern. This stage guarantees correct adhesion of the metallic layer and helps to strengthen the adhesive.
Many advantages abound from metallic screen print transfers, which qualifies them for many different uses.
- Visual appeal: Bright, mirrored nature of metallic motifs makes any garment luxurious and alluring, which drives popularity in fashion and advertising.
- Versatile: Metallic transfers fit everything from T-shirts and hoodies to tote bags and caps since they can be applied on a range of fabrics, including cotton, polyester, and blends. Applied properly, metallic prints are robust and resist many washes without losing shine or flaking.
Fabric products would look amazing with metallic screen print transfers adding gloss and elegance. In the fashion field, they are really well-liked since they create striking designs and advertising products that assist a company to be unique. Metallic printing may significantly raise the visual value of many different things with the right application techniques.
