Impressions - May 2016 - 69
Pre tre atment ImPortance
It's wasteful, costly and frustrating to find out your
garment was improperly pretreated after a shirt
has been printed.
Pretreating garments needs to be repeatable and
consistent. Regardless of whether you're using the
roller method, Wagner sprayer or a pretreatment
machine, find consistency in your application.
Remember, not all pretreatment machines are
created equal. Like DTG printers, they vary in
reliability. Pretreatment solution is like liquid glue,
and the possibility for clogging and inconsistent
spraying is likely. Buy a machine that is easy to
clean and has a strong track record of reliability.
get approval before spending the time
and money on a guess. Incorrect guesses
cost you profits.
Reliability is key. If your equipment
is not working properly, you will spend
more time fixing and troubleshooting
than printing. I suggest identifying the
industry's most reliable DTG printers by
talking to fellow decorators and doing
research, and narrowing your focus to them.
Most printers are made up of modified
solvent-paper components.They work well
for solvent printing, but when you convert
them to accommodate sticky, heavy, textile
ink, things start to fall apart. Be wary of
printers that were once paper printers.
Don't skimp on maintenance. Follow
your maintenance schedule and don't
cut any corners. In most cases, it's better
to excessively clean and maintain your
equipment rather than to wait.
Create an efficient production layout. For
DTG printing, an efficient layout involves
lots of tables. Develop a system that allows
easy, quick access to a computer, goods,
pretreatment area, printer and heat press.
Have staging and finishing areas and, most
importantly, don't get pretreated shirts
confused with non-pretreated shirts.
A plan for efficiency is a plan for success.
Waste is expensive and demoralizing.
Be happy and profitable with a reliable
machine and a good production system.
Pretreatment is crucial in
DTG printing, so buy a
machine that is easy to clean
and has a strong track
record of reliability.
In most cases, it's better to
excessively clean and maintain
your DTG equipment rather
than to wait.
John LeDrew is the DTG Director for Melco Intl.,
Denver. For more information or to comment on
this article, email John at jledrew@melco.com.
Use Info*Action #20 at impressionsmag.com/infoaction
MAY 2016
P.69
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Impressions - May 2016
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions - May 2016
Impressions - May 2016
Contents
First Impressions
From the Show Director
Overheard
First Look
Scene at ISS
On Design
Innovation in the Trenches
The Knits Just Keep On Comin’
Innovation Sparks Screen-Printing Success
Stitching Staples Get Upgrades
Digital Shines in the Spotlight
Shop Talk
Embroidery Production
Screen Printing Production
Screen Printing Graphics & Design
Sublimation
Direct-To-Garment
Heat Printing
Classifieds
Ad Index/Online Directory
Impressions - May 2016 - CT1
Impressions - May 2016 - CT2
Impressions - May 2016 - Impressions - May 2016
Impressions - May 2016 - Cover2
Impressions - May 2016 - 1
Impressions - May 2016 - Contents
Impressions - May 2016 - 3
Impressions - May 2016 - 4
Impressions - May 2016 - 5
Impressions - May 2016 - First Impressions
Impressions - May 2016 - 7
Impressions - May 2016 - From the Show Director
Impressions - May 2016 - 9
Impressions - May 2016 - Overheard
Impressions - May 2016 - 11
Impressions - May 2016 - 12
Impressions - May 2016 - 13
Impressions - May 2016 - 14
Impressions - May 2016 - 15
Impressions - May 2016 - 15a
Impressions - May 2016 - 15b
Impressions - May 2016 - First Look
Impressions - May 2016 - 17
Impressions - May 2016 - 18
Impressions - May 2016 - Scene at ISS
Impressions - May 2016 - On Design
Impressions - May 2016 - 21
Impressions - May 2016 - Innovation in the Trenches
Impressions - May 2016 - 23
Impressions - May 2016 - 24
Impressions - May 2016 - 25
Impressions - May 2016 - 26
Impressions - May 2016 - 27
Impressions - May 2016 - The Knits Just Keep On Comin’
Impressions - May 2016 - 29
Impressions - May 2016 - 30
Impressions - May 2016 - 31
Impressions - May 2016 - Innovation Sparks Screen-Printing Success
Impressions - May 2016 - 33
Impressions - May 2016 - 34
Impressions - May 2016 - 35
Impressions - May 2016 - Stitching Staples Get Upgrades
Impressions - May 2016 - 37
Impressions - May 2016 - 38
Impressions - May 2016 - 39
Impressions - May 2016 - Digital Shines in the Spotlight
Impressions - May 2016 - 41
Impressions - May 2016 - 42
Impressions - May 2016 - 43
Impressions - May 2016 - 44
Impressions - May 2016 - 45
Impressions - May 2016 - 46
Impressions - May 2016 - 47
Impressions - May 2016 - 48
Impressions - May 2016 - 49
Impressions - May 2016 - 50
Impressions - May 2016 - 51
Impressions - May 2016 - 52
Impressions - May 2016 - 53
Impressions - May 2016 - Shop Talk
Impressions - May 2016 - 55
Impressions - May 2016 - Embroidery Production
Impressions - May 2016 - 57
Impressions - May 2016 - Screen Printing Production
Impressions - May 2016 - 59
Impressions - May 2016 - 60
Impressions - May 2016 - Screen Printing Graphics & Design
Impressions - May 2016 - 62
Impressions - May 2016 - 63
Impressions - May 2016 - Sublimation
Impressions - May 2016 - 65
Impressions - May 2016 - 66
Impressions - May 2016 - Direct-To-Garment
Impressions - May 2016 - 68
Impressions - May 2016 - 69
Impressions - May 2016 - Heat Printing
Impressions - May 2016 - 71
Impressions - May 2016 - Classifieds
Impressions - May 2016 - Ad Index/Online Directory
Impressions - May 2016 - 74
Impressions - May 2016 - Cover3
Impressions - May 2016 - Cover4
Impressions - May 2016 - N1
Impressions - May 2016 - N2
Impressions - May 2016 - N3
Impressions - May 2016 - N4
Impressions - May 2016 - N5
Impressions - May 2016 - N6
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201804
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201709
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201610
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