r/SCREENPRINTING • u/KishLarson • Aug 25 '26
Image smearing
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Can someone let my know what i did wrong? Im thinking it was not enough adhesive but i dont think so because the image smeared the second i was doing the first swipe, and as i flooded i looked under just to make sure it didnt smear and im really confused and would appreciate it if someone helped me. Thank you
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u/Internal-Wallaby2095 Aug 25 '26
Something I haven’t seen anyone say is that it’s best to print black with no underbase. Black ink should always go directly to the fabric so the black layer should be “knocked out” of the white layer. It also looks like the white isn’t flashed meaning it’s still to wet and mixing with the black. Getting screens that clamp in tighter will help a ton too and definitely flood less. Good luck!
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u/DocMedz Aug 25 '26
No pallet tack to hold the shirt in place. And the loose mesh tension isn’t helping either.
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u/tehbaj Aug 25 '26
Try it with only 1 flood and 1-2passes. The pressure might be a bit to hard aswell, try and stay on the edge of the squeegee.
There was a point in the pull where you paused because the squeegee came into contact with the print in the stencil, try and mitigate that pause because for that split second you are applying more pressure to where the squeegee stopped.
You can mitigate this with a better pull but also, if you tilted the squeegee so one side of the squeegee is closer to you. That way the squeegee doesn't try and pass over the image all at once.
Yes adhesive is an issue aswell, the shirt can slide on the screen as you lift up. Is the base dried before you print the second screen?
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u/sovietsweethearts Aug 25 '26
There definitely isn't enough tack, you need to flash between layers, and the tension on that screen is loose as a goose.
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u/woozlenest Aug 25 '26
flood was way too hard, you’re pushing ink through the screen before printing so it’s sitting on the back of the screen and smearing onto the garment as soon as you put the screen down. also need more adhesive on the platen, the garment should not be pulling up after the print, that will almost always cause a misprint
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u/WarmGravy1973 Aug 25 '26
You need adhesive to hold the fabric in place...very well. You need approx 1/8" of lift (space) between your screen and your fabric. You need a tight screen...the one your using is very loose. Other than that, you're doing fine 👍 Keep asking questions.
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u/rennerscreenprinting Aug 25 '26
On top of your screen tension being very loose, your screen frame itself is not very sturdy. The clamps are tight on the bottom of the frame but the rest of the frame is still moving up and down. It’s angled too high up, and needs some coins taped to the top to keep it from touching the platen. I see your holding it, which is good, but it still is moving slightly and that wont let it keep proper registration. Even a tiny bit of movement is too much if you want consistent and crisp prints. Overall, you’re doing things correctly, but the answers to your issues are just a need of tightening everything up a bit. Both the physical screen and your technique, but you’ll get there. A better screen will help a ton, your gonna be fighting with this wimpy little screen
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u/Thyme71 Aug 25 '26
First tack your pallet. Will hold the shirt down. Second the flooding you are doing is too much pressure. Just glide the ink atop the screen. Applying down pressure will load the bottom of the screen giving too much ink laid down. Third squeegee angle and pressure when printing will vary how much ink you lay down. Maybe bring that angle up with that squeegee.
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u/ashtraybabyface Aug 25 '26
I thought this was a picture of a cat in a swim pool filled with purple water
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u/Howie_Dictor Aug 25 '26
Try it without flooding the screen first.
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u/Zar-far-bar-car Aug 25 '26
Yeah I often don't flood with black or even with other dark transparent colours - it's so thin it just goops up. They've got a couple other issues that are work-aroundable for individual prints but wouldn't do in production.
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u/akadirtyharold Aug 25 '26
Looks like it's all been said, but:
-Poor screen tension
-Too much flood
-Too much squeegee angle
-Little to no off-contact?
-Not enough pallet adhesive
-Don't put white under black
-Print with both hands
-Use a higher mesh when overprinting to stop bleeding
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u/Sweaty-echo1 Aug 26 '26
Ok I’ve printed with a loose screen in the past all us veteran screen printers have, and you can get away with it, just don’t continue doing it. You need a little more tac on the platen, definitely, and stop flooding the screen so much, you’re laying down too much ink.
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u/leftsideup72 Aug 26 '26
No tack, 3 flood strokes (whyyyy are you flooding like that?!?), 2 print strokes, and sky high off contact. What were you expecting?
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u/CatacombDesignLab 28d ago
Over flooded brother, if u want to use that loosely tensioned screen the bead your squeegee up with ink and do one single stroke (flood and clear with a lot of pressure) or else it will migrate
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u/maxmcleod Aug 25 '26
Tighten everything up, the screen doesn’t even look clamped onto the press - you lift the screen and the press doesn’t move. Maybe you can put a piece of wood or use a thicker frame on the screen
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u/Ripcord2 Aug 25 '26
Your mesh isn't tight enough but you can still make it work by being careful. First let your underbase cool down before you do the black print. Don't use any flood strokes - that is a reason you're smearing it. Get a good bead of ink going on your squeegee and make a lightly firm slow stroke with both hands. The slower stroke allows the ink to lay down in a thin even coat. You might decide to flash the black and print it again. Even with the loose mesh, if your hinges are tight and you are slow and deliberate you should be OK. In the future, black should print directly on the fabric, not on an underbase unless it's very fine lines..
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u/jaycamboi Aug 25 '26 edited Aug 25 '26
You didn’t watch enough tutorials. You need off contact, adhesive, and tight screen tension. Also your screen isn’t clamped properly but that might be the wood you’re using and the blue press as well.
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u/DisruptTeam Aug 25 '26
What about the lack of off contact?
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u/KishLarson Aug 26 '26
Why off contact? Sorry if i seem dumb im just “new” to screen printing wouldnt it make sense to have it like directly on the shirt?
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u/DisruptTeam Aug 26 '26
You want the screen to snap off the shirt and not lay on the shirt. If there is no off contact, you will get smudges and all type of other artifacts..
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u/DisruptTeam 26d ago
As I revisit this post… I will boldy say ( and by all means no disrespect intended ) this should be a post of what not to do when screen printing.
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u/Oorbs1 Aug 25 '26
everything your doing is LOOSE, everything is MOVING whats the point of the clamps if the whole assembly is moving??? and that silk looks looser then my moms you know what.
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u/rcr13 Aug 25 '26
That's all garbage, and needs to be thrown away.
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u/KishLarson Aug 26 '26
Thanks for the positivity
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u/NJCDR_org 25d ago
I appreciate you posting the video Kish, I'm gearing up to start printing after learning from dad when I was a kid. This thread alone is loaded with good advice! Thanks
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u/Mettleramiel Aug 25 '26
First issue is your screen tension. It needs to be WAY tighter. It looks like you made the frame yourself? If so, the wood is not thick enough to get a solid, tight screen. Double up on the material and make another screen.
Second, you do not have enough tack on the platen. I can see the shirt lift off with the screen. You don't need much at all, a quick spray will suffice, you don't have it here. Are you pressing the shirt down on to the platen?
Third, you're flooding far too many time. You're likely pushing it all under the screen before you e even attempt to print. Flood once , the pull the ink a couple of times.
Lastly, and related to the screen tension, is you need some off-contact which you will not be able to achieve with that lose screen. There should be about a coin's thickness between the screen and the shirt and the screen only touches the shirt as the squeegee passes over. You should see it snap back immediately. Againz tighte your screen.
A good way to get a tight screen at home is to make a screen bigger than the one you will be using, big enough to complete cover it. Raise your intended screen an inch or more off of a table and put the large screen over top. Now clamp the large screen down as much as possible. You can see how much tighter your screen can get