| Color in t-shirt screen printing is very important, | | | | Using Fiber Reactive Dyes For Screen Printing T-Shirt |
| especially when you are working with uncommon | | | | Designs |
| materials, such as organic fibers and water-based inks. | | | | Although fiber reactive dyes are used for coloring the |
| These will have to be placed in consideration when | | | | fabric, they can also be used for printing the design on |
| planning the design for the t-shirt printing. The fabric's | | | | white cotton t-shirts. Like water-based inks, fiber |
| color is very important because it will affect how the | | | | reactive dyes have a soft hand. They also do not |
| design will look. | | | | fade or wash off easily. |
| Dark colored fabrics are more difficult to do t-shirt | | | | Fabric can be dipped into, sprayed with, or painted with |
| screen printing work on. The darkness of the fabric's | | | | dyes. It can also be selectively immersed in a dye bath |
| dye affects how the colors of the ink appear when | | | | like in tie-dyeing or batik. For screen printing, the dyes |
| they are absorbed into the fibers and embedded | | | | will have to be mixed with sodium alginate to thicken it |
| through the curing process. | | | | to the same consistency as t-shirt screen printing inks. |
| How To Do T-Shirt Screen Printing With Fiber | | | | Without the thickener, the dyes will simply flow through |
| Reactive Dyes | | | | the screen. |
| Fiber reactive dyes are permanent colorants for | | | | Other T-Shirt Printing Methods To Use With Fiber |
| fabrics. They do not wash off or fade easily. That is | | | | Reactive Dyes |
| the reason why it will be difficult to apply a simple | | | | When you know the t-shirts are made from fabrics |
| technique, unless the process involves a more | | | | dyed using fiber reactive dyes, you are much more |
| complex color separation method. | | | | prepared to use plastisol-coated vinyl for thermal |
| You will need to discharge the fiber reactive dye from | | | | transfer, laser or inkjet ready thermal transfer papers, |
| the fabric area where you plan to print your design. | | | | or direct-to-garment digital screen printing. |
| Use bleach thickeners, such as Monogum or liquid | | | | Thermal transfer can add more character to the |
| detergents, mixed with household bleach, or use Clorox | | | | design, especially when you need to personalize the |
| Bleaching Pen to bleed the area of color. | | | | t-shirt with names or people or organizations. You can |
| When the area has been bled to a lighter color, it is | | | | also use arts and crafts materials, such as glitter, |
| ready for the printing process. Before applying the ink | | | | sequins and beads to add pizzazz and glamour to |
| into the fabric, make sure the area has been | | | | your t-shirt design. The t-shirt screen printing process is |
| neutralized, rinsed and dried. You can cure the design | | | | so easy to do that you can work with your kids in this |
| through heating or by air drying. | | | | project. |