Sometimes, a design calls for a shimmery, sparkling effect. To get this type of effect, metallic ink can do magic. Each metallic ink has its uses, and FN-INK™ Silver can add stunning elements to a design and bring prints to life. Let’s look at some of the different ways screen printers can use FN-INK™ Silver in their shops.
WHY DO PRINTERS WANT FN-INK™ SILVER?
Incorporating metallic ink like FN-INK™ Silver adds a special effect to screen prints. Since this ink reflects in the light, prints will catch more eyes. The best part? FN-INK™ Metallic Silver prints like a dream. You can print it directly to fabric, over an underbase, with color mixed in, and more.
There are so many ways to use this ink: the possibilities are nearly endless. It’s all about what you’re looking for in a print. Let’s go over some creative ways you can use FN-INK™ Silver in your print shop.
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HOW DO I PRINT FN-INK™ METALLIC SILVER?
There are a few ways to use this ink. Let’s dive into the different ways to make prints stand out with FN-INK™ Silver.
PRINTING DIRECT-TO-FABRIC
If you’re looking for an easy way to get sparkly prints, FN-INK™ Silver’s got your back. It prints fantastically direct-to-fabric. FN-INK™ Silver will print easily through mesh counts ranging from 110 to 230. Printing this ink directly to a fabric looks a little different than over an underbase. Printing directly to the fabric will allow the texture of the shirt to affect the shimmer. This means the ink will really sparkle and shine in the light.
PRINTING OVER A BASE WHITE (OR ANOTHER COLOR)
Printing FN-INK™ Silver over a base white will produce a chrome effect. However, you’ll need to be careful in controlling the ink deposit so you stay in control of the print detail. For the brightest look, grab a 156 mesh. If the design has fine details, you can print the silver ink through a 230 mesh.
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MIXING COLORS WITH METALLIC SILVER INK
Depending on the effect you want, you can add as much color to FN-INK™ Silver as you need. You can also add this silver to another color as a tint. One thing to keep in mind when adding color to FN-INK™ Metallic Silver is that it has a grey value, which will affect the color’s look. Do you want to mix silver and a bright royal blue? It will produce a gunmetal shade, which has a grey tone to it.
It’s insane how much you can do with FN-INK™ Metallic Silver. Say you’re wanting a slight shimmery black. Add 10%-20% of FN-INK™ Silver by weight to the black ink to create a subtle effect. If you’re adding white to FN-INK™ Silver, use a Mixing White. A standard white ink contains opacity-boosting additives that can easily cover up the silver flake.
When in doubt, test it out! If you’re adding a color to FN-INK™ Silver, make sure you’re happy with it before you head to production. A great way to test your colored inks without committing to a large batch is to make a small sample—50 to 100 grams—to use for testing. That way, you’re not wasting precious ink.
MODIFYING FN-INK™ SILVER
FN-INK™ Silver is ready to print right out of the container. No modification is necessary. You can add a FN-INK™ Curable Reducer at up to 5% by weight if you’d like. If you need that print to stretch more than regular prints, add FN-INK™ Stretch starting at 5%. You can add more if the greater stretch is desired.
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TOOLS & TECHNIQUES
FN-INK™ Silver is a low cure plastisol ink that prints like butter, but it’s not a low bleed ink. If you’re printing on a poly or poly blended garment, you’ll want to use a low bleed underbase. If you use an underbase of any kind, the underbase will change how the silver looks. The silver will become more chrome-like in appearance.
To print this ink, use a 70 durometer or a 65/90/65 squeegee blade. You want an even print with enough flake deposit, and using a blade that is too soft will not properly shear the ink while a squeegee with a stiffer, or harder blade will result in a thin ink deposit.
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When possible, do a flood print. The flood stroke will pre-fill the stencil and make it easier to fully clear the ink and flake from the screen. You’ll have a smoother ink deposit.
CURING
Even though FN-INK™ Silver is a low cure ink, the flake in the ink reflects heat, causing the ink to take longer to reach full cure. If used side by side with FN-INK™, you may notice that the other standard inks reach full cure before the silver ink does. To ensure the entire print reaches full cure, increase the dwell time (retention time in a conveyor dryer) or increase the temperature you cure at. Perform a wash test to ensure the print was properly cured. If the print washes out or the ink cracks, then the print is undercured. Adjust the dryer settings, cure another test print, and have it undergo another wash test until you find optimal results.
Add this buttery, shiny ink to your prints in order to give your designs a beautiful shimmer that’ll be sure to turn heads. Unlock specialty printing today with FN-INK™ Silver.
