Welcome back to another exciting episode of Deep Dive with Colin! Today, Colin is diving into puff printing. This time, he’s making it more engaging and dimensional.
WHY PUFF PRINTING?
Puff printing adds texture and dimension to designs, making them pop. With a 20th anniversary event on August 8th, Colin wanted to create something that would catch everyone's eye and was easy for printers of all levels to print. Puff printing was the perfect choice.
RELATED: TAKE YOUR PRINTS TO THE THIRD DIMENSION WITH FN-INK™ PUFF
DIMENSIONAL PUFF PRINTING
In this design, Colin uses different techniques to create areas with varying puff levels. By using halftones, he makes some parts puff more than others, giving the print a 3D look.
THE PROCESS
Step 1: Screen Preparation
Colin uses two screens:
- Thick Stencil for Puff: A thicker stencil helps get more ink on the fabric, which is key for good puff. Colin uses a 158 thin thread screen coated thickly with ChromaBlue emulsion.
- Standard Screen for Black Ink: A 305 mesh screen for the black details.
Step 2: Printing the Black First
Colin starts with printing the Black screen first to set a good foundation for the black when it’s printed again after the puff is printed. Since the puff will print as a thick ink deposit and can very slightly expand after flashing, printing any color after that needs to touch the shirt becomes challenging. This way, when printing black last if some shadow detail does not touch the shirt, we are covered.
Step 3: Printing the Puff
Using a 65/90/65 durometer squeegee, Colin applies the puff ink. He focuses on laying down a thick ink deposit. Colin uses between 30-35% puff additive in the ink, along with a stretch additive to make the ink more durable when the puff activates. 
Step 4: Flashing
Flashing activates the puff. It’s important not to overheat the ink, which could make the puff activate too soon. A quick, controlled flash keeps the puff ink in the right state.
RELATED: TIPS FOR ADDING MANY FN-INK™ SPECIALTIES INTO THE SAME DESIGN
OBSERVATIONS AND TIPS
- Ink Additives: Adding a stretch additive helps the ink expand without cracking. Because of the added flexibility, you can “over add” puff to achieve greater loft. Always wash test to confirm durability.
- Shirt Fabric: The type of fabric affects the puff. Lightweight fabrics like tri-blends will show more puff than heavyweight cotton.
- Screen Details: Using higher mesh counts with thicker stencils will allow for better detail. A 55 LPI on a 158 thin thread mesh screen worked great for Colin.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Colin’s experiment with dimensional puff printing created a design that looks like weathered stone. The varying heights and textures make it interesting. It’s a great way to add depth and interest to prints with just two screens.
Remember, testing is key. Always run wash tests and try different setups to find what works best.
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