Are you ready to dive into the world of printing on waterproof garments? Make your designs shine on materials like nylon or polyester with Wilflex™ Epic Hugger Catalyst. It’s an ink additive solution designed to make printing on waterproof materials more effortless than ever before. Let’s take a peek at what the process looks like when printing on nylon substrates.
TOOLS & TIPS
To print on windbreakers, rain jackets, etc., you’ll need a product called Epic Hugger Catalyst. The smoothness of the nylon and its waterproof feature makes it challenging for the ink to create a bond with the fabric and adhere to it. The hugger catalyst acts as a glue to help the ink bond to the windbreaker.
To prepare the ink for printing, determine the amount of ink you’ll need to print the job. You’ll want to aim to discover the right amount of ink because once it is mixed with the catalyst, it’ll expire in 4-8 hours.
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When you know how much ink you need, it’s time to add the catalyst. You’ll need 10% by weight of the catalyst. Say you have 100 grams of ink, you would add 10 grams of the catalyst.
You don’t need to do anything special when it comes to mesh count and the hugger catalyst. The mesh count will depend on the design and ink. If you need more information about choosing the right mesh count, check out this article.
There’s a debate as to whether or not you should remove the waterproof coating of a windbreaker or similar garment with rubbing alcohol before printing on it. Most waterproof garments offered to decorators can be printed on without removing the waterproofing. But ink manufacturers recommend removing the waterproof coating with rubbing alcohol and confirming the material is ready by conducting a water droplet test — if the water soaks in, you’re good to go.
That’s it. You’re ready to print. Remember to get on press right away since the ink is good for 4-8 hours.
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CLEANUP
As always, cleaning your screens as soon as possible after a job is important. It’s an absolute must when printing with a hugger catalyst because you don’t want to damage the mesh. Use cleaning solvents like Ink Degrader or Multipurpose Ink, Stain, & Haze Remover to clean the screen, squeegees, and any other tools you use with the ink. If you have any unused ink, please dispose of it responsibly.
Pro Tip: Do not dry clean, bleach, or iron the printed area.
THE FINISHED PRODUCT
Now you have a waterproof garment with branding that won’t wash off during the next thunderstorm. If you share online your branded waterproof nylon jackets, tag us! We’d love to see how it turned out.