Covering All Underbases

Sept 1, 2008

When screen printing on dark-colored garments, print a white underbases to achieve a bright print. However, when the design requires the use of white, use another white layer in the color order on top of the underbase rather than letting the underbase itself serve as the white in the design.

The key to obtaining bright prints on dark-colored garments is through the proper use of a white underbase. However, it's not necessary to have an absolutely white underbase to achieve a high-opaque print. The underlay's job is to block some of the garment's color and provide a foundation for the overprint colors.

A good underbase white ink leaves a matte finish, giving the top print colors something to grab onto. A white underbase print on a black garment, for instance, might turn light gray but will still provide the necessary coverage and opacity to result in a bright final print.

Also, it is important that you don't use underbase white as a stand-alone white ink in your design. Print another white layer in the color order — on top of the underbase — to serve as the main white color in the finished design. Using a glossy underbase is a common mistake. It slows down flash times and is a poor surface for the top colors to stick to.

Finally, experienced screen printers turn to finer mesh counts for underbase white prints. They use 156 to 195 monfilament mesh, and some even go to the extreme, with 230 mesh counts. — Information provided by James Ortolani, Hix Corp., Pittsburg, Kan.

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