Reflective ink for screen printing question

[Stacey K]

I'm going to ask here but I know I probably won't get many if any answers. I've been using siser sky blue and siser reflective for these hoodies. The reflective works for a while then it peels off. I'm following the directions exactly and I think it's just not good practice to layer these? He wants these to look EXACTLY like this, no exceptions. Transfer Express sells white reflective transfers but only in white, not two color. I don't want to keep doing the HTV if it's not going to work. My friend said she would have to put white down, then blue, then the reflective on top of that and it's going to get very thick.

Anyone have an idea? OR...am I doing something wrong with the reflective that it won't stick?

 

[Geneva Olson]

I got reflective from stahls to put on a softball team's jerseys for breast cancer awareness a few years back and they have outgrown them. everything stayed fused. We did not layer it.
I forget now. Is there a different setting on the heatpress for reflective?

 

[Stacey K]

I got reflective from stahls to put on a softball team's jerseys for breast cancer awareness a few years back and they have outgrown them. everything stayed fused. We did not layer it.
I forget now. Is there a different setting on the heatpress for reflective?

Yes, it's 15 seconds, I think same heat. There's just reflective on the back and never any issues at all. I'm going to try and cutout into the blue and see if I can line up the reflective. I'm not a fan of that but I'll at least give it a try. I have a call into another screen printer to see what they say.

 

[VizualVoice]

I've got reflective plastisol screen printing ink that works and looks pretty much just like that. It gives a whiteish/silvery gray color, and a single hit would look faded, but a print/flash/print double layer is pretty solid opacity without getting too thick. I wouldn't underbase with white, that will definitely add to the thickness (and opacity of course). If your friend that you mention is direct screen printing, have her try that with a double hit of just the reflective silver and flash between instead of the white base. It won't be as thick and should give you enough opacity to get the effect you're wanting. Union ink is the one I have, I want to say it's called "flashback" or something along those lines. Sorry can't find any pics handy.

Fair warning, it's slightly pricey. IDK how many pieces you're doing, but if relevant and you want to go that way, I could be convinced to dig out the partial bucket I have and make you a deal on the remainder since I haven't used it in a good while and it's a shame to let it sit if someone can use it.

I don't know specifically about those transfers, but I seem to recall something about the reflective HTV material not being one that's good for layering.

 

[d fleming]

I've got reflective plastisol screen printing ink that works and looks pretty much just like that. It gives a whiteish/silvery gray color, and a single hit would look faded, but a print/flash/print double layer is pretty solid opacity without getting too thick. I wouldn't underbase with white, that will definitely add to the thickness (and opacity of course). If your friend that you mention is direct screen printing, have her try that with a double hit of just the reflective silver and flash between instead of the white base. It won't be as thick and should give you enough opacity to get the effect you're wanting. Union ink is the one I have, I want to say it's called "flashback" or something along those lines. Sorry can't find any pics handy.

Fair warning, it's slightly pricey. IDK how many pieces you're doing, but if relevant and you want to go that way, I could be convinced to dig out the partial bucket I have and make you a deal on the remainder since I haven't used it in a good while and it's a shame to let it sit if someone can use it.

I don't know specifically about those transfers, but I seem to recall something about the reflective HTV material not being one that's good for layering.

You're the first screen printer on the thread, lol. You can still underbase with white, just one lick from non flooded screen. Nice and thin. It helps.. SOunds like maybe the OP should outsource to you. Just a suggestion from an old squeegee rat.