Our Printing Processes for Buffalo, NY Printing
Buffalo Silk Screen | Screen Printing
Screen printing is a printing method where a screen mesh is the catalyst to move ink onto a base material, blocked out by an agent that is stenciled to conform to the desired image you are printing. Only one color is laid down per screen, so multiple screens are required to create a design with multiple colors. The screen mesh is typically made from nylon or polyester, and must be mounted on a frame and under tension, usually measured in Newtons per centimeter. The entire screen has an emulsion spread across it, and selected areas are exposed to UV light, which hardens the emulsion to form the stencil for your screen. Any pin-holes where the emulsion didn’t dry all the way are blocked out with tape or a block-out pen. The screen is then placed atop the base material and flooded with ink, and a squeegee is run across the screen to fill all the holes of the screen with ink.
Get a screen printing quote →Direct to Garment | DTG in Buffalo
DTG is the acronym commonly used for the Direct to Garment printing method that uses digital printing technology to lay specialized inks directly into the fabrics of garments. The inks are water-based, so printing on fabrics made of organic threads like linen, bamboo, hemp, and cotton works best. First the fabrics undergo a pre-treatment process so that the water-based inks adhere completely, followed by being heat-pressed so not only does everything adhere, but the threads of the garment lay down to deliver a more level printing surface. After a successful pre-treatment, the garment is loaded onto a platen that keeps the garment in a secure place for the printer to jet ink directly into the garment through the print head. The first commercial DTG printer was invented in 1996, but the market for DTG printing did not take off until 2004 when the technology started to advance. In 2013 DTG technology was revolutionized again, and the market has continued to grow ever since.
Get a DTG quote →Digital Heat FX | HeatFX Transfer
The technical term for Digital Heat FX is thermal-transfer printing, a digital method of printing where material is joined to transfer paper by dissolving a layer of ribbon so it remains bonded to the material you are transferring onto. Wax is melted by a specific printer onto a particular substrate, which could be cloth, card, paper or something man-made. Three key parts make thermal-transfer printing work: a substrate designed to withstand heat, a carbon ribbon which holds the ink, and a fixed print head. Print heads come in 203, 300 and 600 dpi (dots per inch). Each dot heats up instantly to a set, adjustable temperature, melting the wax- or resin-based ink from the ribbon onto the substrate under steady pressure from the print head. When the substrate comes out of the printer, it is completely dry and ready to use.
Sublimation | Polyester Printing
Dictionary.com defines sublimation as “to change the form, but not the essence.” Physically speaking, it means to transform a solid to a vapor. Sublimation printing first prints onto a special piece of paper, then transfers that image onto a different substrate: when heated, the ink becomes part of the material. A sublimated image will not crack or peel. This process is best used on polyester, or on items with a polymer coating, and since it is a dyeing process, it works best on lighter colored items.
Get a sublimation quote →Embroidery in Buffalo
Embroidery is used on virtually any material that holds when a needle is drawn through. This professional look has been around for a long time, and gives an elegant finish that is proven to last. Freedom Expressions uses the latest technology, including Polyneon threads which are built to last.
Get an embroidery quote →In Conclusion
There are pros and cons to each printing process, and which one is best for you depends on the size of the job, the image being printed, and the garment it is printed on. We are located right outside of Buffalo, NY and are ready to hear from you.
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