Would Dyeing a Shirt Affect Screen Printing

By : Admin 4th January, 2024

Would Dyeing a Shirt Affect Screen Printing

Screen printing is a well-known process to transfer designs onto clothing including T-shirts. However, some people wonder if dyeing a shirt can affect the screen printing process. Therefore, I am here to explore the myths that dyeing can affect the quality and durability of the shirt and its screen printed designs.

Yet, to understand if dyeing a shirt affects screen printing over it, we have to figure out what screen printing and dyeing are.

What Is Screen Printing

Screen printing is a simple procedure In which we use a stencil called a screen and a special type of ink called screen printing ink. The ink is then applied over the screen with the help of a squeegee. It helps the ink to equally distribute over the stencil. The ink passes through the cuttings and spaces on the screen creating the desired design on the fabric.

It penetrates deep and then is cured within the design of the fabric. In order to secure the ink, the drying process is done by special drying equipment.

This screen printing technique is highly used to transform specific designs and patterns onto different fabrics, most commonly on shirts. It is highly preferred to feature visual graphics, specific pictures, and slogans. Since screen printing is simple, and provides the feasibility to adopt any design, it's very famous among youth. Gen-Z loves to get their favorite characters, logos, and quotes printed on the screen. Yet, some people still stay more concerned about the quality of fabric and factors like ink fading.

What is Dyeing?

The dyeing on a fabric is a process of absorption. In this process, the dye is transferred from the aqueous solution onto the fabric. The fabric is dipped into the liquid, and the dye is absorbed into the fabric, converting it into the desired color. There are different types of dyes like natural dyes, reactive dyes, and pigment dyes. All of them are differentiated by their specific qualities, behaviors, and output results.

Natural Dyes

Natural dyes like its name are derived from plants and vegetables. Natural dyes are reliable to use but provide an unpredictable outcome which can alter the screen printing shirt.

Reactive dyes are preferred in the textile industry. In reactive dyes, a strong bond is reacted between fiber and the dye colors ensuring the dye color completely captures the fibers and doesn't fade after several times of washing. Reactive dyes have an impact on the screen printing. Screen printing inks adhere uniformly leading to smudging or poor print quality hence not ensuring the desired output results Pigment dyes are highly used in DIY fabric dyeing.

The larger particles are just pasted on the surface of the fabric instead of penetrating the fibers. Pigment dyes alongside screen printing add smoothness to the design with desired color bleed or contamination.

Compatibility of Dye and Screen Printing Inks

Remember that when exploring the impact of dyeing a shirt on screen printing understand the compatibility of both dye and screen printing inks to achieve the desired results. Generally, the types of dyes used for fabric are reactive dyes and pigment dyes. Reactive dyes function chemically to build a strong bond with the fabric fibers providing a permanent and vibrant color. Pigment dyes do not chemically bond; instead, they paste on top of the fabric. Both types of dyes have different effects on the screen printing process providing different results. Before considering any one of them it is necessary to understand their compatibility with screen printing ink.

Reactive Dyes:

Sometimes reactive dyes don't allow screen printing ink to capture the fibers of the fabric which provides problems with adhesion. Dyeing a bond between ink and the fibers also results in providing lower vibrant colors. To ensure compatibility before printing a large batch, a test trial should be performed on a small sample of the dyed fabric with the screen printing ink.

Pigment Dye

Pigment dyes have a lower impact on screen printing as compared to reactive dyes.

Precautions to Take Before Dyeing a Screen-Printed Shirt

Before dyeing a screen-printed shirt, it is necessary to consider following precautions to ensure the best output for the design. Here are the precautions to follow:

Check the fabric type:

There are various types of fabrics which react differently to different dyes. So, it's necessary to check the fabric composition of the shirt before dyeing it. Synthetic fibers like polyester not only require special dyes but also different techniques while Cotton, linen, and rayon are natural fibers that absorb dyes very well.

Pre-wash the shirt:

Before dying, pre-washing the shirt can help to remove any dust residual chemicals that may not allow the dye absorption.

Assess the condition of the screen-printed design:

Check any signs of peeling, cracking, or fading on the design which can alter the outer appearance and effects of dyeing. Examine the screen-printed design on the spare fabric to explore its current condition.

Consider the color of the original screen printing design.

When choosing a dye color, the color of the original screen-printed design should be taken into consideration because lighter colors allow designs to be easily dyed over, while darker color designs are tougher to cover up completely.

Follow dye instructions

To ensure the best color retention it's advisable to read and follow the instructions. Dye products are manufactured with specific instructions for applying, mixing, and setting.

Protect the remaining areas of the shirt:

To prevent unintended dye transfer and preserve the integrity of the design use a masking tape or fabric paint pen to carefully cover specific parts of the shirt.

Design Distortion:

Some dyeing causes the cloth to shrink or stretch unevenly which can result in distorted or warped screen printing design. Examine the shirt after dyeing to ensure that the design has not been distorted.

Color Bleeding:

The possibility of color bleeding while a shirt is dyed is very common; dye may seep into the screen-printed design, causing the colors to blend or bleed which can result in distorted or less defined prints.

Fading:

The vibrant dye color can sometimes cause the screen-printed design to fade over time. Exposure to sunlight, harsh detergents, or washing repeatedly can encourage this fading process. Choose quality dye products and follow proper care instructions to avoid fading. Using the appropriate dye-to-water ratio, agitating the garment gently, and thoroughly rinsing it, also provide better effects on the screen printing. To ensure the longevity of both the dye and the screen-printed design follow the instructions provided by the dye manufacturer.

Wrapping Up:

Dyeing an embroidered shirt is easier than dyeing a screen-printed shirt. Besides, usually dying a shirt with a screen-printed design doesn't affect it. Yet, low-quality screen printing ink or dyeing ink sometimes react together as both are chemicals. So, it's better to cover your printing before dying a shirt or do screen printing after dyeing your shirt.