Ultrasoft inks are smooth and creamy and easy to use. They can be direct printed wet-on-wet without curing between colors. Because they are less "stringy" than most plastisol inks, build-up on the bottom of the screens is reduced. If flash-curing between colors is necessary, Ultrasoft inks help maintain high production speeds because they can be flashed quickly. Ultrasoft inks should generally be used on light or medium colored shirts.

CURING:

Ultrasoft Series plastisol inks WILL NOT AIR DRY. They must be heat cured. Ultrasoft inks will fully cure and withstand repeated washings when the entire ink deposit reaches 300 F (149 C). Curing can be accomplished with the use of a conveyer dryer, flash curing unit or simple infrared heater.

Important Note on Curing: Proper curing is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. Poor washability of the print can generally be traced back to under-curing of a direct print or over-curing of a heat transfer. For more specific information on plastisol inks, curing, and drying techniques refer to Union Ink's Plastisol General Information Sheet.

HEAT TRANSFER PRINTING:

Heat transfer printing allows reduced inventory of pre-printed garments. Ultrasoft Inks are the ORIGINAL "hot-peel" heat transfer ink and can also be applied with a "cold-peel" method. They can be printed on heat transfer release paper and then applied to shirts, baseball caps, and other textiles with a heat transfer press. (Caution: Do not use the Metallic colors for heat transfers.)

Ultrasoft transfers can be applied with the "hot-peel" method where the transfer paper is peeled off the hot transfer immediately after the transfer is applied. When the paper is peeled hot, a portion of the ink remains on the paper and the rest stays on the shirts. Hot-Peel transfers feel just like a direct printed garment when made and applied correctly. Heat transfers made with Ultrasoft ink can also be applied as a "cold-peel" where the transfer paper is allowed to cool down completely after application and before removing. This gives a standard rubbery feel to the print that is commonly found in sports applications.

CURING OF HEAT TRANSFERS:

Prints on heat transfer paper should only be semi-cured. Over-cure may cause problems later on during transfer (more energy is needed to remelt a cured film than a semi- cured film). Semi-curing or drying the film only to the extent that the sheets can be handled, stacked, cut and shipped is the desired condition. The ink will semi-cure when the ink deposit reaches 250°F (121°C).

TRANSFER TIME AND TEMPERATURE:

REGULAR TRANSFERS: Transfer at 350°F (177°C) for 20 seconds or 400 F (204 C) for 5 seconds at 40-50 p.s.i. Allow transfer to cool completely (10-30 seconds) before stripping off the paper.
HOT-PEEL ULTRA SOFT TRANSFERS: Transfer at 375 F (190 C) for 10-20 seconds, or 400 F (204 C) for 5 seconds, at 40-50 p.s.i. Quickly strip the release paper IMMEDIATELY after raising the transfer press platen while the shirt remains in the press.

STORAGE:

Store plastisols at room temperature. Prolonged exposure to high temperature can cause the curing process to begin while the ink is still in the container.

WASHABILITY:

Excellent. Dry cleaning is not recommended. Do not iron imprinted part of garments.

Contact us if you would like a colour chart.

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