Remove Sublimation Ink From Shirt? Trust The Answer

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Creating sublimation projects is fun and easy, but when you encounter these common sublimation problems, it can get stressful. These are the most common sublimation problems that almost everyone has experienced. We’ll discuss how to avoid these common sublimation mistakes, what causes them, and how to fix them so you can get back to making your own mugs, mugs, garden flags, and other sublimation products.

banding

When you print your sublimation transfer and notice a visible line or an area that is blank and missing the print, this is known as banding. It is caused by a clogged print nozzle so when printing the ink is not spit out and this causes this band of blank outputs.

Banding can be caused by dried ink in the printhead, a blockage in the line preventing ink from reaching the printhead, or a damaged printhead. It’s a good idea to use your printer often so that the ink on the print head doesn’t dry up or run out completely. If you have a Sawgrass dye-sublimation printer, it can service itself, so it is recommended to keep this printer powered on at all times.

If you have a printer that doesn’t support these self-maintenance cycles, just print a sublimation transfer every now and then. Some people recommend a few times a week, which is enough to ensure the ink on the printhead doesn’t dry out.

So how do you know that the banding is caused by a printhead problem? You simply print a nozzle check and check for missing lines in the printed pattern. Go to your printer’s control panel and look for the option to print a nozzle check.

If your nozzle check print is missing lines, you may need to clean your printhead by printing an entire page borderless to free the line. After full border printing, do a nozzle check print again to see if that solves the problem. If lines are still missing, you may need to clean the printhead with denatured alcohol. Watch this video for instructions on how to do this.

If the problem persists, try these Sawgrass steps (fix missing rows) or contact Sawgrass Technical Support for assistance. They will give you a step-by-step solution and if they can’t solve your problem, they can replace your printer if it’s still under warranty. My older SG400 had to be replaced due to the same issue.

Pinwheels on printed sublimation transfers

Pinwheels are also called roller brands and pizza wheel brands. These are the dotted lines that will be printed on your sublimation transfers and will also be transferred to your sublimation blank when you press on it. This is caused by the ink on your paper not drying fast enough for the wet ink to be picked up by the roller and printed onto the rest of the paper.

Make sure you are using the correct paper recommended by your printer manufacturer as it has been tested to work with it. If you have a rebuilt Epson printer, try a different weight and see if it works better for you. Turning off high-speed printing will also slow down your printer so your ink has some time to dry so it doesn’t get on the platen.

Printed transfers are not alive

If your printed sublimation transfers are matte, this can either be normal or a problem. Usually printed transfers are matte, but once you press them properly onto your sublimation blank the colors should be vibrant.

But if your pressed sublimation blank still has a dull image, then it could be due to one of the following:

You printed on the wrong side of the paper – most sublimation paper has a watermark on the back, so make sure you print on the unwatermarked side. If using paper without a watermark, look for the side with the lightest/whitest side; This is usually the side you want to print on. You are not using sublimation ink – make sure you actually received ink made for sublimation. Missing ICM Profile – Some sublimation ink manufacturers provide an ICM profile so check it and make sure you have downloaded it or you are using the most current version. Your image is not of high quality – check your graphic and see if it is clear and vibrant to begin with. Images that are small or of poor quality will result in a poor quality print.

Check out our FREE sublimation files for high quality sublimation designs that are free to download and use!

The pressed sublimation image is a different color than the design on the computer

If your computer monitor is showing a different colored design than what you are pressing onto your sublimation blank, it may be due to a missing ICM profile. Contact your ink manufacturer to obtain an updated ICM profile and download it to your computer.

Often what you see on your computer screen is not what you see on your pressed sublimation blank. Computer screens process and display colors differently than what our eyes see on actual physical products. Calibrating your screen is possible and requires professional editing software to do it properly.

Other possible causes may be that your heat press is not at the correct or high enough temperature, or is not using a blank that can be sublimated. As discussed in our What is Sublimation Printing post, the heat press needs to reach the right temperature for the ink to gasify and adhere to your sublimation blank. Read more about the necessary transfer press temperatures here.

The design was not transferred to the sublimation blank

The most exciting moment is when you finally peel off that sublimation transfer to see the image on your sublimation blank. When you then only see a hint of yellow residue instead of the design on your blank, that’s such a disappointment. If you see this happening, it could be because:

The ink you are using is not suitable for sublimation – check your ink to make sure it is suitable for sublimation and not just regular inkjet. The blank you printed the design on does not have enough polyester material or coating to hold the sublimation ink – make sure your sublimation blanks are actually made for sublimation. The heat wasn’t high enough to turn the ink from the sublimation transfer into gas – check the temperature of your heat press with an infrared thermometer and make sure it’s high enough for the sublimation process. You need to be closer to 380 degrees and higher for the sublimation ink to turn into gas. Not enough time was used for the sublimation process – most sublimation blanks need about 1 minute and more heat. This time also depends on what you are pressing. Therefore, contact your supplier of sublimation blanks.

ghosting and bleeding

Ghosting and bleeding is a common sublimation mistake and is common for both beginners and advanced sublimators. This is when the design of your pressed sublimation blank has some shadowing or blurring around its edges instead of being clear. Some causes of these ghosting and bleeding from sublimation are:

There might be some moisture on the sublimation blank, so the moisture when pressing prevented the ink from fully transferring. A simple fix for this is to pre-press your blank for about 10 seconds to dry out the moisture. The shifting of your sublimation transfer when opening the press can also cause ghosting. This is because your sublimation blank is still hot enough to pick up the sublimation ink from your transfer that has just moved or shifted. To avoid this, make sure your transfer adheres well to your blank so it doesn’t shift when you open your heat press. Slowly opening your press also reduces the likelihood of the transmission shifting. If you don’t use blow-out film to cover your sublimation transfer, your design can actually be transferred to the hot plate which is then re-transferred to your next sublimation blank. So make sure you use a new and clean blown film every time you use your heat press.

Blank or light areas in the pressed sublimation blank

If you are seeing a blank or lighter area in your pressed sublimation print, this could be due to uneven heat from your heat press or moisture on your sublimation blank. Sublimation requires fairly consistent, high heat to get it to come out right. Moisture prevents this even heat, so your design isn’t fully transferred to your blank. Here are some ways to prevent those blank areas on your pressed sublimation blank:

Use an infrared thermometer to check multiple areas of your heat press to see if there is a cold spot. Eliminate moisture on your sublimation blank by pre-pressing it for about 10 seconds. Avoid using Teflon as a blowout film as it can trap moisture. It works well for vinyl but not for sublimation. Use a plain white blowout paper. Uneven pressure from your press can also be a cause. When using a clamshell heat press to sublimate something thick like cutting boards or slabs of slate, the area towards the back of the heat press can have more pressure than the front of the press.

Lines around the design on your sublimated shirt or towels

Soft sublimation blanks such as shirts, towels, canvas and neoprene do not require heavy pressure in the heat press. The edges of sublimation transfer paper can leave a line on your soft blanks if you press too hard. You can prevent this line by using less pressure on your heat press, ripping the edges of the paper so it’s not a hard solid edge, and using a lint roller after pressing to fluff up the flattened fibers of your blank.

Coming Soon: Sublimation Tutorial Video on how to sublimate kitchen towels without press lines.

Sublimation design is faded on the sublimation shirt

As per our section What is Sublimation Printing? Your guide to the dye sublimation process, your sublimation blanks must be polyester or have a polymer coating to allow the sublimation ink to transfer and adhere to your blank. Sublimation works best for 100% polyester shirts or fabrics as it produces the most vibrant colors. The less polyester in the fabric, the lighter your design will be on it. But this lighter/faded sublimated image can work if you’re looking for a vintage look!

Check out the color difference of these sublimated designs on shirts with different polyester content:

If you’ve sublimated a cotton shirt and it looks good right away, remember that the design will eventually wash off after a few washes. This is because the sublimation ink is only permanently transferred to the polyester portion of the fabric.

Bruising on the fabric after sublimating the design

If you ever see those little bruises on your shirt or other soft sublimation blanks like towels and canvas bags, they are lint that has been heat pressed. The bad news is that these bruises are permanently inked on your sublimation blank and cannot be removed by washing. To prevent this, roll your blank with a lint roller before pre-pressing, and then lint roller twice more! It’s important to do this more than once as lint is everywhere.

If you encounter other common sublimation problems and issues not covered above, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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Stains are difficult. It seems like each fabric requires a different and specific cleaning method or material. When treating an ink stain on polyester you have a few options including using acetone. But while acetone might work, there are a few things you need to know before using acetone on polyester.

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Know the fabric: Polyester

Polyester is practically ubiquitous today, but it wasn’t always like this. When man-made synthetic fiber first came out in the 1940s, it was a wrinkle-free alternative to natural fibers, and it was also easy to wash at home. Polyester is made from plastics derived from petroleum. Over the decades, the look and feel of polyester fabrics has evolved into something that feels soft and smooth against the skin.

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Regular cleaning of polyester

Polyester is easy to clean, and to keep your polyester clothes looking fresh it’s as simple as running them regularly through the normal cycle in your washing machine, preferably in warm water. However, if the polyester has developed ingrained odors, a little more work may be required. In these cases, the garment should be soaked in a solution of warm water mixed with 1/4 cup vinegar for 30 minutes before subjecting it to a conventional wash to drive away even the most stubborn odors.

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Using acetone to remove ink stains on polyester

There are several methods to remove stains such as ink from polyester. One of the most effective is acetone. Acetone is a common, naturally occurring solvent. Acetone can quickly and easily remove even the most stubborn ink stains from polyester fabric. In addition, it gets the job done without damaging the fabric. However, before you simply apply acetone to the stain, first remove as much of the stain as possible with a simple mixture of warm water and dish soap. Applying this mixture to the stain and then using paper towels to blot the stain will remove the top layer of ink that may not yet have settled into the garment.

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Once that’s done, let the spot dry. The risk of spreading the stain with moisture is not worth it. After the stain dries, use a sponge to apply acetone (nail polish remover with acetone works well) and then blot the stain with the sponge until the ink stain is completely removed.

Acetone can be used to remove annoying ink stains from shirts and other clothing. Credit: CasarsaGuru/iStock/GettyImages

Although many people know that acetone removes nail polish, they may not know that it has many other uses as well. Acetone is a solvent used in other household products such as personal care products and cosmetics. It’s also a highly effective stain remover, regardless of what household product you have that contains it.

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Remove stains with acetone

The most obvious type of stain that acetone can remove is nail polish itself, but it’s also good for removing paint and ink stains. When using acetone this way, you have to be very careful. While you can use acetone on cotton clothing or other man-made materials, you shouldn’t apply it to fine natural fibers like wool or silk. Read the label first to see if the item is washable. Also, if the fabric contains acetate, modacrylic, or triacetate, use a non-acetone nail polish remover.

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If the stain is still wet, blot with a clean, white cloth to remove as much of the stain as possible. For washable fabrics, use a white cloth or clean sponge and dab some acetone. Work with a light hand from the outside in, using clean parts of the sponge or cloth for each movement.

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When you can no longer see the stain, rinse with cold water and wash as usual. To remove ink stains, combine one part acetone and two parts water, dip in a cotton ball, and blot the ink stain until it disappears.

Acetone on black clothes

Can you use acetone on black clothes? The answer is yes, but you may not have much success. Most experts agree that this doesn’t work as well as using acetone on lighter colored fabrics.

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If you are trying a cleaning product on fabric, test it on a small, inconspicuous spot first. Just dab a bit and see if it changes color or damages the fabric in any way. You can also try using non-acetone nail polish remover on black clothing, but there is no guarantee that this will be successful.

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Other Uses for Acetone

Acetone has many other uses. First, it can be used to remove melted plastic from metal objects. If your plastic spatula is taped to a saucepan, you might be able to salvage it. Wait for everything to cool down. Dip a rag in acetone and wipe away the melted bits until they come loose. Then be sure to clean everything thoroughly before cooking with it again.

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Acetone can also smooth out scratches on hard plastic items like furniture, clock faces, and picture frames. Use a cotton swab and just some acetone and rub slowly and gently. It can also remove tea and coffee stains from glass and ceramic mugs. Wash them very well afterwards too. You can also use acetone to remove scuffs from floors and to dissolve dried superglue.

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Acetone can be used to remove paint stains from walls and to disinfect small grooming items like nail clippers, razors, and tweezers. You can also clean a porcelain tub with acetone. Be sure to wear cleaning gloves and a mask if you find the odor bothersome, and ventilate the area well. To clean porcelain tubs, mix equal parts water and acetone, apply to dirty parts with a rag, and scrub with a non-abrasive brush. Rinse anything you clean with acetone with soap and water.

About acetone

Acetone is a colorless, volatile liquid with a pungent, sweet odor. It is a solvent used to clean liquid polyester and vinyl ester resins. It dissolves liquid resin and allows cleaning of spills, rollers, brushes and other equipment. Once polyester resins are fully cured, acetone cannot dissolve them. Acetone is not an effective solvent for epoxy resins.

Acetone is good at dissolving substances, including the fat in human tissues. This means that with prolonged or repeated contact with acetone, skin strips natural oils, causing dryness or cracking. Therefore, acetone must not be used to clean hands.

Acetone is completely water soluble and easily washes off the skin. Acetone forms a vapor easily at low temperatures. In small or poorly ventilated spaces, this vapor can accumulate and, in high concentrations, can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. Acetone is also highly flammable.

Special protection information

Respiratory protection: Ensure adequate ventilation. If above NOHSC exposure standard level, use SA-approved respirator.

Eye Protection: Use SA approved chemical splash goggles.

Protective Clothing: Wear chemical resistant gloves such as butyl rubber or neoprene rubber gloves. Apply barrier creams to exposed skin. Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and safety boots.

CONTACT YOUR SAFETY EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER FOR RECOMMENDATIONS.

effects of exposure

Eyes: May cause moderate to severe irritation.

Inhalation: May cause eye and upper respiratory tract irritation and CNS depression.

Skin: May cause moderate irritation – defatting and dermatitis.

Ingestion: May cause gastrointestinal irritation, CNS depression, drowsiness, and kidney and liver damage.

First Aid Procedures

Eyes: Flush with water for at least 15 minutes.

Inhalation: Remove to fresh air. If breathing is difficult, seek medical attention immediately.

Skin: Flush with water.

Ingestion: DO NOT induce vomiting. If the person is conscious, they should drink large amounts of water. Get medical advice immediately.

Spill or Leak Procedures

Eliminate all sources of ignition and ventilate area. Wear protective equipment, stop spill at source, dam area and pump liquid to containment container if possible. Alternatively absorb spilled liquid with vermiculate or sand. Pick up in designated waste container using non-sparking tools. Flush the area with water, but avoid getting into bodies of water. Dispose of waste in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations. Let the supplier advise you. Spill/leak reporting may be required by EPA and Dangerous Goods regulations.

fire extinguishing procedures

Wear protective equipment including self-contained breathing apparatus. For small fires, use dry chemical or carbon dioxide. Use alcohol-type foam on larger fires. Cool fire exposed containers with water spray.

Storage and Handling Procedures

DG class 3. Highly flammable. Keep away from sources of ignition in tightly closed, labeled containers. Store in a cool, well-ventilated area with an automatic sprinkler system or fire suppression system. Ground containers when pouring to prevent static electricity discharge. Do not transfer to unmarked containers. Provide ventilation both at floor level and in the breathing zone. Open containers outdoors to allow any vapors to escape, especially when heated. Store away from oxidizing agents.

KEY to Abbreviations – CNS: Central Nervous System EPA: Environmental Protection Agency NOHSC: National Occupational Safety and Health Commission (Worksafe Australia) PVC: Polyvinyl Chloride SA: Standards Australia

Disclaimer: The facts and information contained on this page are believed by Composites Australia to be correct at the time of going to press. Composites Australia accepts no responsibility for the use or misuse of information on this site. Composites Australia accepts no responsibility for any damage or injury caused by any information or omissions on this page.

“Sub-li-what-now?!” If you’ve ever wondered what this odd-looking word actually means – then wonder no more.

No, it’s not an underwater warship or screen translations to help you understand a foreign film; It is a high-tech printing process used primarily for print-on-demand apparel. Today we’re going to take it apart – we’ll cover what it is, how it works, the pros and cons, when to use it – and when not to use it.

What is sublimation?

Let’s start with the broad strokes. What exactly is sublimation?

Simply put, it is a printing method that uses ink and heat to transfer a design onto a material or fabric.

It’s a game changer in the apparel world as it allows for the printing of entire garments – designs that go from seam to seam.

The sublimation printing process

How does sublimation work? Well, sublimation printing uses heat to essentially bring the ink and fabric together as one.

First, a design is printed on special paper. The inks used become gaseous when heated, then bond with the fabric and permanently print onto the fabric. The effects are permanent and less prone to fading because the ink is embedded in the fabric or substrate rather than simply placed on top of it like a regular print.

The process is almost like a tattoo but not for your skin but for your chosen product. The heat opens the pores of the fabric, then the pressure applied cools the ink and returns to a solid form.

The result is a permanent, full-color image that will not crack, peel, or wash off the substrate. The process allows the ink to go from a solid to a gas without turning to liquid, a bit like dry ice. The conversion is initiated by heat and controlled by pressure.

This fast and effective digital printing method is becoming increasingly popular for smaller runs and those designs that rely on detail. Sublimation printing is also known as “all-over printing” because you can choose a design that can literally go from seam to seam.

Images courtesy of the Global Orphan Project, obtained through Flickr under a Creative Commons 2.0 license.

Although mostly popular for print-on-demand t-shirts, the process is also available for ceramics, wood and metals, etc. that have been given a special coating to hold the sublimation ink.

The pros and cons

The professionals

The most exciting advantage of this method is alone the freedom you have in your designs that other methods don’t always offer.

On one side of the spectrum, you can get as crazy as you like. Why not print an entire t-shirt that looks like a burger? Or a cat flying over a (nicely printed) galaxy background?

Likewise, you might want to keep it classy with a photo of a famous skyline or landscape. The possibilities are almost endless, so you will keep coming back.

The longevity of the design is a plus, with a design that won’t crack, peel or fade. Even after countless washes, your garment will never degrade at the back of your closet!

Sublimation printing is suitable for short run jobs, seam-to-seam designs and garments with a large number of design variations and applications.

The disadvantages

The main disadvantages were the choice of materials. Sublimation printing is only suitable for garments containing polyester (100% polyester or polyester blend). Although sublimation is possible on other materials such as cotton, as it is on man made fabrics the image is not permanent and it is not recommended.

If you want to go for the vintage/distressed look that’s all the rage these days, choosing a fabric with a lower polyester content would give you that finish.

Another potential problem to watch out for is white wrinkles. With sublimation, a design is printed onto white fabric and if there are areas of the garment that the design doesn’t reach, they remain white. This can be caused by accidental creases or small amounts of moisture collecting on the transfer paper.

Image Source: https://inktale.com/help/artist-assistance/all-over-printing

Designs that work well with sublimation printing

Sublimation printing is particularly good at creating whimsical, dramatic and almost ridiculous designs – a massive trend in recent years, seen in both high-end and low-end stores.

For example:

Photo credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:T-Shirt_sublimation.jpg

Now this t-shirt probably fits under quirky, dramatic AND ridiculous. And the sublimation printing made the full effect possible. The t-shirt is fully covered in design and uses a vibrant color palette.

The repeated design below works well too. Again, due to the full coverage aspect of the design, the pattern of the print is carried over the entire t-shirt, using only the ends of the garment as natural finishing points.

Another type of design that works particularly well with sublimation printing is photo prints. The method allows you to fill the entire area with the photo instead of just placing it squarely on the front of the garment.

For example:

The tank top above uses the image of the flower and a more muted background (because if you can fill the entire tank top, why not?)

Photography was also used for the design below, mapping an entire landscape onto the t-shirt, which is particularly effective given the angles used.

Sublimation also works well when your garment calls for several different logos or designs. With traditional printing, you can be billed for each individual logo application – while with sublimation, large numbers can be incorporated and printed in one go.

Designs that will not work with sublimation printing

Color blocked designs or designs that require extremely precise placement may not work as well with sublimation printing. For designs with slogans, direct printing (DTG) may work better. DTG printing is essentially like a regular printer, but only for t-shirts. So the garment is fed through a special flatbed printer and the designs are applied.

If you only need a logo in the center of your garment, sublimation may not be the ideal way just because it’s generally more expensive to “print all over” than to put a logo front and center.

One of the keys to using sublimation printing effectively is understanding the limitations of the method and choosing a design wisely. By reading through the pros and cons and looking at the examples above you should be able to decide if the design you have in mind would work with sublimation printing or if you are better off going with DTG.

Sign up for free today, learn more about selling on a Shopify Print on Demand store, or browse our range of dropshipping sublimation products.

Screen printing is one of the most popular ways to transfer a design onto fabric for t-shirts, bags and hoodies, but what happens when you need to remove that printed design? Maybe you have a side business selling screen printed t-shirts on Etsy, or maybe you found a comfy hoodie at a thrift store and want to remove the ugly cracked logo on it. In any case, you’re probably wondering how to remove screen printing from clothing.

The most popular way to remove screen prints from clothing is to soak a cotton ball in nail polish remover and rub over the design. Other easy methods include using an iron and paper bag to melt the print or using a sugar scrub to scrape it off. Some fabrics require special care to remove the design without damaging the material.

In this article, you’ll discover seven easy ways to remove screen printing at home. You will also learn techniques for dealing with print residues and how to deal with special fabrics such as polyester.

What is screen printing?

Screen printing uses a thick ink that will not bleed through fabric to create a stenciled design on many popular items including t-shirts and bags. Many retail companies that sell t-shirts with designs use this technique. You can also easily screen print at home with the right tools and inks.

Screen printing is sometimes referred to as screen printing because the process originally used tightly stretched silk netting onto which the negative of the design was stenciled. The printer then rolls the thick ink onto the screen and places the mesh screen onto the shirt. The stencil prevents the negative space from inking the t-shirt, creating a design!

Screen printing usually only uses one or two colors of ink due to the simplicity of the process. If you want a t-shirt with a multicolored design, you should probably look into heat pressing.

The other very popular way of decorating t-shirts in bulk these days is called heat pressing. This involves heat sealing a transfer (usually vinyl) to fabric. These designs can contain more colors than screen printed designs. However, both methods use heat to create sculptural designs on the fabric.

Depending on the type of fabric used, you can often use the same techniques to remove both a screen printed design and a thermal transfer design.

7 effective ways to remove screen printing from clothes

There are a number of effective ways you can remove screen printed designs, depending on the size of the design, what type of fabric it will be printed on, and how much time and effort you are willing to put into the process!

You may want to learn these techniques because you want to do screen printing yourself and get rid of any blemishes or flaws in the designs. Or maybe you like salvaging second-hand clothes and removing old logos or unattractive designs from the items you buy. There are many reasons why you might want to know how to get rid of an unwanted design!

As general advice, always think about safety first when attempting any of these techniques. Wear gloves when handling strong chemicals, open a window, and protect your work surface with a piece of plastic wrap.

Also remember that you should not expose the design to hot water or heat. Heat permanently fixes the design. (There is one exception to this rule, as you will see later with the “iron and peel” method).

Here are seven easy ways to remove screen print from your clothes.

1. Acetone or nail polish remover

Nail polish remover contains a chemical called acetone that can even dissolve old and cracked ink designs. This method is by far the most popular and often very effective. Also, many of you probably have a bottle of nail polish remover in the cupboard under your sink, so it’s a convenient method to try first.

Of course, you can also buy acetone, but please follow proper safety procedures when working with any of these strong solvents.

First, determine what type of fabric your design will be printed on. If the fabric is more than 50% polyester, skip this method and scroll down to the polyester section for some specific tips for dealing with synthetic fabrics.

If your fabric is mostly cotton or another sturdy fabric like denim, you can certainly try one of these methods.

Secondly, if your design has been reprinted, try washing the item in cold water first as this could loosen the ink.

Next, soak a cotton ball in nail polish remover and gently blot an inconspicuous area of ​​the design. This is a good way to make sure the chemical isn’t damaging the fabric.

Assuming the nail polish remover didn’t damage the fabric, go ahead! Rub the cotton ball over more of the design. Let it sit for a moment and then try peeling the design off.

Once the design is gone, you should wash the t-shirt or fabric item again to remove the nail polish remover and any remaining ink stains.

2. Spotting liquid

You can buy stain removal guns in a variety of prices and potencies. Some use air compressors and others work more like the cheap squirt guns you might give out at a kid’s birthday party.

In any case, the general idea is to give you a precise way to remove small blemishes in your design. You should make sure you aim the gun at the inked design as the stain removing liquid will damage the plain fabric.

These guns use both pressure and a chemical solvent to force the ink to dissolve and saturate through the back of the mesh, so make sure you have an old towel or other scrap material under the screened surface to stop the leaking soak up ink.

However, this process is perhaps the easiest to try. All you have to do is fill the gun with the stain removing liquid, aim the gun at the flaw in the design and shoot!

Of course, wash your fabric item after you’re done to remove the chemical solvent.

The disadvantage of this method is that you have to buy the gun and the special liquid. It would cost a lot to remove large designs using this method, so you probably only want to use it for small bugs.

3. Plastisol Remover

Plastisol is the most popular type of ink used in screen printing, and you can purchase specialty ink removers that will effectively remove this ink from fabric.

This stuff is powerful, so please work in a well-ventilated area and wear gloves!

To try this method, soak a soft cloth in the remover and place it over the design. Leave this on for thirty minutes.

Next, use a soft brush to remove the peeling parts of the design.

Use a soft cloth to wipe away any remaining plastisol remover.

Finally, wash your item in a normal washing machine cycle with detergent. You don’t want to wear the garment while it still smells of strong chemicals!

You may also have luck with rubbing alcohol or mineral spirits, although these techniques work less consistently.

4. Iron and peel

This technique uses iron to melt the design onto a paper bag, making it easy to peel off the remaining ink.

Typically, you should avoid applying heat to a design that you wish to remove, as this can make it difficult to remove the ink. However, this method is the exception to the rule.

Get a large paper bag like the ones you get at grocery stores. Look at the bag and notice that one side is a little shinier than the other. Place the shinier side of the bag over the screen printed design you wish to remove.

Next, set your iron to a low setting with no steam. Then run the iron back and forth across the paper bag several times. Hopefully the heat will encourage the design to stick to the paper bag and peel it off the fabric!

If part of the design remains on the fabric, you can scrape off the rest of the ink with your fingernails or a plastic scraper.

5. Fading with washing

While this is not a quick fix, it is true that all designs will fade over time, especially after sufficient washing.

In general, the average design will remain flawless after about fifty washes, especially if you turn the garment inside out before washing. Of course, if your goal is to get rid of the design, leave it the right way around!

The danger with this method is that the color of the shirt as well as the inked design can fade.

6. Rinse with cold water during printing

You can often remove fresh ink with a cold water rinse. This method usually only works for brand new designs. Doing your own screen printing will help you save easily damaged items during work!

As soon as you notice a flaw in your design, run the item in your washing machine for a cold rinse. Alternatively, you can try hand washing with cold water.

Never use warm water! Heat sets the ink.

If the cold rinse worked, you can try a warm rinse and then let the item air dry.

7. Sugar scrub

You can also use sugar to gently sand down screen printed designs. This method works best on fresh designs, although you may find that it works on small areas of an older design as well.

Try the cold water rinse first and see if that works. If there is a bit of design left over, measure 1 tablespoon of regular sugar onto the design. Then use your hand or a soft cloth to gently rub the design with the sugar.

Of course, you’ll want to wash the item again to get all the sticky sugar out when you’re done!

How to remove screen printing from a shirt

You can try any of the seven methods above to remove the screen print from a t-shirt, but here are a few other tips to keep in mind.

First check the manufacturer’s label inside the shirt to determine what fabric it is made of. Some t-shirts are made from pure cotton, while many others are a blend of cotton and polyester. If your shirt is more than 50% polyester, you may want to try the dishwashing method outlined later in this article in the section on removing screen print from polyester.

As a second t-shirt tip, make sure you have a buffer between the front and back of the shirt. You can put a piece of thick cardboard or an old towel between the layers. This will prevent ink from seeping through to the back of the shirt.

How to remove screen printing from a jersey

Usually the nail polish removal method works quite well to remove old lettering from a jersey.

Soak a cotton ball in nail polish remover and gently rub over the design. Use a soft brush or cloth to rub away the peeling letters.

You can also try applying the nail polish remover to the inside of the material instead of directly to the design. Let it sit for a moment and then gently peel off the old lettering.

This method often works with heat-set vinyl lettering too!

How to remove print from denim

One way to remove screen printing from denim is to shock it in a cold wash followed by a hot dryer cycle. After this treatment, try to peel off the old design.

You can also be successful using any of the seven methods outlined earlier.

However, if your goal is simply to hide the old design, you may find it easier to sew an embroidered patch over the offending design. You can also try heat setting a new vinyl design over the old print.

How to remove the print from a hoodie

You can usually remove a screenprinted design from a hoodie using the nail polish remover method above. Here are a few additional suggestions for working with hoodies.

Make sure to put a puffer inside the hoodie before you start. A thick piece of cardboard works well. (Otherwise the ink will only penetrate the back of the hoodie).

Next, soak a cotton ball in nail polish remover and gently rub it over the printed design.

Use a soft cloth or brush to gently peel off the wet design.

Finally, wash the hoodie on a normal cycle with detergent to remove the nail polish remover.

Many hoodies these days contain synthetic fibers in the fabric. Because of this, nail polish remover can damage the material. It’s a good idea to test the remover on a small, hidden corner of the hoodie before you begin.

How to remove screen printing from polyester

Speaking of synthetic fabric, the best way to remove designs from polyester is to apply dish soap and a stiff brush. You probably know that many common items these days, such as t-shirts, hoodies, and shoulder bags, contain a large amount of polyester because this fabric is so affordable.

This synthetic fabric is made of plastic and requires special treatment when removing print patterns. Polyester probably doesn’t react well to chemical solvents like stain removers. It can also melt in high heat so don’t try the iron and peel method on a polyester shirt!

Your best way to remove a design from a polyester item is to wash it in warm water and then squirt a drop of dish soap on the design while it’s still damp. Use a stiff brush to scrub the design.

If it starts to peel off, the method is working! Continue until all of the ink is scraped off.

If you try dish soap and nothing happens, you may want to try acetone or other methods previously discussed. However, be aware that these chemicals can damage the polyester fabric.

How to get a screenprint of nylon

Both WD40 and iron can remove silkscreen from nylon. Nylon is another synthetic fabric that requires special treatment to remove printed designs without damaging the material. The good news is that there is an easy fix, and you probably already have it!

To remove an unwanted design from a nylon item, get a can of WD40. Spray this liberally over the design and leave for a moment.

Next, rub the design vigorously with an old towel. Ideally, the design will dissolve and the towel will wipe it away!

WD40 is primarily a solvent and has had good success removing ink from many surfaces including metal and hard plastic.

You can also try the iron and peel method on nylon fabric, but be careful not to put the iron directly on the nylon fabric. It melts in high heat.

How to remove logos from clothing

You can easily remove logos from clothing by rubbing the printed logo with a cotton ball dipped in nail polish remover. You then need to scrape off the remaining ink with your fingernails or a soft plastic scraper.

However, keep in mind that the clothes may not look pristine after the logo is gone. The fabric where the logo used to be may be lighter and look newer than the rest of the shirt. The nail polish remover can also cause the fabric to warp slightly.

How to clean screen printing residue

If you’ve tried any of the methods outlined here but are left with a bit of ink residue on the fabric, you might want to try a cold rinse or a final sugar scrub before giving up.

If you’re working on a new print and haven’t settled on the design yet, try a quick cold wash to see if the unwanted ink comes off.

If that doesn’t remove the residue, or if the design is old, try the aforementioned sugar scrub.

Gently rubbing a spoonful or two of sugar over the design will sand away any remaining ink, dislodging it from the fibers of the fabric and you can rub it away with a soft cloth or your hand.

You should follow this technique with a regular washing machine cycle to wash away the sugar.

Other tips

If all of the above methods seem like too much work for you, here are a few other thoughts to consider.

An important idea to keep in mind is that small bugs are easier to fix than big bugs. It will take a lot of stain remover to remove a design that covers the entire front of a hoodie or t-shirt, for example. Do you really want to buy that much remover or scratch the design for so long?

You might want to reserve your efforts for small stains that you can dab away with a cotton ball and some nail polish remover.

Second, how much time is the t-shirt or hoodie worth? You might want to scrap the ruined item and just start over. Or, if you don’t like the idea of ​​going to waste, keep the garment around the house for cozy moments and make a new one to wear in public! Of course, you can also donate the damaged item or give it to your children as pajamas!

Alternatively, if removing the theme is taking too long, you can overlay a new theme over the damaged theme. This works well with heat transfers – you might get lucky sealing a vinyl design over an old screen printed design.

Finally, if you do screenprint professionally, it’s probably cheaper to buy a new shirt or hoodie and reprint than it is to remove all the damaged prints from a large batch that went wrong. Think seriously how long it will take to remove the damaged print from ten, twenty or even a hundred t-shirts!

Conclusion

You can remove screen printing from clothing using several effective methods. Nail polish remover rubbed onto the design with a cotton ball works well. Even sanding down the design with a handful of sugar can successfully remove a printed design.

You can also purchase professional tools like a stain remover gun to apply pressure and chemicals that will leach a design from the fabric.

Have you tried any of the seven techniques listed here on a screen printed design? Which ones did you find most effective? Leave a comment below to let us know!

When it comes to t-shirt printing, there are printing methods like DTG, sublimation, heat transfer as some of the most famous techniques. Each of these methods plays an important role and influences the t-shirt industry. There are several factors you need to consider when choosing the printing technique as they can affect the print and t-shirt qualities.

Among all the different methods, one of the most well-known methods is sublimation printing. Most print owners prefer it for its bright and vibrant colors. However, customers often complain that sublimation prints become dull. There are several factors that lead to dull prints.

In this article we will discuss everything about sublimation printing and what are the reasons for dull printing.

What is sublimation printing?

In today’s digital age, sublimation printing is one of the most well-known printing processes. It’s a simple process of printing with heat and ink. The USP of sublimation printing is that the ink is transformed from a solid to a gaseous substance. This process has proven to be a game changer in the printing industry due to the quick and easy process.

sublimation process:

Sublimation printing uses heat to bring the ink and fabric together. Let’s see how:

First the design is printed on the special paper, then the inks used gasify when they are brought under heat. This permanently bonds the fabric and ink onto the fabric and reduces the chance of ink fading. Because the ink mixes with the fabric instead of forming a layer. The heat opens the pores of the fabric and applies pressure to cool the ink and return it to solid form. The result is a permanent, full-color image that will not fade, peel or wash away. Sublimation printing is growing rapidly and is a preferred method for short run jobs.

Pros and cons of sublimation printing:

Like any printing process, sublimation printing has its advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a quick look:

Advantages of sublimation printing:

It is easy to print on rough surfaces such as mugs, photos, clocks, etc.

Simple and easy to learn

The CMYK color base allows you to use a wide range of colors in sublimation printing. What’s more, it doesn’t even charge for additional colors or different screens for each ink color.

You can easily personalize your 1 to 1000 unit at the same cost and with the same designs.

The t-shirt print will not fade, scratch or lose its colors after printing.

The sublimation printing process is simple and can produce multiple prints in the same day.

Disadvantages of sublimation printing:

The fabric must be 100% polyester, which makes it difficult to print on other materials.

The fabric must have a white or light print area as dark surfaces are difficult to sublimate.

If you use non-textile substrates, it must have a polyester coating.

There is a chance that t-shirts will lose color over time.

With inkjet printers, the printheads can clog if you don’t use them for a long time. Therefore, it is better to leave the printer on as it will automatically clean itself periodically.

Let’s go further and see some of the main reasons why sublimation prints become dull.

Reasons for sublimation printing fading:

To wash:

If you’re wondering how to make my sublimation prints brighter, you need to count how many times you wash your clothes. Washing has a major impact on ink fading. When you use sublimation printing, it mixes with the fabric and also with the water, eventually causing the ink to fade. For example, if your customers wash their favorite t-shirt in hot water every day, chances are it will fade. So advise your customers to keep washing frequency to a minimum.

UV discoloration from sun:

The UV rays are also a common problem that fades your ink designs. If your customers dry the clothes in the sun every day, it is likely that the print will start to fade. Therefore, you may suggest drying them in the shade. This can reduce the chance of the print fading.

Avoid using polymer coating:

If you work with hard surfaces people may have recommended you to use polymer ink and it usually takes barely 35 seconds to sublimate polymer based materials. But in many cases the polymer layers are already in place. For example; Most ceramics originating from Asia have a polymer layer coating. So make sure you don’t put the excessive polymer layer on top of it as it can lead to more time to sublimate.

Conclusion:

Sublimation is currently a solution of choice for many print shop owners for many reasons. Despite this, many people are still struggling with the problem of fading. But by following the steps discussed, you can save the t-shirt from fading.

Go one step further, if you are planning to take a leap and provide your customers with a software solution to provide better service, we have an answer for you.

Product designer tool by Brush Your Ideas.

With our tool, your customers can easily create designs directly in your web-to-print shop. We’ve been in the industry for a decade and have helped companies start their web-to-print shop from scratch. Not only that, we’ve even helped them thrive in their business, increase their return on investment, and increase their sales with the right tool like the Product Designer Tool. If you are looking for a software solution or want to bring your shop online, you can contact us.

All product and company names are trademarks™, registered® or copyrighted trademarks of their respective holders. Their use does not imply affiliation with or endorsement by them.

How to clean your dye sublimated shirt

A dye sublimated shirt is an amazing addition to your wardrobe. The design quality of the shirt is practically incomparable to other forms of design application and you can expect a long service life. But with the absolute utmost proper care, your shirt can live even longer than expected. If you own a dye-sublimated shirt, read on below to learn how to properly clean and care for it.

How to clean your dye sublimated shirt

Wash your dye sublimated shirt

In order to maximize the lifespan and performance of this type of apparel, it is important that you follow the necessary steps.

If you wash your dye sublimated shirts in the washing machine, make sure you wash them in cold water. You may need to purchase a separate NON-phosphorus cleaner if you don’t already have one to clean them. And once the wash cycle is complete, you must remove them immediately.

It is best to hang them up to dry. However, if you are pressed for time and want to dry faster, you can tumble dry them on a low heat setting.

For the best results

For even better care, to prolong the life of your dye-sublimated shirts, turn them inside out when you put them in the wash. Use a MILD, NON-phosphorus detergent to reduce agitation during the cleaning cycle.

Avoid these harmful factors while grooming

As previously mentioned, you should always wash your clothes in cold water. Heat application must be avoided at all costs and dry cleaning is not normally recommended. Using hot water can potentially cause the color to bleed and fade from your shirts. In addition, we also emphasize the use of phosphorus-free cleaning products, as phosphates can also cause color bleeding. Chlorine bleach is also never recommended as it will fade colors but more importantly it will cause the fabric to weaken.

If you put your dye-sublimated shirts in the wash, do not wash them with other clothes. The colors of other such garments could migrate into your dye-sublimated shirts. We specifically advise against including garments with zippers, buttons and Velcro as these may cause snagging, pulling or other blemishes on your clothing.

Finally, never run your dye-sublimated shirts through a screen-printed dryer. The heat of the dryer can cause dye migration.

Order your dye-sublimated shirts from American Seashore today

If you clean your dye-sublimated shirts properly, they will surely last longer. But when printed on quality fabrics, you can expect it to last almost as long as you want it to. For the best quality fabric apparel personalized with quality dye sublimation at affordable prices, there is no better company than American Seashore. We are more than confident that you will not be disappointed with our products when you order your clothes from our store today. If you have any questions, call us at 305-573-1814 or visit our contact page.