What is the purpose of flashing screen printed t-shirts?
Partially heating an initial layer of ink is essential to provide an under base for the next color (same or different) to give the resulting impression more brilliance. Without flashing the color impression would be duller or changed by the color of the garment underneath. And flashing a color impression allows for another color to be applied directly adjoining the flashed color without smearing. A proper flash is typically attained when plastisol ink reaches 160 degrees F. This flashed state is detected without a temperature gauge when the ink is tacky to the touch. A garment that is over-flashed will not allow the next application to bind properly to the under base and thus the impression will fade later upon washing.
