Umbrellas are aesthetically pleasing and offer much room for customisation in style and printing. A wide range of printing techniques are available, and umbrellas are available in a wide range of sizes and prices. Screen printing umbrellas may appear complicated at first, but it’s easy once you learn the tricks of the trade and put in the time to practise. To get a unique Screen Printed Umbrella (ร่ม สกรีน, which is the term in Thai), here are a few tips:
Make Use Of A Personalised Pallet.
If you have a smaller triangular pallet, you can print on just one panel of an umbrella instead of having to open the whole thing. A pallet designed for printing sleeves can work, or you can buy one specifically for umbrellas. You can build your pallet to make custom umbrellas a big part of your business.
Use Nylon Ink Or An Ink Additive.
Umbrellas typically have a nylon or smooth polyester construction. This makes it such that the plastisol ink will float on the cloth rather than bond. To print on nylon, you can use a specific ink or an additive to plastisol ink to make it adhere better to the umbrella’s fabric.
Get The Fabric Hot.
Umbrellas made of synthetic fabric will contract when exposed to high temperatures. Screen printing on umbrellas can be problematic due to registration or smearing issues caused by this. Before applying the ink, use the heat from your flash cure unit or heat gun to target the umbrella area you want to personalise.
Stick Something Down.
Squeegee pressure causes the slippery umbrella material to move. Keep umbrellas in place while printing by applying an adhesive. Luckily, printing on umbrellas will extend the life of your bond due to the absence of lint in umbrella fabric.
Flash Your Ink Before Moving Your Umbrellas.
Screen printing umbrellas can be challenging, especially when moving from the press to the conveyor dryer. Ensure the prints are completely dry before removing them from the media by curing the ink with a heat gun or flash curing unit.
When Curing, Use A Cardboard Backing.
While a flash cure unit or heat gun will completely cure your bespoke umbrella, a conveyor dryer can make the process go by much faster. As the folded umbrella moves through the conveyor dryer, position a flat piece of cardboard behind the printed panel to maintain the image’s flatness.
The Ink Needs Time To Set.
When printing your umbrellas is complete, hold off on calling your client. Your customer can rest assured that the image will last longer on their umbrella if you let the completed product rest for at least 24 to 48 hours. This will give the ink more time to bond with the fabric.
Conclusion
Making personalised umbrellas using a heat transfer unit or screen printing press is a breeze once you learn the ropes. Getting some practice will help you become an expert in customising client umbrellas.
