Flashing between colors
Start here: Flash at the lowest heat that gets the ink dry to the touch, usually a few seconds. Your ink’s TDS decides.
Flash only until the ink is dry to the touch (gelled), not to full cure. Sources give different example numbers:
| Source | Flash or gel example |
|---|---|
| Wilflex | 200–225°F ink temp, 2–5 s |
| Lawson | Gel at ~220–230°F |
| Davis | Gel at 180–250°F, by ink |
| Screen Printing Magazine | ~3–5 s to dry to the touch |
Screen Printing Magazine warns that over-cooking a flash (past roughly 230–260°F) can cause poor adhesion of the next layer. These ranges overlap, so flash at the lowest heat that gets the ink dry to the touch; your ink’s TDS decides. Going hotter or longer risks that poor adhesion. Over-flashing can also scorch, shrink some fabrics and push dye migration. If a flashed print feels tacky, let it cool for a few seconds and touch it again: ink feels tacky while it’s hot. Still tacky once cool? It’s usually under-flashed, so add a little flash time. Suspect over-flashing only if the print looks glossy, the shirt shrinks, or it smokes. Time the flash with a stopwatch, warm the platens with a few test prints, and let the print cool briefly before the next screen.
Sources for this guide (18)
- Wilflex (Avient), Ink curing tips (2020, PDF)
- Avient, Mapping your conveyor dryer (PDF)
- Davis International, FAQs
- Davis International, Common issues
- ScreenPrinting.com Help, How do you cure water-based ink?
- Lawson Screen & Digital, Curing plastisol inks
- ScreenPrinting.com Help, What is cure temp?
- ScreenPrinting.com Help, How do you cure plastisol with a flash dryer?
- ScreenPrinting.com Help, Why does ink crack in a stretch test?
- ScreenPrinting.com, 4 curing methods
- International Coatings, Curing ink with a heat gun
- International Coatings, How do I test to make sure my inks are properly cured?
- Screen Printing Magazine, Figuring out flash-curing parameters
- Screen Printing Magazine, Curing comes clean through wash testing
- ScreenPrinting.com Help, What do I need to start a shop?
- Lancer Group, STI direct print silicone ink system (PDF)
- Northwest Graphic, Silextreme silicone ink
- PIA/SPTF, Textile plastisol curing troubleshooting (PDF)
Ranges are starting points from these sources. When a source and your ink’s tech data sheet disagree, follow the tech data sheet.