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Curing · 6 of 8 · 1 min read

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:

SourceFlash or gel example
Wilflex200–225°F ink temp, 2–5 s
LawsonGel at ~220–230°F
DavisGel at 180–250°F, by ink
Screen Printing Magazine~3–5 s to dry to the touch
Examples only. The real number for your ink is on its tech data sheet.

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)
  1. Wilflex (Avient), Ink curing tips (2020, PDF)
  2. Avient, Mapping your conveyor dryer (PDF)
  3. Davis International, FAQs
  4. Davis International, Common issues
  5. ScreenPrinting.com Help, How do you cure water-based ink?
  6. Lawson Screen & Digital, Curing plastisol inks
  7. ScreenPrinting.com Help, What is cure temp?
  8. ScreenPrinting.com Help, How do you cure plastisol with a flash dryer?
  9. ScreenPrinting.com Help, Why does ink crack in a stretch test?
  10. ScreenPrinting.com, 4 curing methods
  11. International Coatings, Curing ink with a heat gun
  12. International Coatings, How do I test to make sure my inks are properly cured?
  13. Screen Printing Magazine, Figuring out flash-curing parameters
  14. Screen Printing Magazine, Curing comes clean through wash testing
  15. ScreenPrinting.com Help, What do I need to start a shop?
  16. Lancer Group, STI direct print silicone ink system (PDF)
  17. Northwest Graphic, Silextreme silicone ink
  18. 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.