What is Phantom Clear?
Phantom Clear is an ink that goes on clear and undetectable which works with all colored fabrics that darken with moisture. The effect is for the image printed with Phantom Clear with these compatible fabrics, to be revealed when the fabric around the image area gets darker due to moisture.
Features
-Easy to mix and print
-Excellent printability with no viscosity modifications
-Extremely soft hand feel that PVC inks cannot achieve
-Is “PVC Free” and environmentally safe
How to Print with Phantom Clear Ink
Choosing the Garment
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Garment Selection: Select light-colored garments for the best results. Phantom Clear ink is invisible until wet, so light athletic colors like heather gray work exceptionally well.
Preparing the Screen
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Mesh Size: Use standard mesh sizes ranging from 110 to 200.
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Emulsion: Choose a water/solvent-resistant emulsion suitable for HSA or Discharge Inks.
Printing Process
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Flooding the Screen:
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Manual Printing: Flood the screen before and after each print.
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Automatic Printing: Ensure the screen is flooded similarly to manual printing.
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Print Stroke: Use a double print stroke to maximize ink saturation.
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Flashing:
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Printing Around Another Design: Use a flash.
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Printing Directly to Fabric: No print-flash-print necessary.
Curing the Print
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Curing Temperature: Cure the ink at 320 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Dryer Dwell Time: Set the dryer dwell time to 120 seconds, adjusting based on your dryer's airflow.
Features of Phantom Clear Ink
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Printability: Excellent printability without the need for viscosity modifications.
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Soft Hand Feel: Provides an extremely soft hand feel that PVC inks cannot achieve.
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Eco-Friendly: PVC-free and environmentally safe.
By following these steps, you can achieve optimal results when printing with Phantom Clear ink.
Special Recommendations
Phantom Clear should be mixed in clean vessels using clean mixing blades and utensils. Any contamination from other ink sources or non-approved additives could make Phantom Clear test positive for restricted PVC’s.
-Phantom Clear can be dry cleaned or ironed
-Use Retarder MG 1-5% to help with open time in the screen
-Use Fixer WF-N 1-5% to help with wash fastness
-Use Softener MG 1-4% to help penetrate in to the garment
-Use Thickener B .25-1% to help thicken the ink
-Use RV Additive 1-3% to reduce viscosity
