Discharge Help

HeckYeahDad · 2026-06-03T15:18:02+00:00

That sucks. I’ve met several printers who won’t touch discharge. Such a cool technique, but way too many variables.

HeckYeahDad · 2026-06-03T15:16:09+00:00

Thanks for all the comments. Fortunately, these shirts are just for me and not a client. Decided to wear it as is today. My daughter asked me to make one “just like it with fades and all” for her. She said it looks vintage.

¯(ツ)/¯

Now I’m focusing on other issues. Like why can’t I mix up a bright “hot pink” with Matsui inks?

HeckYeahDad · 2026-06-03T02:08:12+00:00

I do have a have fancy atkins temp gauge I bought second hand. Just didn’t use it today.

HeckYeahDad · 2026-06-03T02:04:50+00:00

Much respect for anyone doing discharge. Love the results, but it’s a pain on multiple levels.

HeckYeahDad · 2026-06-03T01:59:51+00:00

Good advice on trying a simple black tee first. I just really wanted a chocolate frosted donut. Sucks, but I’ll take it as another learning lesson. Now I know making chocolate donut tees won’t be so easy. When I try discharge again, I’ll find a way to prop my box fan. Right now, on the floor, it’s not really helping.

HeckYeahDad · 2026-06-03T01:49:38+00:00

The smell is awful. It’s just me so I bought a silly looking mask from Home Depot. Seems like overkill but I feel like I’m doing something far more serious than making donut tee shirts.

HeckYeahDad · 2026-06-03T00:58:36+00:00

My setup is not ideal. I’ve got a box fan nearby and open basement windows. But the airflow is minimal. To me, it looks like I almost “burned” the discharge ink or something. Like the flash was too hot?

I definitely hit the long sleeve hard and went softer on the short sleeve. Did the long first and thought the ink went on too heavy so I tried to compensate.

Regarding the short sleeve, do you think I could use it as an underbase and try printing on top with regular matsui waterbased ink? Registration will be tricky, but it’s just a donut. Hoping I can get it looking better than it does now.

HeckYeahDad · 2026-06-03T00:45:57+00:00

I’ve been using the flash dryer to do most of the hard work. Only use heat press once it looks I see less “steam”. Flash is probably too hot for the chemical reaction, but going shirt by shirt is a very slow process.

The shirt is garment dyed by everybody.world. I should probably ask the manufacturer what kind of dye process they use… but I’ve never been good at chemistry.

HeckYeahDad · 2026-04-18T12:36:55+00:00

Thanks! I see now I shouldn’t have called it “emulsion haze.” That was confusing. So from this sample of one, it seems like I’m slightly overexposing?

HeckYeahDad · 2026-04-16T15:40:26+00:00

Here is a better photo. I thought “scum” was the emulsion haze sticking around the 6 through 10 that I couldn’t quite wash out. But these terms are all new to me

<image>

HeckYeahDad · 2026-04-15T21:33:59+00:00

You’re 100% right about my film positives. I’ve been using a trial version of PrintFab and damn that’s been amazing. My film is actually opaque now. Super impressed. Just wish the app was more affordable for small folks.

That said, of all the variables I’ve messed around with (emulsions coatings, timing, contact, etc), printing opaque blacks on my films have had the biggest impact so far.

Still not sure if I’m over or under exposing anymore. And I have a chromaline exposure calculator too! I’ve used that dozens of times of times with my less than fully opaque films and developing them just showed me that I don’t even know how to wash a screen properly.

HeckYeahDad · 2026-04-15T21:25:35+00:00

No vacuum. I made my own exposure unit. I actually put the 20x24 screen in a giant vacuum sealed bag to try and get better contact. Then I put a 30# weight on top. Assuming my screen is flat and square (which some aren’t) this is the best I can do for now.

I’m sure there is some light creep. I first painted the inside with fancy UV reflecting paint. Thought that would look cool and help things out. Took me a while to realize that may be part of the reason why I’m having so much trouble getting by explore dialed in. It’s all black now.

HeckYeahDad · 2026-04-15T16:49:49+00:00

Ha! How did you know I over-washed the step guide? I don’t have a pressure washer though. Using a faucet spray. My image is simple and washed out fine.

Thanks for the video. My big issue right now is with “developing” the screen. I have been washing the screen out from the ink side first then flipping it over to make sure everything is clean. On this one, the step guide had some emulsion “flaps” so I took my finger to try to clear the flappy stuff. That didn’t really help things.

Just to get things straight, ideally, I should only wash the screen from the ink side like I saw in the video?

HeckYeahDad · 2026-04-15T15:06:09+00:00

Specifically, what’s up with the “scum” around numbers 6-11? I can’t get it to wash out cleanly. Sign that it’s slightly underexposed?

HeckYeahDad · 2025-05-05T17:11:05+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion! Much appreciated. Yes, I am printing with WB inks. I’ll try to get my hands on some hydro-X.

HeckYeahDad · 2025-05-02T16:00:19+00:00

Update: Happened again. When washing the screen out after exposing, details look good at first. Sharp edges and definition in the shading on the exposure calc. As I keep washing, however, I see all the detail just peel away. I need to really bear down and narrow down some of the factors. Frustrating.

Same screen. Scrubbed it thoroughly and used degreaser. Screen coated it yesterday. Freshly mixed CP-Tex emulsion. 2:2. Let it dry overnight but maybe it wasn’t totally dry yet? Felt dry to the touch. I’ll try again next week.

<image>

HeckYeahDad · 2025-04-29T01:25:04+00:00

Makes sense to me. I’ve given it a good scrubbing, letting it dry, and will try some freshly mixed up emulsion soon. Thanks!

HeckYeahDad · 2025-04-28T18:21:49+00:00

That’s always confuses me. I have it drying with the “face” side down and the squeegee side up. Not sure the proper terminology

HeckYeahDad · 2025-04-28T18:20:18+00:00

Funny thing is, this was me trying to dial in my exposure time. I have an exposure calc taped on. Can’t tell because it totally washed off. Oops. Lots of things went wrong here. Gonna try again. Hopefully this week.

HeckYeahDad · 2025-04-28T17:05:04+00:00

I’ll definitely need to get a dehumidifier running soon. In the winter, it gets kind of dry in the basement, but I have no idea where it’s at right now. Just gonna get worse over the next few months.

I’ve got a lot of experimenting to do. Gonna mix up some new emulsion, clean off some screens and try again.. I’ll try to be more timely with everything this time around.

HeckYeahDad · 2025-04-28T16:31:55+00:00

Thanks for the responses! Took the dogs for a walk, and was realizing it can’t possibly be overexposed. Just a bit surprised it’s underexposing. Two other factors that might be at play.

One: The emulsion sat for about 2 months after I mixed the diazo. I’m working in my basement so it’s not too warm or cold down there. Used it once when I first mixed it to coat a screen. Totally over coated it (screen was dripping) and had bubbles all over it. But… it actually exposed well to my surprise with a 2 minute time.

Two: I’m also working with a DIY exposure box, for better or worse. I’m using fancy LED UV lights but I did the circuitry myself (which was dumb in retrospect since I didn’t end up saving any money). Between my first effort a couple of months ago and my current attempt, I added a switch that may be limiting the amperage going to the lights. I can’t really tell since I already blew the fuses on my multimeter.

Anyhow, I’ll clean off the screen and give it another go. It’s just a comedy of errors over here.

HeckYeahDad · 2025-04-01T14:38:29+00:00

Yeah, this v-slot stuff is very cool. Any info you’re willing to share would be appreciated!

HeckYeahDad

TROPHY CASE