

A 156 or 180 mesh count screen is also great for an under base print. I think you will like the feel of the print much better. Try using a 156 or 180 mesh screen and do a print flash print. A 180 mesh count will also hold better halftones than a 110 mesh screen. Using a print flash print cycle with a 156 or 180 mesh count screen will give you a bright white, opaque screen print, even on black shirts. A better option is to use a 156 or 180 mesh count- this will lay down a thinner and softer layer of ink on your shirts. This is a common mistake some new screen printers make. If you use a 110 mesh screen and print flash print, your ink can become very heavy and rough on the shirts. When printing white ink on dark color shirts- you will most likely do a print flash print cycle. For example- we using reduce the white base to 30% under royal blue, and depending on the garments we're printing on, we may use a 156 mesh screen or 180 instead of the typical 230 mesh screen for top colors. When selecting screens for the ink youre planning to print. The end result should give a nice glisten that makes a great stencil for your next screen printing job. Now- there are exceptions to the rule- you may not always print a 100% solid white base under each color- and in that case you may end up using a lower mesh screen for the top colors. Choosing the correct screen mesh when screen printing is key to achieving high-quality. Not all emulsions respond the same when coating screens: some emulsions require adjustments in pressure and speed, depending on the emulsion thickness and the type of mesh youre working with on your screen. If you print an under base through a 180 or 230 mesh screen- you will be just fine printing top colors through a 230 mesh screen 99% of the time. The majority of general all purpose ink on the market today will print just fine through a 230 or higher mesh count. The next step choosing mesh counts for top colors. 200- 230 Mesh- Top Color Prints- Halftones.156- 180 Mesh- White Ink and White Under base Prints.110 - 156 Mesh- Blocks of Color on White and Light Color Shirts.Tips for Choosing Screen Mesh | Screen Printing T-Shirts And a white base printed through a 230 or 180 mesh will be much softer and nicer then the white base printed through the 110 mesh. The difference is the amount of ink that comes through each mesh- a 230 or 180 mesh may not let a "ton' of white ink through- but the white ink will go through. Wrong- white ink can be printed through a 230 or 180 mesh just like a 110 mesh. One common myth is that a high mesh count will not let enough ink through for white ink on white base prints. Most new screen printers will reach for 110 mesh.

Choosing the right screen printing mesh can be the difference between a good print and a horrible print.
