A lot of what we do in the shop comes down to experimenting and learning as we go. Puff ink and discharge ink are two techniques we’ve been spending more time with lately, and like most things around here, it started with curiosity and a few late afternoons running test prints just to see what would happen.
Puff ink adds a raised, dimensional feel to a print, which sounds simple until you start dialing in mesh counts, ink thickness, pressure, and heat. Too much heat and it over-puffs, not enough and it falls flat. There were plenty of test tees along the way, but seeing a design come off the dryer with that perfect lift made it worth it.
Discharge ink has been a whole different kind of learning curve. Instead of sitting on top of the fabric, it removes the dye from the garment itself, leaving behind a super soft, worn-in feel. It’s equal parts science experiment and screen printing. Paying close attention to fabric blends, ink activation, and timing. When it works, it feels like magic. When it doesn’t, it’s back to the test prints.
We love these kinds of processes because they push us out of autopilot. Not every job needs puff or discharge, but having these tools in our back pocket lets us offer something a little different when a project calls for it. We’re still experimenting, still learning, and still getting excited when a new technique finally clicks.