Embossing is a great way to add texture and depth to a t-shirt design. It creates a raised or depressed pattern on the fabric which can look stunning. This technique is widely used in fashion design and is an effective way of making a design stand out. Embossing is done through the use of a machine, which presses the design onto the fabric using heat and pressure.
Materials
The basic materials you will need for embossing a t-shirt are:
- A t-shirt made of cotton or a cotton-polyester blend (polyester blends with a minimum of 60% cotton will work great)
- Embossing silicone (a type of glue that is used to create the raised design),it's made of silicone polymer.It's two parts silicone ink.Mixture ratio:10:1(it means you add 100g embossing silicone base with 10g catalyst).
- Screens (these are special templates that have the design you want to use),Chemical fiber screen meshes are divided into polyester material and nylon material. The polyester screen printing mesh has low elongation and the mesh is less likely to deform, which is suitable for occasions that require high printing precision. The nylon screen printing mesh is elastic, can be used for printing on non-flat materials, and is wear-resistant.
- A squeegee (used to spread the silicone ink over the screen),it's made of rubber.The squeegee must be belved angle from 65-75°.
- An exposure unit (this is used to transfer the design onto the t-shirt)
- A heat press (used for setting the design onto the t-shirt),machine father mold temperature:180℃;Mother mold temperature:120℃
-Press time:10-20 seconds
- A blank paper (used for placing on top of the t-shirt while embossing)
Steps
1. Create your design: Start by creating or selecting a design that you want to emboss onto your t-shirt. You can create a design using a design software or hire a graphic designer to do it for you.
2. Prepare your screens: Once you have your design, you will need to prepare the screens to transfer it onto the t-shirt. Use the photosensitive emulsion and the squeegee to spread the light blue emulsion over the screen. Once dry, expose the screen onto your design.
3. Apply the silicone: Apply the embossing silicone onto the exposed design on the screen.Please add 10g embossing silicone ink base XG-360KY-65 with 1g catalyst XG-360BH.Please hold the squeegee at agnle 90°.Don't print too much ink on fabric.Otherwise, Excess silicone will flow to the edge of the pattern, which is very unsightly after embossing.
Backside of fabric looks not good:
Front side is good:
The extra silicone made the whole T-shirt unqualified, which is a pity.
4. Place a blank paper: Cover the t-shirt with a blank paper to prevent any embossing silicone from going onto the t-shirt.
5. Heat press: Place your t-shirt onto the heat press. Put heat for about 7-10 seconds at about 180°C.
6. Dry the t-shirt: Remove the blank paper and let the t-shirt dry naturally or use a dryer.
Conclusion
Embossing silicone can be used for cotton-polyester blend t-shirts. It is a great way to add texture and depth to a t-shirt design, making the design stand out. To emboss a t-shirt successfully, you will need an exposure unit, a heat press, screen, squeegee, emulsion, and blank paper. By following the steps outlined above, you can effectively emboss your t-shirt, providing a unique and beautiful outcome. Get creative, and let your imagination run wild!
