The problem
I am screen printing on t-shirts and on some prints the edges of letters appear slightly doubled. I would like to understand what can cause this and how I can avoid it.
Cause and analysis
The doubling of letter edges in screen printing on t-shirts can derive from a misalignment between the print pass and the actual position of the fabric during ink application, even if the t-shirt is fixed to the platen.
The doubling could be caused by excessive squeegee pressure, which deforms the fabric unevenly, creating a double impression effect on the edges of the characters.
The doubling could result from a non-optimal squeegee attack angle or a speed of passage that is too high, which does not allow uniform distribution of ink on the edges of the characters.
The problem could be related to non-uniform tension of the screen mesh, which causes local variations in the depth of contact between the frame and the fabric during printing.
Solution proposed by GPX
1. Excessive squeegee pressure → local fabric deformation → blurred/doubled edges 2. Squeegee pass speed too high → uncontrolled ink deposit on fine details 3. Non-optimal squeegee attack angle (e.g. >60° or <45°) → irregular ink distribution on edges 4. Variable screen mesh tension → non-uniform contact with the t-shirt during pressure 5. Wear or deformation of the squeegee blade → point contact instead of continuous line 6. Non-uniform rigidity of the t-shirt due to the fabric itself or layers of fibers that lift during printing.
Limitations of this analysis
This analysis is generated with the support of Artificial Intelligence: always verify its correctness and applicability before using it. The reliability level of this analysis is "Medium", not the highest possible.