Attn: Printers

Your Pocket Guide

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PRINT TESTING
PRINT TESTING

We tested every color of our top-selling solids, heathers, and triblends for discharge and dye-migration. Check out the results below and compare different fabrications within any color.

Rating
Description
Expectations
5
Thorough discharging of fabric dye.
Pigmented discharge inks of all hues, including brights and fluorescents should render exceptional results.
4
Near complete discharging of fabric dye.
Pigmented discharge inks of most hues should render quality results.
3
Moderate discharging of fabric dye.
Some pigmented discharge inks, except for brights and fluorescent hues, should render acceptable results.
2
Slight discharging of fabric dye.
Discharge inks not recommended except for some non-contrasting hues.
1
Fabric dye does not discharge.
Do not attempt discharge printing.

Test Result: 5

Test Result: 4

Test Result: 3

Test Result: 2

Test Result: 1

Test Result: 5

Test Result: 4

Test Result: 3

Test Result: 2

Test Result: 1

FABRIC GUIDE

Below you will find fabric details per fabrication.
A test sample run is always recommended before printing large quantities.

For best results we suggest using a poly ink and/or poly blocker for all fabric containing polyester Fabric Care Instructions

Retail Jersey

100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 32 single 4.2 oz/yd2, 142 g/m2. Custom fabrications apply for Athletic Heather, Marble Colors, and Striped colors.

Triblend Jersey

Tees - 50% polyester, 25% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 25% rayon, 40 single 3.8 oz/yd^2, 115 g/m^2. Jackets - 50% polyester, 25% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 25% rayon, 30 single 5.6 oz/yd^2, 190 g/m^2. Cardigan - 50% polyester, 37.5% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 12.5% rayon, 30 single 5.6 oz/yd^2, 190g/m^2. Black Heather Triblend Fabrication - 70% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 15% polyester, 15% rayon.

Heather CVC

52% Airlume Combed and ring-spun cotton 48% polyester 32 Singles 4.2 oz/yd^2.

Flowy Poly Viscose

65% polyester, 35% viscose, 32 single 3.7 oz/yd^2, 125 g/m^2. Custom fabrications apply for Athletic Heather, Marble Colors, and Striped colors.

ⓘ Read fabric tip

Poly-Cotton Fleece

52% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 48% polyester fleece, 7.0 oz/yd^2, 220 g/m^2.

Triblend Sponge Fleece

50% polyester, 37.5% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 12.5% rayon, 32 single 8.2 oz/yd^2, 278 g/m^2.

Poly-Cotton Jersey

52% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton 48% polyester, 40 single 3.6 oz/yd^2, 122 g/m^2.

Sheer Jersey

100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 40 single, 3.2 oz/yd^2, 110 g/m^2. Custom fabrication applies for Athletic Heather

Micro Rib

52% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 48% polyester.
Custom fabrication applies for Athletic Heather

Slub

50% polyester, 37.5% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 12.5% rayon, 32 single 4.0 oz/yd^2, 136g/m^2.

Marble Jersey

Womens- 91% polyester, 9% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 40 single 3.5 oz/yd^2, 119 g/m^2 Mens- 91% polyester, 9% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 30 single 4.0 oz/yd^2, 136 g/m^2.

Acid Wash

52% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 48% polyester, 32 single 4.4 oz/yd^2, 149 g/m^2.

Mineral Wash

100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 32 single 4.4 oz/yd^2, 149g/m^2.

Speckled

50% polyester, 25% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 25% rayon, 32 single 4.0 oz/yd^2, 136 g/m^2.

Thermal

MENS/WOMENS - 55% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 45% polyester, 40 single 4.5 oz/yd^2, 150 g/m^2. BABY - 60% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 40% polyester, 40 single 4.5 oz/yd^2, 150 g/m^2.

Digital Fleece

100% polyester, 32 single 7.0 oz/yd^2, 220 g/m^2.

Marble Fleece

85% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 15% polyester, 32 single 7.0 oz/yd^2, 220 g/m^2.

DTG Fleece

70% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 30% polyester fleece- with 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton-face, 32 single 8.0 oz

FAQs - Printing & Fabric Resources
Required pressure will vary across different types of heat transfers, we recommend starting with the transfer manufacturer's application instructions and then adjusting as necessary.
Required temperature and dwell-time will vary across different types of heat transfers, we recommend starting with the transfer manufacturer's application instructions and then adjusting as necessary. If scorching occurs while following the transfer manufacturer's application instructions, contact the manufacturer to see if they have an alternative instruction utilizing lower temperature and longer dwell-time
Yes, our DTG fleece colors still require a pre-treat for DTG applications. Our DTG fleece colors are differentiated from our other fleece colors in that they are manufactured with a 100% cotton surface, which helps to mitigate dye-migration.
Screen-print, Embroidery, and Heat-transfer are all viable decoration methods on our Sueded Fleece fabrication. Please remember, as with all decoration methods, design and decoration specifications should be based on the substrate you are decorating.
This is the effect of dye-migration which can occur when colored fabrications containing polyester are exposed to heat in the curing process. To mitigate this issue we recommend using a specially formulated low-bleed gray/black poly-blocking under-base in addition to your low-bleed white under-base and curing at the lowest temperature recommended by the ink manufacturer.
There are many commercially available poly-blocking inks in various categories, including plastisol, high-solids water-base, and silicone. Although we do not make specific product recommendations, you can contact the following manufacturers for their recommendations:
This is the effect of dye-migration which can occur when colored fabrications containing polyester are exposed to heat in the curing process. Not all DTG platforms/ink formulations support printing onto fabrications containing polyester, please refer to your DTG machine manufacturer for clarification.
The unrivaled soft-hand characteristics of our Flowy/Poly-Viscose fabric necessitate the use of silicone softeners in the manufacturing process. As a result, this fabric is largely incompatible with commercially available pallet adhesives and will have difficulty sticking to the printing pallet. Therefore, we recommend the following considerations when screen-printing:
  • Keep your graphics to within 1-3 colors
  • Increase the registration tolerance between colors, ie: do not butt-register
  • Do not overprint multiple layers of ink
  • Avoid excessive flash-drying on press
Most likely, this is an issue of under-curing or over-curing. Make sure that you are following the ink manufacturers curing recommendations and using proper tools, ie: temperature gun and/or a temperature probe to measure the ink surface temperature in the dryer chamber. Additionally, if your ink deposit is too thick or too thin, cracking can occur.
Direct-To-Film is a process where images are digitally-printed onto a translucent carrier sheet and backed with an adhesive allowing for heat-transferring onto a wide range of substrates. Direct-To-Film is a versatile decoration application and is largely comparable across the BELLA+CANVAS collection of fabrications and styles.