IMAGE ARMOR DARK Image Armor

The Original Image Armor DARK Formula helped change the pretreating industry back in 2013. It was a much-improved formula over what was currently on the market allowing for a variety of characteristics which included less crystallization of the pretreatment when heat pressing, reduce pretreatment box, greatly improved washability, and an increased application window.

Image Armor DARK Shirt Formula is designed for use with all Dupont ink sets for most of the repurposed Epson DTG printers on the market.

Ease of application allows for easier hand spraying of the pretreatment. When applying with a Wagner spray gun, if you aren’t sure if you have enough pretreatment on the shirt, simply apply a little bit more – without worrying if the ink will stay adhered to the shirt after washing.

The DARK Shirt Formula is designed to be used on midi-dark-colored shirts to black garments with white ink printing. A white under base is required for all CMYK inks being printed otherwise washability will suffer.

Before Use:

• You DO NOT need to mix down Image Armor. It is ready to use (RTU) right out of the container.
• Always SHAKE the container before using or pouring it into your pretreatment machine container.
• When returning unused pretreatment from a machine, strain it to ensure no fibers or dirt, dust, contaminants are in the solution. A clean solution keeps you happy.

Application:

• When applying pretreatment to the garment, make sure to apply it as evenly as possible (mechanical pretreatment machines are the best).
• Depending on the shirt being pretreated there are some variables to consider on how much to apply.
  • A good starting point is 15-18 grams per 14″x14″ area.
    • NOTE: 18-26 grams may provide you with better washability and white optical brightness. Test to find your best laydown for the garment you are pretreating. Application amounts will vary based on the weight and quality of the garment being printed.
  • The heavier the garment, the higher the amount of pretreatment needed.
  • The darker the color, the more pretreatment is required.
  • The lighter the weight of the shirt, you can usually reduce the amount of fluid applied to the garment.
  • The lighter the color of the shirt, the less pretreatment is usually required. HINT: You might try cutting ULTRA for LIGHT colored shirts with a 1:1 mix (using one distilled water to one pretreatment) to reduce yellowing or discoloration. DO NOT USE on white or natural colored shirts.
• Always use a high-quality garment that is ring-spun with a tight-knit weave. The smoother and tighter the weave, the better your final DTG print.

Curing:

• Set your heat press to 330F
• Cure time: 30 seconds or until dry. You might try two 20 second presses. Use brown KRAFT paper for best results. Teflon can result in a glossy sheen. Kraft paper should be easily removed and not stick to the shirt when peeling. Sticking will result in fibers sticking up resulting in non-smooth white prints.
• Pressure setting: Heavier pressure can be used and will help press/mat down fibers during the drying process.
• DO NOT allow the cover sheet to remain on the garment after pressing or crystallization can occur as pretreatment vapors cool.

Storage of Garments:

• Pre-pretreated shirts can be done ahead of time. Try to use them as soon as possible. It is not recommended to go more than two weeks after pretreating before using.
• Always re-press the garment for 5-10 seconds with light pressure if it’s been stored for more than a day. The shirts will collect moisture, and moisture is the enemy of good pretreated shirts. ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOUR SHIRTS ARE MOISTURE FREE BEFORE PRINTING.
• DO NOT OVERHANDLE the shirts. Touching, bending, folding, throwing shirts around will damage and break the pretreatment down on the shirt. For the best results, try not to “manhandle” the garments prior to printing.