There is some confusion among screen printers regarding the purpose that off-contact serves in the printing process.
Basically, off-contact is placing the screen a little bit above the platen so that it only contacts the shirt at the point where the squeegee passes over. When the off-contact is correct, the mesh will snap off the shirt, ensuring a clean, smooth and even print.
Kieth Stevens is the Western regional sales manager for International Coatings. He has been teaching screen printing for more than 10 years and is a regular contributor to International Coatings’ blogs. For more ink tips and information, visit iccink.com and read the company’s blog at internationalcoatingsblog.com.
