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VOL 1, NO. 5 VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 2014 www.ScreenPrinting.comS.Roque Press FREE

End-of-the-yearGet Roq’ed Apparel Matters Tech Tips: Keep It Lubed! How To Master Spot Printing

END-OF-THE-YEAR WRAP-UP

As 2014 comes to a close, we wanted to let all of you know how thankful we are for your decision to roq this journey with us thus far! This year, the US and Canadian markets for S.Roque finished 3rd worldwide in sales, which is outstanding since they are still two of S.Roque’s newest markets. Moreover, thanks to many current owners looking to add a second press and new roqers looking to join the family, our prospects are looking even stronger as we finish out this year. We are ready to end 2014 with a bang and start 2015 in record fashion! So, once again, thanks for thinking different, stepping outside the box, and adding a little color (green) to the landscape of screen printing! Cheers!

Congratulations to Nik Regimbal from ColorTex in Ottowa Canada, he is officially the youngest S.Roque owner in North America, at 21 years old. Nikk is the proud owner of new ECO XL P16C12! Good on you Nikk, I am proud of you! -KVK

The U.S. and Canada Get Roq’ed

Youngest S.Roque Owner in North America!

BY RYAN MOOR VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON

Ryonet Regal

• Family Industries – YOU M P10C08• Family Industries – RoqTunnel 3015G• Patricks – YOU XL P12C08• Brand it Gifts – YOU XL P12C09• ColorTex – ECO XL P16C12• Brand it Sportswear – YOU M P10C08• Barrel Maker – YOU M P08C06• Organized Sports – YOU M P08C04• Organized Sports – YOU M P10C06• Organized Sports – RoqTunnel 4518G #1• Organized Sports – YOU XL P12C08• Organized Sports – ECO XL P16C12• Organized Sports – RoqTunnel 4518G #2

Family Member Note: We will be having an open house during ISS Long Beach at Organized Sportswear. Contact your sales rep for further information if you will be attending the show.

RECENT FAMILY ADDITIONS

Dean Schroder and I met back in 2011 when he attended a Screen Print Experience class led by myself at the old Ryonet LA location; back when it was positioned in the “hood” - otherwise known as downtown LA. Dean’s previous business experience gave him a brand of cautious approach rarely possessed by the typical Southern California client just “looking to start a clothing line, bro”. Dean, along with his partner, Lorri, had been successfully operating a print brokerage since 2007 and informed me that they were ready to make the transition to manufacturer. The class was only step one. He had a methodical approach, and his analytical questions throughout the class told me that he was there for a purpose. From that day, I knew he would be one of those special printers. The kind who learn to print and then make it a success.

Over the next few years I watched them advance their skills, quickly progressing through the ranks of manual press operator-owners. As any successful entrepreneur will tell you, hard work and persistence lead to growth, and soon many more team members were added to their growing business. July of 2011 saw them opening the doors of their first brick and mortar location, in Lake Forrest, CA. Their first investment was wisely placed, and gave them an entire manual press shop, complete with a heat press, plotter, and 17” wide output printer. Shortly after, they added additional heat presses and embroidery machines to handle what was an almost immediate demand. I quickly learned that Lorri was as equally invested in their success as Dean, and her organization and attention to detail proved invaluable to their quick growth. While Dean provided the drive necessary to enter new territories, it was Lorri’s cohesive grasp of things and management that allowed their growth to continue in an upward trend.

Three years after opening their doors, Apparel Matters decided it was time to go automated. They reviewed the options on the market and, like many of you, decided that S.Roque + Ryonet® was the only solution capable of meeting their ever-changing needs. A YOU XL and large T3015 conveyor dryer were chosen, and with that purchase, they took their

first step into the world as an automatic print shop. They had been crafting plans to move into a larger space for awhile and were literally bursting at the seems in their existing location. Business had been on a steady incline for awhile, and it was clear that something would need to be done to manage the increased demand. Now that they had an automatic, Team Apparel Matters started the search to find housing for the shiny new equipment that was on its way. In September of 2014 that perfect venue was found, and Apparel Matters 2.0 was born.

Throughout each stage of growth with Apparel Matters, Dean and Lorri have continued to demand the best of themselves and what they produce. Watching their growth over the years, the integrity and pride with which they approach all aspects of their company has been an inspiration to me. As true professionals, they live by the motto “Anything worth doing, is worth doing right”. This mindset has allowed them to accomplish some incredible things in a very short period, and they have forged a reputation of quality and distinction among their peers. As for myself, it has been an absolute honor witnessing the transformation of Dean and Lori. If the last four years have been any indication, I am confident Apparel Matters will continue to grow and prosper in the years to come and I look forward to being there with them every step of the way.

CUSTOMER PROFILE

Apparel MattersBY NATE MONTIJO · VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON

Team Apparel Matters.

All NewEco-Friendly Chemicals.

NEW

A2 • END-OF-THE-YEAR RYONET REGAL • VOL 1, NO. 5

TIPS FOR AUTOMATICS

Recently, I took a call from one of my S.Roque customers. During our conversation I asked him, “Where did he want to be in the coming year, now that he owns the green machine?” He explained that spot color was his only form of printing currently, and he wanted to start incorporating other applications. I realized how much spot color has been a crutch for screen printers. Looks simple, right? When printing on a manual, laying down a solid area of white and flashing in-between each consecutive color takes time. Plus, it adds several layers of thick deposits of ink resulting in a BULLET PROOF SHIRT.

When I was a manual printer, I looked for short cuts. “How can I speed up the process?” Printing wet on wet without a flash in-between was a messy process that often just led me back to flashing each color. Manual printers have the flexibility of stopping, flashing, re-printing, and making adjustments at any point, whereas automatic presses are designed for speed and have limited flash spaces with very little flexibility for spot prints. For those of you who are now re-thinking your spot-printing process, or just looking for some advice, here are some tips that will take your spot printing to the next level:

ARTWORK TIPSTry to avoid busy artwork. Combine similar

colors into one if possible. Don’t assume your ace printer has all the answers, get the customer involved from the beginning.

Keep the under base light. Instead of the traditional 100% white, try using a 75% dot pattern for areas that have color over the top. Save pure white for areas like text.

Reduce the print size. Large prints can cause issues, know your boundaries.

Do your research. Take a field trip to a department store and look at what others have done. Study the competition!

SCREENS TIPSRaise your mesh count. Use 156/200 mesh

counts for white ink and 230/280 for colors in your overprint.

Choose tight screens. Using higher tension screens such as the Solid-loc screens will minimize the screen lag that can cause smeared prints and prevent build up on the underside of the screen.

Always coat twice. Double sided emulsion coating for all screens increases the endurance for long automatic runs. Auto presses will be tougher on screens.

Use a good liquid blocker. Coat the entire back of the screen, spreading with an ink card.

Expose it twice. Post-expose your screens once

they have been washed out to finalize the hardening process.

Tape off all edges. Tape the back side of the screen and the inside walls, extending the tape one inch beyond each side of the squeegee. This will add a protective layer where the ends of the squeegee could break through. Consider rounding the ends of the squeegee blade by sanding them down.

Use a silicone spray. A coating on the underside of your screens will minimize ink build up.

INK TIPSUse a color matching system. Set yourself apart

from printers who rely on stock colors. Expand your color pallet to grow your customers.

Print with high opacity. High opacity inks are made specifically for dark prints and work well for spot and simulated colors. They can also be reduced for “soft hand prints”. Make sure to mark and document the changes to each ink container.

PRINTING TIPSBe flexible. Use proofs as guidelines only.

Changes to print order and color changes are going to happen.

Print in the RIGHT order. Go from lightest to darkest, separating flash stations after the last light color or visa versa. Print from your smallest image area to your largest print area for wet on wet.

Do the darks first. Get the hardest part out of the way, it’s easier to adjust for light garments.

Skip the under base for your dark colors. Ever print a blue over an under base? The blue appears to be lighter due to the supporting white beneath. Consider printing directly onto the shirt. The blue is now going to shift to a darker blue, to correct this try a lighter shade of blue and compensate for the color change. It will take some work but it will pay off in the end. This move just saved another flash.

Move your the black to the beginning. Typically printers will have a black trap plate or outline at the end of the print cycle. Try moving this to the number one print station, print it first, then white, then flash/cool. This also saves a flash and keeps the thinner black from spreading on the white, which will be slightly raised.

Straighten your squeegee angle. Do this for all colors after the white under base. This will minimize the amount of ink applied on top of the white under base, too much ink will end up on the underside of the next screen, smearing what is left on the under base.

Tis the season for experimentation! Have fun.

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Action S.Roque 16” Roller Squeegee with Teflon Sheet$295.00SQAU-AESRSQR16

New S.Roque Accessories

How To Master Spot Printing

BY MARK BERRYMAN · VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON

You cannot over-lube your machine. As you all know, your S.Roque’s basic maintenance check is due every 50,000 cycles. Although the actual maintenance recommendation is quite limited, this is also a good time to take your general spray lube and give a quick shot at any moving part on your print carriage. Can you hear a squeak from your lifting springs now and then? It’s not in the manual, but spray a quick coat of the general spray lube on your lifting springs. This will keep them flexing smooth and reduce any noise you may hear.

Out of spray lube? You can get general spray lube for your machine from Grainger, their item number is 2HTJ6 for a can of Petro-Chem pure lube. Find it here: http://goo.gl/keulgH

Need spray chain lube for an ECO machine? Grainger item number 1HBK7 for a can of CRC Open Gear chain lube. Find that here: http://goo.gl/rI1hAl

And for the bearings on any YOU M or XL series, you can use Grainger item number 1XFC1 CRC White Grease. Which you can find here: http://goo.gl/HOuexOexO

TECH TIPS

Keep It Lubed!

BY KURTIS VAN KAMPENCOLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO

Need help? Don’t call Ryan— Expedite service and call The Ryonet® service team available 24/7 at 888-475-2985.