Problems with dye

[albertz]

We put white vinyl ( heat pressed ) on to a large flag . Believe the material to be cotton / polyester..........Red dye has appeared on the white letters a few weeks after doing the pressing. We rolled the flag up for transportation and now we have this problem with dye stains on the letters. Any ideas to help removal of the staining ?

[pw66]

The problem you have is called 'dye migration'. It is a well known problem when printing onto heavily dyed polyester rich fabrics, such as football shirts and flags, and sadly you can't reverse it.

The problem is caused by the heat from the heatpress turning the dye to gas which over a day or so will start to show through the vinyl. The temperature that most regular vinyls are applied at is roughly the same temperature that the dye styarts to turn to gas.

To get around this you must either use a low temperature vinyl - such as Magic Touchs' 123 Flex - which is applied at 130c OR use a vinyl that is advertised as 'dye blocking', such as MDPs' 'Block Out'.

Your only solution is to over print with a Blockout vinyl ( if your original vinyl is suitable for layering).

[albertz]

Thanks for the response, appreciated.

[Baldy]

Dae Ha also do a Premium Block Out PU which works well.