Taping Off And Blocking Out Nested Images
Use the Arena supplied Vinyl Cover Sheet and Blue Painters Tape when you need to block off sections of a screen with multiple image elements.
The Green Blockout Tape is only recommended if you need to permanently cover up sections on the mesh or pinholes that might appear during high volume print jobs.
If you use Green Blockout Tape, never attempt to pull it from the mesh. This will permanently damage your screen burn. Use Blue Painters Tape to apply the Vinyl Cover Sheet. Tru Blue Painters tape can also be used to cover pinholes for smaller quantity print jobs.
Important Note:
DO NOT PLACE TAPE DIRECTLY ONTO THE MESH, IT WILL STRIP THE EMULSION FROM THE PRINTABLE AREAS.
The steps below are designed to ensure no usable section of your screen burn will be affected by the adhesive in the tape.
For orders with multiple images burned to a single frame, Arena will arrange your image elements to accommodate a center channel where none of the printable areas are present.
To tape off sections that won't be used during the first part of your print job:
1. Start by placing a strip of the Green Blockout Tape in the center channel, ensuring that the tape spans from frame edge to frame edge. Arena will stage the center strip for you; in the case of
multiple image elements, there might be a need to apply additional
channel strips. Once tape is placed in the center channel, it should never be removed.
2. When applicable, Arena will supply a Vinyl Cover Sheet to block off the sections of your screen that you won't be printing first. Place the Vinyl Cover Sheet over the section you won't be printing first. Tape the vinyl down on each of the frame edges using Blue Painters Tape. When done, you will have applied tape to three sides of the frame.
3. The final exposed edge of the vinyl cover should now be resting on top of the center channel strip that was applied in step 1. Secure this edge with another strip of the Blue Painters Tape being mindful to center the tape on the channel strip.
4. You are now ready to print with your blocked off screen.
After printing, remove all of the excess ink with an ink card and follow the instructions for thoroughly cleaning the remaining Plastisol or Water Based Ink from all areas of the mesh. Slowly peel the Blue Painters Tape from the frame edges and the vinyl cover. The Vinyl Cover Sheet can be used again for future prints. DO NOT REMOVE THE CENTER CHANNEL STRIP THAT WAS PLACED IN STEP 1.
