TEXTILE MEDIUM INFORMATION

Conforms to ASTM D-4235

Bright spectrum of ready-mixed textile pigments. Colorful and long lasting results. Becomes permanent and washable when ironed or heat treated. Water-base and nontoxic. Our Textile Medium colors are not dyes, but sunfast pigments with a soft hand, formulated expressly for fabric. Light colors will dry a shade darker and dark colors dry slightly lighter. Strong and heavily pigments, but water-soluble colors are somewhat transparent and work best on light colored fabrics. Colors are intermixable. Our Textile Medium is free of lead and mercury. Under federal guidelines we are permitted to label the colors as nontoxic. We feel that our Textile Mediums are safe, but children using this product should be carefully supervised. If splashed into eyes, flush with lots of water. If swallowed, give milk or water and get prompt medical attention. Rubber gloves are recommended if skin is extremely sensitive. Wear a mask when spraying and provide good ventilation when heat setting.

TO MAKE PERMANENT: Heat in excess of 250° makes our Textile Medium insoluble and colorfast. Avoid extremely abrasive laundering or dry-cleaning. The medium must be thoroughly dry before heat setting. a) If using an iron or heat press, pre heat to cotton setting or highest temperature below scorching, going over each square foot 20 to 30 seconds. Use a higher setting and more time if ironing on reverse side or when using a press cloth. b) Commercial rotary dryer: 250° for 25 minutes. This method is easier than ironing and the flexing action restores softness, but most home-type dryers will not reach 250°, and no heat setting takes place below 250°. c) Conveyor textile dryer: 250° for 6 minutes or 325° for 3 minutes. Household Oven: 250° for 5 minutes.

TESTING: Never proceed with a large or important project without testing the adequacy of your heatsetting conditions. Evaluate the results by comparing an unwashed example to one heatset and repeatedly washed. Washout problems are most likely to result from insufficient heat, but if color loss problems persist when you are certain the item has been fully heatset, this will show you that your fabric is not suitable.

FABRIC CHOICE: Our Textile Medium works well on most all fibers including polyester and blends. However, some types of fabrics have drip-dry or crease resistant finishes which reduce washfastness. Other types of sizing may cause splotching or uneven colors. A wash-test is your best guide in choosing a fabric, but avoid low temperature fabrics.

MIGRATION: A few very absorbent fabrics and water-thinned colors may cause the Textile Medium to spread during drying. If your tests show migration or spreading, select another type of cloth.

SILK-SCREENING: Our Textile Paint can be used successfully because it solvent– free and safe. This Textile Medium dries rapidly, so to prevent clogging avoid printing on very hot or arid days. Work without interruption, and do not print near heat lamps or dryers. Wash screen with water immediately after use. Use a stiff rounded squeegee using lots of pressure while guarding against slippage of item being printed. 10 or 12XX mesh screen is best. Direct emulsion photo resist should be a type that can be made completely waterproof.

BATIK: Our Textile Medium updates the batik process because colors are brushed directly over the resist instead of immersing the fabric in dyes. Melted wax resist is traditional, but other water soluble resists are available, in addition to using a simple flour and water mixture.

AIRBRUSHING: Our Textile Medium is a prefiltered formulation made with less thickener but additional pigment and binder. They will have greater color strength because less dilution is required for spraying. Thin three parts Textile Medium with one part water. Refrigeration will preserve the Textile Medium indefinitely, but additional dilution or filtering may be necessary. Metallic colors may need additional filtering.