How to Combine Suede Effect Silicone with Matte, Glossy and Anti-Sublimation Printing

How to Combine Suede Effect Silicone with Matte, Glossy and Anti-Sublimation Printing

  One advantage of silicone textile printing is that different surface effects can be combined within the same design.

  Suede effect silicone can be used alone, but it can also be combined with matte, glossy, raised, anti-sublimation and other silicone systems to create greater surface contrast.

  For the main suede silicone formulations, see Suede Effect Silicone Ink For Textile Screen Printing.

Suede + Matte Silicone

  Suede and matte silicone both provide lower-reflection surfaces, but their tactile appearance is different.

  A matte silicone surface is generally smoother, while suede silicone is designed to provide a finer textured hand feel.

  A design may therefore use:

  Matte Silicone Base + Suede Logo

  or:

  Suede Main Graphic + Matte Detail

  For the XG-866ART heat-curing system, XG-866M-6+ can be used for matte effects.

  For the XG-20ART self-drying system, matte options include XG-866M-6 and XG-136M-1 according to the required formulation.

Suede + Glossy Silicone

  Gloss and suede create stronger visual contrast because one surface reflects more light while the other is more textured.

  A typical design could contain:

  Suede Silicone Background + Glossy Lettering

  or:

  Suede Logo + Glossy Decorative Element

  For heat-curing printing, XG-399-3 can be used for the glossy effect.

  For self-drying printing, XG-399-2 is the corresponding glossy option.

  Material compatibility and printing sequence should be confirmed by sample testing.

Suede + Raised Silicone

  A raised silicone structure can be built before applying the final suede surface.

  A typical structure may be:

  Fabric → Base Silicone → Build-Up Silicone Layers → Suede Silicone Surface → Final Cure

  This allows the design to combine dimensional height with a soft textured appearance.

  The number of surface layers depends on the required texture and coverage.

  For pass-count guidance, read How Many Printing Layers Are Needed for Suede Effect Silicone Ink?

Suede + Anti-Sublimation Silicone

  Dye migration can be an important consideration on certain polyester or sublimated fabrics.

  An anti-sublimation silicone layer may be used within the printing structure where required.

  For the XG-866ART heat-curing system, XG-866F is the listed anti-sublimation silicone option.

  For the XG-20ART system, XG-20D is the corresponding anti-sublimation option.

  A possible structure is:

  Polyester Fabric → Anti-Sublimation Silicone → Color / Build-Up Layer → Suede Effect Silicone → Final Drying or Cure

  The actual structure should be tested on the real dyed fabric before production.

Suede + Conductive Silicone

  For specialized applications, XG-866D conductive silicone is also available within the heat-curing product system.

  Where conductive and decorative effects are combined, the complete functional requirement and layer sequence need to be evaluated separately.

  The suede layer should not be assumed to replace or provide the function of the conductive silicone itself.

Color Can Be Combined with Every Surface Concept

  Suede silicone can be combined with XG-series pigments, including:

• XG-102 White
• XG-501 Black
• XG-302 Red
• XG-203 Yellow
• XG-408 Blue

  This makes it possible to develop combinations such as:

• Red Suede + Clear Gloss
• Black Suede + Matte Black
• Colored Suede + Raised Silicone
• Colored Suede + Anti-Sublimation Base

  The final formulation should be confirmed through sample testing.

Choose the Correct Curing System

  The complete effect structure should remain within a compatible production system.

  For example, a heat-curing XG-866ART suede formulation should be planned together with compatible heat-curing materials.

  A self-drying XG-20ART system should likewise be developed around the appropriate self-drying formulation.

  For system selection, read Heat-Curing vs Self-Drying Suede Silicone Ink for Textile Screen Printing.

Test Multi-Effect Designs Before Bulk Production

  Multi-effect printing introduces more variables than a single-layer logo.

Check:

• Layer sequence
• Material compatibility
• Color
• Registration
• Surface texture
• Gloss or matte contrast
• Total thickness
• Drying between layers
• Final curing
• Adhesion
• Flexibility

  For garment applications, see Suede Effect Silicone Printing for Garment Logos, Patterns and Textile Graphics.

  For performance apparel, continue to Suede Effect Silicone Printing for Sportswear and Activewear.

  Always test the complete design on the actual textile before bulk printing.