Printing with Puff Binder

Puff binder also known as Minerfoam B is a paste that gives a 3D effect to fabric. It can be screen printed on or hand painted on. Once it has been applied to fabric it needs to be heated up to create the "puff" effect. If you use plain puff binder it will turn white when heated up. Pigment inks can be added to puff binder to make a coloured print, but when heated up it will be pastel colour rather than bold colours, Because the paste is already white. Mix any colours you need and screen print the puff binder paste onto your fabric using a squeegee, 2 pulls is enough. The screen can only be used twice because the screen becomes easily blocked when puff binder is in use. Wash your screen first and put in the drying cupboard. Heat now needs to be applied. Using a heat gun, lightly wave the heat over the fabric, until the print "puffs" up. Be aware of hot surfaces when using the heat gun. I really like using puff binder because even if your print isn't perfect puff binder always seems to improve any flaw in your work. It is my favorite technique in the printing room.

Borsalini, screen print, puff binder, mix of left over colours such as Miner print Green,Orange g, Red, Q print Turquoise,Yellow. (experimental piece) 

(Before heat appliance) Calico, screen print, puff binder, colours added: Miner print Green, Orange g, Q print Yellow, Turquoise.

(After heat appliance) I prefer the design after heat appliance because the colours are not as harsh because they turn pastel when heated up.

Stages of the "puff" process. Heat being applied.