The two stages of curing in screen-printing

There are usually two stages of curing printed fabric.

The "flash cure" allows the printer to continue working on an item. An underlying layer of white, for example, will need this partial cure to support another ink on top of it.

A handheld automotive heat gun is the traditional substitute for a flash-cure unit. It works, but more slowly than the proper equipment. Either way, this process is not meant to provide the final cure of the print.

The conveyor dryer and the heat press are both suitable for a final cure. These are heating environments that are time- and temperature- controlled, (and with the heat press, pressure- controlled.) They can be adjusted to provide consistent finished product that will wash and age well.