Water Based Ink Vs Plastisol

A plastic based ink made for apparel.

Water based ink vs plastisol. Plastisol is a very thick ink that definitely has a feel to it when touching the design on a shirt. Both inks have technical advantages and disadvantages for use in specific applications. Plastisol is the ink of choice for printing of finished goods such as t shirts sweatshirts jackets and tote bags. Plastisol ink pigment sits on top of the fabric.

The soft plastisol ink lays directly on the fabric covering the shirt with a layer of the graphic. What are the pros and cons of using water based ink and plastisol with screen printing. Muted when used on dark colors. Due to the ink dying the shirt water based screen printers need to have significant knowledge on fabric types and ink reaction.

Water based ink is a higher quality ink that takes significant training to use. Plastisol ink is a plastic based ink made for apparel. But this oil based ink requires a variety of chemicals for clean up and isn t sustainable or eco friendly. Compatible with all screen mesh counts.

Since the inks react differently with each t shirt it takes a deep knowledge of ink and fabric types to get the right colors and opacities. This is a cheaper ink is the industry standard and makes for thick prints. Water based ink while not completely free of plastic is mostly water soluble and absorbs into the fabric. This effect can also give water based prints a more washed out look which is ideal for vintage or faded designs.

One is made of water and one is made of plastic. The penetrative effect of water based inks means that a print can be applied evenly over all areas on a variety of fabrics including some notoriously difficult to print with plastisols such as towelling. Water based ink versus plastisol. Plastisol served printers well and created some rad designs.

Water based ink is a higher quality ink that takes significant training to use. For water based inks the ink can barely be felt after printing. Cannot get halftone and gradient results. Can work with all colors.

For a long time plastisol inks were the most common choicesince water based inks were more difficult to use. Water based ink is the ink of choice for the printing of yard goods. The pros of water based inks. However after the t shirt is washed the ink can no longer be noticed by touch and feels just like the shirt it is printed on.

This is one of the main reasons water based ink has such a soft feel and is becoming more and more desirable for printing onto fashion blanks. Either in piece form or on the roll. When this ink is cured the water based solvents evaporate leaving behind only the pigmented binder compounds less of an ink deposit than plastisol.