Water Based Screen Printing Vs Plastisol

Both inks have technical advantages and disadvantages for use in specific applications.

Water based screen printing vs plastisol. Water based inks and plastisol inks are the two most popular inks in the screen printing industry. Plastisol is the ink of choice for printing of finished goods such as t shirts sweatshirts jackets and tote bags. Color vibrancy brightness saturation is where plastisol shines especially on darker garments. Here is a breakdown of the essentials you need to know concerning plastisol vs water based ink.

Especially when we print white ink on black shirts. It brings more breathability to water based prints than the plastisol print which helps to close those tiny gaps. Can work with all colors. Whereas water based inks tend to be a little thinner and a little bit harder to control on the screen.

Water based screen printing inks absorb more in depth into the fabric. When you need your colors to be rich and brilliant and pop off the print go with plastisol screen printing. What are the pros and cons of using water based ink and plastisol with screen printing. A high end ink made for super soft shirts commonly used in retail printing.

There are two main types of ink that get used for textile printing plastisol and water based. It is a cheaper ink that has long been the industry standard for screen printing despite its generally thick heavy feeling print results. While plastisol is more widely known and used the desire for a more eco friendly shop has brought water based screen printing into the spotlight. Muted when used on dark colors.

Ink is one of the most used products when you are screen printing. Water based ink is the ink of choice for the printing of yard goods. For a long time plastisol inks were the most common choicesince water based inks were more difficult to use. Water based and discharge ink.

The first and most notable difference between these two is the hand or feel of the ink. Plastisol served printers well and created some rad designs. If you using white ink in water based you may use a lower mesh count. Plastisol s thick layers make a large solid print is sometimes referred to as a sweat patch.

But this oil based ink requires a variety of chemicals for clean up and isn t sustainable or eco friendly. Water based inks can produce a vibrant print on lighter garment colors but still not as well. 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. The printing process and chemistry of water based is much different than plastisol.

With any water based or discharge water based ink the pigment actually integrates or soaks into the fabric. Compatible with all screen mesh counts. Cannot get halftone and gradient results. Either in piece form or on the roll.

Plastisol ink is a plastic based ink made for apparel. Plastisol ink pigment sits on top of the fabric.