What are the different types of screen printing ink you use and which should I use?

We offer a variety of screen printing inks each suited to different needs:

• Plastisol: The most commonly used ink due to its durability and vibrant color. Ideal for most fabrics and perfect for achieving solid color consistency. It's the industry standard.

  • Pros:

    • Durable and long-lasting prints

    • Vibrant colors

    • PMS matching available

    • Suitable for most fabrics
    • Least expensive ink option

  • Cons:

    • Considered less sustainable than water-based ink

    • Often has a thicker feel than water-based & discharge inks
      • To achieve a water-based feel with plastisol inks, for an extra fee, a post printing heat press application will give an amazing feel to almost all plastisol print.

• Water-based (High Solids): Offers a softer feel and is more eco-friendly. Best for light fabrics, though it's more expensive than plastisol. Color matching can be close but not exact due to variations in fabric absorption.

  • Pros:

    • Softer feel on the fabric
    • Considered more sustainable than plastisol
    • Ideal for light fabrics
    • May support programs with restricted-substance requirements; confirm the applicable standard during quoting

  • Cons:

    • More expensive than plastisol
    • Not suitable for all fabrics
    • Medium and dark colored items are typically limited to 5 visible ink colors
    • Color matching may not be exact
      
      

• Discharge: Special water-based ink that removes dye from the fabric, creating a vintage look. It's only suitable for 100% cotton and PMS and color matching are impossible. Discharge is recommended for designs where precise color fidelity is not critical, but a very soft retail/band style print is desired.

  • Pros:

    • the softest ink feel
    • PVC free
    • Extremely breathable prints

  • Cons:

    • Only suitable for 100% cotton
    • Print colors and opacity are greatly impacted by the shirt and the results can be inconsistent
    • No PMS matching
    • The most expensive print option