Plastisol ink is just polyvinyl chloride (PVC, the same material as normal pipe) and liquid plastic.
This is the common ink you'll see at any screen printing shop. Why? Because it's cheap, readily available, durable, and generally easy to use.
There's no problem leaving it on your screen. Put it on the shelf forever and use it in a few years. Make sure it's properly cured and lasts a hundred washes.
Sounds good, right? mostly.
Why should screen printers invest the time and effort into learning water-based inks when plastisols are so easy, cheap and long-lasting?
Because water-based inks have some real advantages that make them attractive to customers and printers: they feel better, are better for the environment, and they unleash some powerful printing capabilities in your shop (plus they look great. Great).
It's a simple fact: a good water-based print feels better than a plastisol print.
While you can make soft plastisol prints, water-based prints are usually almost as soft as the t-shirt itself.
This means that customers who prefer soft printing will almost always require water-based inks.
Some water-based inks use fewer toxins and petroleum products than plastisols.
While this is not always the case (and may be a common misconception), industry professionals generally believe that water-based inks are better for the environment.
Reasons include that water-based inks are made using fewer volatile and toxic chemicals, require a smaller carbon footprint to produce, and produce less waste that goes down the drain than plastisols.
While plastisols tend to last a hundred washes before they start to fade, wrinkle, or even peel off clothing (think of that very old t-shirt you probably own) - water-based inks can actually last longer .
That's because water-based inks can actually become part of the garment. The plastisol just goes on top of the clothes! Water-based inks (since they are water-based) leave behind pigment.
These pigments can become part of the fabric itself and last as long as the garment.
While you can achieve high detail with plastisols, water-based inks can be made so thin that they can be used for extremely high mesh counts.
That means shops like Night Owls Print and Printed Threads that print high-detail water-based artwork can achieve lifelike results and microscopic detail.
If you've ever worn a t-shirt with a large plastisol print, you know that plastisol ink doesn't "breathe" at all.
Most water-based inks don't feel this way. Water-based inks are usually able to let air through because the pigments are embedded in the fibers of the garment.
There are some concerns about water-based inks: won't they be more colorful than plastisols? The answer to this question is no. Water-based inks don't sacrifice quality or color.
Everyone in the industry loves to argue over which screen printing ink is better.
It's really like asking which pizza is better. (It's Pequod's, though. I might need to pay attention for a while.)
The truth is simple.
better one
It works with your shop's printing presses.
You have a useful provider.
If the ink is from a supplier you trust and it works for you, then it's good ink. Don't worry about other noises.
to find
This tends to drive people away!
traditional
So here are the different segments
Water-based inks have a runny, almost liquid consistency that alters the fibers of clothing. It has a very soft feel. Due to the high water content of the ink, it needs to be kept wet when printing.
A fluid, but more viscous than traditional water-based inks. Ink pulling is a powerful tool. They do this by using an activator to bleach the existing color on the shirt. This means you can reliably print vibrant colors even when using discharge ink as an underlayer on dark garments.
With the addition of acrylic particles, this type of water-based ink has a thicker, plastisol-like consistency. It doesn't actually change the fibers of the garment. Acrylic inks arose from consumer demand for plastisol-like water-based inks. It doesn't require careful administration on the screen like other water-based inks.
Acrylic inks are becoming more popular thanks to the development of digital hybrid printing (also known as "a giant new machine that costs as much as a small house"). Many digital printing machines print on the basis of traditional screen printing
Platisol is very easy to use. It never dries up on the screen and never forms puddles. So why switch to water-based ink?
It is very marketable as an environmentally friendly product. Use water-based inks to appeal to environmentally conscious clients.
It is very popular in markets outside of North America. In Asia, Europe and most global markets, water-based inks are the standard.
They find it incredible. Compare any water-based ink to any plastisol print to see what we mean.
They make your store more capable. Water-based inks offer higher detail, better feel and wider image capabilities, allowing your store to better meet any client's goals.
They are persistent. Water-based inks rarely wash off or have the problems typical of other plastisols.
this is just a common problem
In the fine art world, the simple solution is to add a retarder: add glycerin to
There are three solutions to slow down the drying process
Check with your ink manufacturer for your ink type
one
I bet you don't think you need a crawler sprayer.
Here's a neat trick to keep your
Keep the ink moist with the Crawler Sprayer!
These are new and for about $50 you get a
Be sure to use distilled water in your nebulizer to keep contaminants out!
All jokes aside, I've learned over the years that the importance of coating your screen with the lubricant recommended by the ink manufacturer speaks for itself.
before any
By penetrating the entire mesh with lubricant, you can slow down drying and make the print run smoother.
Here's another big problem shops have when they start printing
The emulsion formula is the key to preventing screen damage. Emulsions have different solids levels, different levels of durability when exposed to different inks, different exposure properties, etc. So how do you choose?
Almost every clothing trim supplier has a good lotion that you can use. You may need to change the lotion to get the firmness you need.
When in doubt, use Diazo for proper durability when screen printing
Proper exposure leads to proper crosslinking. Cross-linking means that the semi-solid in the emulsion becomes solid by reacting with ultraviolet light. Take the time to invest in getting
Get an exposure calculator. It's a low cost investment and will pay for itself many times over.
Consider exposure units. There is some debate as to whether LED exposure devices will produce the proper crosslinking as mercury vapor bulbs do. I'll leave that to real scientists. However, you may need to experiment with different lotions for long-lasting results as you switch light sources.
Always post exposure.
Here, I say it out loud: always post exposure!
This is a super easy step that many shops ignore or don't think is necessary.
After exposing the screen and allowing it to dry, remove the screen and expose it to more light. Turn off the vacuum function of the exposure unit so that the screen is ink-side down (the opposite of how you would normally expose a screen). You can even expose it to sunlight for a minute or so.
The key is to further harden the ink side of the screen. This is a really easy way to increase the durability of your screen.
The less water there is in the ink, the harder it is to work with.
think about it
Stay hydrated and keep moving. You need to manage water-based inks so they don't dry out and cause you problems .
Water-based inks are an opportunity to provide your customers with the longest lasting, softest custom shirts. It is a screen printing technique that adds value and impresses customers.
Too many screen printing businesses are afraid to try new technology - but
Now that you know where to start and have some useful tips, learn how to take advantage of