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Screen Printing With Water Based Inks vs Plastisol

From the days of painstakingly slow production and muddy colors to modern-day printing capabilities, the industry has seen a remarkable transformation. Thanks to advanced tech, printers have finally found that sweet spot between vibrance and accuracy - now they can achieve maximum impact with minimal time invested! Plastisol inks specifically have enabled them to turn out crisp prints at higher speeds than ever before - truly revolutionizing print culture as we know it.

Water-based ink is the perfect printing solution for custom t-shirts, offering both vibrant and subtle design effects. Its soft texture ensures a pleasant feel on any garment while its ecofriendly composition will provide peace of mind to customers looking for sustainability in their apparel. Not only that – water-based ink produces clearer color gradients and sharper details than plastisol alternatives, allowing even intricate designs to shine through!

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Water-Based VS Plastisol Inks

Water-based ink is made with natural ingredients which makes it friendlier for the environment, plus when you touch your shirt after printing there will an extra soft feel! On the other hand, Plastisol offers vibrant colors that won't fade quickly - perfect if you're looking for something more durable. Combining both materials could yield even better results depending on what effect you want to achieve.

Adding Color to Black Shirts

Printing vibrant designs on dark-colored garments is made easy with the use of underbase and Flash printing. Before adding color to a shirt, an artist begins by laying down white ink that makes any other colors applied appear more vivid than usual. Afterward, specialized heat presses are used between layers for quick drying so prints never come out off-register – all without having to remove shirts from pallets in the middle of production!

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Screen Printing Tips

When it comes to dark-colored shirts, the choice of ink can make a big impact on your design - so what's best for you? Water-based options produce more subdued results but are kinder to our environment. However, if vibrancy and longevity are desired, then plastisol will be able to deliver with its richer colors. It all boils down being deciding between making an eco-friendly statement or capturing something truly striking! 

Advantages of Water-Based Inks:

  1. Soft Feel: Water-based ink gives the fabric a softer feel, which is more comfortable to wear and has a more natural look.
  2. Environmentally Friendly: Water-based ink is considered more environmentally friendly as it does not contain harmful chemicals or pollutants.
  3. Breathable: Water-based ink allows the fabric to breathe, which makes it more comfortable to wear in hot or humid conditions.
  4. Easy to print: Water-based ink is thin and easy to print, making it ideal for screen printing, and the ink is easily absorbed by the fabric.

Advantages of Plastisol Inks:

  1. Vibrant Colors: Plastisol ink is more opaque, which makes it possible to achieve vibrant and accurate colors.
  2. Durable: Plastisol ink is more durable and resistant to fading, cracking, and peeling, which means the design will last longer.
  3. Easy to print: Plastisol ink is thicker and more viscous, which makes it easier to print and control the amount of ink on the screen.
  4. Versatile: Plastisol ink is suitable for a wide range of fabrics, including cotton, polyester, and blends, which makes it more versatile than water-based ink.