When it comes to screen printing T-shirts, did you know that your options aren’t limited to fabric and design? The type of ink you choose for your screen printing order can take your company T-shirt from the back of the closet to the top of everyone’s list.
Most of our customers are familiar with plastisol-based inks, even if they’ve never heard the term before. These inks have long been popular with screen printers and retailers. Chances are you have at least one T-shirt printed with plastisols hanging in your closet right now. If you can’t see the weave of the shirt underneath the design, it was probably printed with plastisol ink!
While not as widely-used, water based inks give you the opportunity to create detailed, super soft designs that may just become your customer’s next favorite tee. Read on to find out when you should choose water based printing for your next screen printing order.
1. Water based inks are eco-friendly
Is your company looking for more ways to be environmentally friendly? Choosing water based printing is an easy and great way to decrease your company’s carbon footprint. Unlike the more common plastisol-based inks, water based inks are made primarily from pigment and (you guessed it) water. There is no PVC (plastic) involved, making their production better for the environment.
Unfortunately, both plastisol and water based inks can have a negative effect on the environment if not disposed of properly. Full Press Apparel works hard every day to keep our services as eco-friendly as possible, including the cleanup and disposal processes.
2. Water based inks are soft, breathable and allow great detail
Water based printing is most widely known for creating super soft designs, or what printers call a soft hand feel. Water based inks have a lower viscosity than plastisol inks, actually seeping into the material they’re being printed on, instead of sitting on top of it. Because the design almost becomes part of the fabric itself, you are left with a soft, breathable print that won’t crack.
3. Water based printing works well with 100-percent cotton, light-colored fabric
Water based printing is best when used with light-colored fabrics, but that doesn’t mean using a dark shirt is out of the question. Discharge ink is created when an activator is added to a water based ink. This activator removes the manufacturer color from the fabric and replaces it with new colors, basically re-dyeing the design area. This allows us to create similar soft, breathable designs on dark fabric. The trade-off is a vintage-feel design that may not be as bright as water based ink on light fabrics or plastisol ink on any color fabric.
If you decide to choose water based printing for your screen printing design, it’s also best to print on 100 percent cotton material. Other materials may not print as expected, and the design may vary from material to material.
While water based printing isn’t the best option for every screen printing project, it’s a great tool to have in your toolbox!
If you would like help choosing the best printing technique for your next project, contact the Full Press Apparel team at 850-222-1003 or info@fullpressapparel.com.
