Screen printing, also known as silk screening or silk screen printing, is the technique of using a stencil or “screen” to print inks directly to the surface of a garment. This method is the most cost effective way to reproduce the same image on multiple piece runs.
INK OPTIONS
Each of our inks have unique qualities and produce a different product. Selecting the right ink for you print really depends on what you're going for.
WATER BASED INK
Softness: 10 out of 10
Durability: 8 out of 10
Opacity: 7 out of 10
Water-based inks are incredibly soft, breathable, smooth, and cannot be felt on the shirts surface. We highly recommend water-based screen printing for that high end vintage t-shirt look & feel. It is the standard for private clothing lines & retail-able t-shirt ventures because of the comfort and wear-ability that people often find in their favorite shirt. Best results are on on cotton.
PLASTISOL INK
Softness: 5 out of 10
Durability: 9 out of 10
Opacity: 10 out of 10
Plastisol is the most common ink used in apparel screen printing. It is a thicker and more durable plastic based ink that will withstand multiple washes and maintain maximum vibrancy long term. Plastisol can be physically felt on top of the shirt, rather than penetrating into the fabric like other types of water-based and discharge inks. These inks can be printed to feel super soft or have a heavy hand depending on the intended use.
DISCHARGE INK
Softness: 10 out of 10
Durability: 10 out of 10
Opacity: 7 out of 10
Discharge ink is traditional water based ink with a bleaching additive that actually dyes the fibers of a garment to the color of the ink. The outcome is a very opaque, vibrant print with a matte finish. It makes the very softest print and is our personal favorite style of printing. This technique is only effective on cotton garments, and it can be difficult to perfectly match colors. It also has a very distinct smell, so we highly recommend washing garments printed with this ink before wearing them.
SPECIALTY INK
Softness: 3 out of 10
Durability: 7 out of 10
Opacity: 10 out of 10
We have all kinds of special inks that make your products stand out. Some speciality inks include Glitter, Shimmer, Glow in the Dark, Clear Gel, and Foil. If you have a “crazy” idea, let us know and we’ll do our best to make it happen!
