Screen printing can be done by using a wide range of different types of inks onto many types of products. When it comes to screen printing onto apparel the majority of orders revolve around using a max opaque plastisol ink, but there are actually around 20 different types of ink that can be screen printed onto fabric. The majority of these inks are a type of “plastisol ink” that can be used straight out of the bucket. The few inks that are not plastisol typically require a catalyst or some other type of additive to allow the think to perform the way it should.
Max Opaque - Opaque ink that is used for the vast majority of orders.
Soft Fashion - Offers a great soft ink hand, but opacity is sacrificed.
3D Puff - Ink has a 3-dimensional look and feel.
Athletic Low Temperature - Used for printing onto synthetic performance materials.
Suede - An ink that has a finished leather like look and feel.
Glow In the Dark (GID) - Ink is either clear or a color in daylight and glows in the dark!
Blacklight - Ink that is white in daylight and glows when under a blacklight.
Solar Color Changing - Ink changes from clear (not under UV light) to colors (in the sun).
Reflective - Ink that reflects light, typically used on safety workwear.
Liquid Shimmer - Very thin bling type of ink, sometimes available in a “mirror” version.
Metallic - A “bling” ink that uses very small flakes and can be mixed.
Sparkle - A “bling” ink that uses medium sized flakes = more sparkle, less detail.
Glitter - A “bling” ink that uses large sized flakes = more sparkle & less detail.
Waterbase - An ink that is very soft and has virtually no hand, but not all fabrics work.
Discharge - An ink that removes the shirt color and replaces it with a new one.
Silicone - A synthetic look and feeling ink used on performance fabrics.
Adhesive - Used to allow flock, foil, and other media to be applied to a product.
