Inks used in screen printing include plastisol ink and water-based ink. Plastisol ink is made of plastic, while water-based ink is formed of water. Even though their names indicate their variances, additional research is necessary to fully comprehend how these variables impact the screen printing procedure. In this post, we’ll go into more detail about the advantages and disadvantages of each type of ink so that you may choose the one that best meets your needs.

Water-Based Inks

How They Work: A specialised ink used in direct-to-garment digital printing is water-based ink. It is made up of a mixture of water and colour or pigment. Water’s main role is that of a solvent, maintaining the liquid condition of the pigment or dye. Co-solvents are occasionally used to shorten the heat- and time-intensive curing process. Although the co-solvents have several applications, speeding up the curing process is the most frequent one. The water must all totally evaporate for the ink to cure properly. The ink seeps into the fabric of the garment and becomes a permanent component.

Advantages of Water-Based Inks

• Better for the environment
• Softer hand (ie print is thinner)
• More breathable
• Inks becomes part of the shirt instead of sitting on top
• Good for creating a “vintage” look

Disadvantages of Water-Based Inks

• Influenced by the color of the shirt, making prints on dark garments problematic
• More time-consuming to work with
• Can dry in screens and clog them
• More expensive

Plastisol

How They Work: Plastisol ink’s operating mechanism in screenprinting is simple, and it is the most common and cost-effective alternative. Because it has plastic components, it is user-friendly. To be more specific, it is made up of plasticizer and PVC particle fragments. PVC, a material that is often used, is made flexible and fluid by adding plasticizer, which prevents the PVC particles from settling or aggregating. A curing temperature of around 350 degrees Fahrenheit is necessary for plastisol. Most Plastisol prints still adhere to the shirt’s fabric after curing.

Advantages of Plastisol

• Inexpensive
• Great opacity, can be used on dark garments
• Doesn’t require a source of running water
• Won’t clog screens as it won’t dry until cured (requiring 350-degree heat)

Disadvantages of Plastisol

• Thicker hand
• Less breathable
• Can bunch around seams