If you’re planning to order or sell customized hoodies for men and women, you’ll want to think about which screen printing ink is appropriate for your design.
When printing diverse t-shirts, several elements come into play. Budget, amount of orders, printing processes, inks, and other factors must all be considered. All of these factors must be considered to ensure that the finished product is sturdy, resistant to regular washing, and the stretching design does not break. Inks serve a critical part in ensuring that these items are flawless. The sort of ink that is used is determined by the fabric.
Many types of inks are available in the market, with water-based inks and plastisol inks being the most popular among printers. People frequently inquire about the distinction between them. What is the main difference between plastisol inks and water-based inks? And it’s these two factors that people are most concerned about when determining whether to use water-based or plastisol inks.
What is plastisol printing, and how does it work?
For t-shirt printing, these are the most frequent ink kinds. It is made of PVC components and is widely used in screen printing. It’s commonly used to make opaque patterns on dark materials. Furthermore, it also does not dry out if kept on the screen for an extended period. As a result, you’ll need to use Flash cure units to cure it. The ink sits on top of the fabric rather than blending with the fibers, which adds to its uniqueness.
What exactly is water-based ink?
Water-based ink is the ideal option if you want delicate, breathable designs. It blends into the materials rather than sitting on top of them, resulting in soft prints. Co-solvents, such as petroleum solvents, are found in many water-based inks. They are favored because they reduce the amount of time and heat required for the curing process.
Each of these inks serves a distinct purpose and can be used on a certain type of fabric. Let’s have a look at some applications for both of them.
Plastisol ink:
Ink made of plastisol
Plastisol inks are mostly used in textiles, clothing, and opaque prints. They do not degrade the materials in the same way that other prints do, and they produce a colorful and eye-catching final product. The following are some of the most significant advantages of plastisol ink:
- They don’t get wet.
- Printing is simple.
- Suitable for many types of materials.
- It has bright hues.
- Friendly to the environment.
Water-based ink:
Soft and no-feel prints are commonly made with water-based ink. You can print on white or light-colored clothes. It’s only very good for dark clothes. Curing them necessitates the use of a huge drying machine. The following are some benefits of using water-based ink:
- It works at a fast rate and requires roll-to-roll printing.
- Prints that are high in quality, soft, and crisp.
- Friendly to the environment.
- The prints are long-lasting.
Screen Printing Water-Based Ink vs. Plastisol:
Further, we shall compare water-based vs. plastisol. Let’s look into each of them and see what makes them unique.
Soft and vibrant prints:
One of the most significant advantages of water-based ink versus plastisol is this. The printed tees are comfortable and colorful. The main reason for this is that the solution contains a water solvent and is not fully devoid of plastic. The solvent also penetrates the materials, resulting in delicate prints. Water-based solvents vanish as the ink cures, leaving colored binders to form.
Plastisol prints, on the other hand, are made of plastic. PVC particles or other polymers with a plasticizer or liquid plastic are the key components. It solidifies and produces a plastic layer on the fabric when heated to a high temperature or cured. As a result, there are no soft and colorful prints on various fabrics.
Discharges:
Discharge ink is a chemical that acts as a garment bleaching agent. It’s mostly used with ink that’s water-based. It’s best for dark clothing and works well with 100 percent cotton materials. You create a white base when you discharge the color from the cloth. When utilizing plastisol ink to print dark materials, you’ll need to add a layer of white ink to produce an opaque under-base.
As a result, there is a thick layering of hues on top. Although there are solutions for reducing ink usage, soft prints with plastisol remain a challenge. As a result, if you’re concerned about ink usage and delicate prints, water-based ink wins again.
Enhanced Color Vibrancy:
Plastisol ink is the way to go if your users desire bright colors on their t-shirts. Plastisol hues offer bright and saturated colors, especially when dealing with dark clothes. It’s one of the main reasons why plastisol inks are so popular.
Plastisol inks are made entirely of plastic and remain securely adhered to the fabric even after drying. It primarily generates an opaque coating for vibrant prints, vivid colors, and fluorescent hues.
Dark clothing using water-based inks, on the other hand, has limited usage of brilliant colors. They are not as clear as plastisol ink, and producing brilliant colors on a white background is challenging. Furthermore, water-based inks are ideal for old effects. Water-based inks are the way to go if you don’t want your cloth to have any brilliant colors and prefer a delicate feel.
Accuracy in shade:
When it comes to color fidelity, nothing beats plastisol inks, which also produce bright hues. It is simple to find the desired colors when using plastisol inks. Plastisol ink, for example, will not let you down if you require a specific hue for your company’s t-shirts for branding purposes.
Water-based ink, on the other hand, may produce a different color outcome. Many modifications have been made, however, the color palette still needs to mature. You can tell the difference just by looking at the color brilliance.
Color accuracy is critical in the printing industry. As a result, when it comes to color fidelity, plastisol ink beats out water-based inks.
Durability:
When it comes to durability, there’s a tie between water-based and plastisol’s. When it comes to water-based inks, the ink blends with the fabric, allowing it to remain longer. Similarly, the plastisol inks build a coating and adhere to the fabric tightly, allowing it to endure longer.
Note the following critical factors that can affect durability:
Regardless of the ink you use, if the print is not properly cured, it will have issues with durability.
If the quality of the ink and the type of fabric used aren’t taken into account, the durability may suffer.
Finally, how the clothing is cared for is critical. The durability will be harmed if they are washed every day in harsh detergents or hot water.
Breathability:
The ability of moisture to travel between materials is referred to as breathability. Because the water-based ink is absorbed by the fabric, there are many openings in the cloth that allow moisture to circulate freely. Plastisol inks, on the other hand, create layers and adhere to the cloth, leaving microscopic spaces unfilled.
Flexibility:
The term “flexibility” refers to the ability to use different inks on different fabrics, as well as ink additives and variable heating settings. This is when plastisol inks come out on top. The effect will be the same regardless of the cloth type, additives, or heating settings used with plastisol inks.
Water-based inks, on the other hand, require simply 100% cotton fabrics. When working with synthetic textiles, the outcome will be less than ideal because they do not integrate well. As a result, if you’re utilizing water-based inks, you’ll have fewer possibilities for experimenting with other materials.
Eco-friendly:
There is a lot of demand for eco-friendly materials right now. As a result, more water-based inks are being sold in the ink industry.
Although water-based inks contain plastics in the form of acrylics and other binders, they do not contain PVC. Solvents are used, which evaporate, leaving colored binder chemicals on the substance. Plastisol inks, on the other hand, are primarily made of PVC materials, i.e. plastics, and we all know how harmful they are to the environment. Manufacturers are looking for an alternative to PVC for inks as demand for eco-friendliness grows. Water-based inks will continue to rule in the vertical of eco-friendly printing until we find an alternative.
Cost:
Everyone prefers water-based ink because of the delicate handprints, but it is an expensive option. Many printing companies provide this as a premium service. Plastisol ink, on the other hand, is inexpensive and simple to use. Water-based inks are also more difficult to deal with than plastisol prints. Water-based inks can only be used on a certain type of cloth, whereas plastisol ink can be used on any fabric. When comparing the costs of plastisol vs. water-based inks, plastisol ink is the more cost-effective option.
Which one should you choose?
Water-based ink vs. plastisol ink for screen printing is a major topic, with many people wondering which is superior. Both of them, I believe, are the greatest in their own right and have a place in the printing industry. When thinking about buying either of the inks, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Plastisol inks are the way to go if you want flexibility, vibrancy, and a simple technique. They are less expensive, endure longer, and produce superior prints. If your main fabric is cotton, and you want a gentle hand feel, water-based inks are the way to go.
Finally, if cost isn’t an issue for you, and you don’t want to choose between the two, you can buy both inks and utilize them.
Many companies will advise you to use any of them. Define the type of ink you wish to use based on your needs and consumer requirements. Budget, print types, consumer needs, eco-friendly alternatives, and other factors should all be considered. Decide which inks you want to use after considering all of these factors.
Conclusion:
Both inks play an important role in the printing business and contribute equally. When considering whether to buy one or the other, take the time to learn everything there is to know about both before making a decision. As a print shop owner, it’s critical to understand the many types of ink, how to use them, and why.
Apart from that, if you’re having trouble meeting your clients’ continual requests, making last-minute design adjustments, and engaging with them regularly. If that’s the case, we’ve got a solution for you.
