Do you want to print cool pictures on shirts? We use ink. Ink helps us make the pictures. One kind of ink is plastisol ink. It is used for screen print.
Why do we need to know about plastisol ink? It helps make shirts and other things last long. The colors are bright, too. You can check out different screen printing plastisol inks, for example Screen Printing Navy Blue Plastisol Ink — SDLA-655Cplastisol-inks.com.
This will tell you all about plastisol ink. We will talk about different kinds. We will talk about how to use them. Let’s start!
1. What is Plastisol Ink?
Plastisol ink is special ink. It is used for screen print. Screen print is how we put pictures on shirts.
This ink is made from PVC. PVC is like plastic. The ink is thick. It sits on top of the shirt.
Other inks go into the shirt. But plastisol ink stays on top. [^1]
There are many kinds of plastisol ink. Each kind is called a “series”. Each series does different things.
Some series are good for dark shirts. Some series are good for stretchy shirts.
Plastisol ink is good because:
It lasts long.
The colors are very bright.
It is easy to use.
2. Top Plastisol Ink Series
There are many different kinds of plastisol ink. Here are some of the best:
Opaque Series
Opaque means you cannot see through it. Opaque series are good for dark shirts. [^2]
If you use normal ink on a dark shirt, you cannot see it. But opaque ink shows up well.
One good opaque series is Union Maxopake®.
Opaque series are made to:
Not bleed. Bleed means the color runs.
Work on shirts made of cotton and poly.
Specialty Series
Specialty means special. Specialty series are for cool effects.
Some specialty series are:
Fluorescent: These inks glow.
Metallic: These inks look like metal.
Glitter: These inks have glitter.
These inks are used for:
Shirts for events.
Shirts to sell.
Soft-Hand Series
Soft-hand means it feels soft. These inks are used on thin shirts.
The shirt will feel soft. It will not feel like there is much ink on it.
Low-Cure Series
Cure means to dry the ink. Low-cure means it dries at a low heat.
These inks are used on shirts that cannot get too hot.
High-Density Series
High-density means thick. These inks are used to make pictures that stick out.
The picture will feel bumpy. It will look like it is 3D.
3. How to Choose the Right Print Series
How do you know which ink to use? Here are the steps:
Look at the shirt. What is it made of? Is it cotton? Is it poly? Is it both?
What do you want the picture to look like? Do you want it to stretch? Do you want it to shine?
Is the shirt dark? If it is, you need opaque ink.
Test the ink. Put it on a small piece of shirt. See if it works. [^3] If you like violet, then Screen Printing Violet Plastisol Ink — SDLA-1406plastisol-inks.com could be the way to go!
4. How to Make Prints Look Good
You need to do some things to make the prints look good.
Prep
Pick the right screen. The screen is what you use to put the ink on the shirt.
Use something to help the ink stick.
Put down a base. This will help the colors look bright on dark shirts.
Make sure the screen is not too close to the shirt.
Cure
Make sure the ink gets hot enough. Not too hot, and not too cold.
5. Good Brands
There are many brands of plastisol ink. Here are some good ones:
Union Ink: They make Maxopake®.
WM Plastics: They make specialty inks.
Triangle Ink: They make many kinds of inks.
If you like the color green, you can get Screen Printing Extra Green Plastisol Ink — SDLA-1501plastisol-inks.com .
Some brands are trying to make ink that is better for the earth.
6. Problems
Sometimes, things go wrong. Here are some problems and how to fix them:
The ink cracks. This means it needs to cure for longer. Or, you need to use stretchy ink.
You cannot see the ink. This means you need opaque ink. Or, you need to print it twice.
The ink bleeds. This means you need ink that does not bleed. Or, you need to prep the shirt.
7. What is New?
Things are always changing. Here are some new things with plastisol ink:
Some inks are made with water. These are better for the earth.
Some inks change color. Some inks glow in the dark.
Some inks are easy to use.
Conclusion
Plastisol ink is used to make cool shirts. You need to pick the right ink. This will make the shirts look good. You can get lemon yellow plastisol, like Screen Printing Lemon Yellow Plastisol Ink — SDLA-1103plastisol-inks.com
Try different kinds of ink. Have fun! You can print series any picture you like.
