Inks · 6 of 8 · 1 min read
Ink comparison
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| Plastisol | Water-based | Discharge | Silicone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feel | Sits on top, thicker, stiffer | Soft, thin, matte | Softest (dye removed) | Soft, smooth, very stretchy |
| Opacity on darks | High | Low to medium | High, on dischargeable cotton only | High |
| Best fabrics | Cotton, blends; poly with low-bleed ink | Light cotton and blends | Dischargeable cotton | Performance, stretch, poly |
| Cure (check the TDS) | Heat; ~260–330°F by ink (sources differ) | Evaporate, then cure; forced air helps | Conveyor dryer only, with airflow | Heat after catalyst; e.g. 250–290°F |
| Dries in the screen? | No | Yes | Yes | Pot life once catalyzed |
| Cleanup | Plastisol press or screen wash | Water or water-based cleaner | Water or water-based cleaner | Mineral spirits or maker’s cleaner |
| Safety focus | SDS; fumes when curing | SDS; not automatically “safer” | Formaldehyde, allergy risk, ventilation | SDS for the catalyst; dedicated tools |
| Beginner-friendly | Most | Medium | Low | Low |
| Biggest beginner mistake | Undercure | Ink drying in the screen; undercure | Poor ventilation; pot life | Wrong catalyst amount |
Compiled from ScreenPrinting.com, Lawson, Davis, SPSI, Lancer and Graphics Pro. Cure figures are examples; the real number is on your ink’s tech data sheet.
Is water-based safer?Not automatically. Lawson calls that a common myth: compare the safety data sheets. Davis says most plastisols are now phthalate-compliant or phthalate-free, and to always check the SDS.
Sources for this guide (32)
- Davis International, FAQs
- Davis International, Common issues
- Davis International, 7600 Series product bulletin (PDF)
- Wilflex (Avient), Ink curing tips (2020, PDF)
- Wilflex (Avient), Product selection guide (PDF)
- International Coatings, Low-cure additive 3804
- International Coatings, Catalyst 900 (nylon)
- Avient, Wilflex Epic Rio color mixing system
- ScreenPrinting.com Help, How do you cure water-based ink?
- Avient, Mapping your conveyor dryer (PDF)
- SPSI, Aquarius Activator ZF
- CCI, T-Charge tech sheet (PDF)
- ScreenPrinting.com, High contrast with discharge inks
- Lancer Group, NX6135 high density additive
- Impressions, The challenges of screen printing on caps
- ScreenPrinting.com, Printing with plastisol vs. water-based ink
- ScreenPrinting.com Help, Water-based vs. plastisol
- ScreenPrinting.com Help, Curing water-based ink without forced air
- Lawson Screen & Digital, Plastisol ink FAQ
- Lawson Screen & Digital, Low-cure screen printing ink
- Lawson Screen & Digital, Eliminating fibrillation
- Lawson Screen & Digital, Testing polyester for dye migration
- ScreenPrinting.com, What is dye migration?
- ScreenPrinting.com, Decoding poly white and dye blocker inks
- PIA/SPTF, Textile plastisol curing troubleshooting (PDF)
- Lancer Group, STI direct print silicone ink system (PDF)
- Northwest Graphic, Silextreme silicone ink
- Graphics Pro, Silicone simplified
- Avient, Print technique guide, 2023 (PDF)
- Avient, PAGEJ100 Crystalina tech data sheet
- International Coatings, Puff additive
- ScreenPrinting.com, 4 curing methods
Ranges are starting points from these sources. When a source and your ink’s tech data sheet disagree, follow the tech data sheet.