Mesh & screens · 2 of 5 · 1 min read
Mesh counts by job
Start here: 156 mesh for general plastisol spot color. 110–160 for bold white and underbase, 230–305 for halftones, 25–40 for glitter.
These are common starting ranges. Sources differ, so treat them as a place to start and test on your own work.
| Job | Common range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bold plastisol, white, underbase, athletic | 110–160 (lower end for heavy white) | Heavier deposit, more opacity |
| General plastisol spot color | ~156 (110–160) | “156 is the general standard” (ScreenPrinting.com) |
| Fine detail, soft-hand plastisol | 200–230 | Thinner deposit holds finer lines |
| Water-based, discharge | 180–305 | Thin inks work best on higher mesh; keep the screen flooded |
| Halftones, simulated process | 230–305 | Match the mesh to your LPI |
| Glitter | 25–40 | Avient’s Crystalina TDS: over 40 gives spotty glitter. Other sources differ; follow your glitter ink’s TDS. |
| Puff | ~74–125 | Avient charts high-profile puff at about 74–125; Dragonfly suggests 86–110 |
| Nylon (ICC 900) | 125–230 | ICC 900 nylon only: metallic 86–110, process 200–305 |
Where sources disagreeDragonfly lists a 55–77 count for plastisol underbase in one table, but recommends 230 for an underbase that has to register under detailed colors. Most US supplier pages put a standard underbase at 110–160.
GlitterAvoid over 40
25–40
Bold plastisol, white, underbase
110–160
General spot color156 is the common standard
156110–160
Water-based, discharge
180–305
Halftones, simulated process
230–305
Threads per inch
04080120160200240280320
Sources for this guide (18)
- Vastex, Screen frame information
- ASI Central, Wood vs. aluminum screen frames
- SPSI, Feeling the tension
- ScreenPrinting.com Help, How do I pick the right mesh count?
- ScreenPrinting.com, Which mesh count is right for me?
- ScreenPrinting.com, Everything you need to know to print an underbase
- Atlas Screen Supply, Mesh count chart
- Avient, PAGEJ100 Crystalina tech data sheet
- Dragonfly Colors, Mesh selection in screen printing
- International Coatings, Catalyst 900 (nylon)
- Vastex, Mesh information
- Screen Printing Magazine, Tensioning screens for smoother setups
- Chromaline, Causes of pinholes during screen making
- Catspit Productions, Proper emulsion performance
- Avient, Print technique guide, 2023 (PDF)
- ScreenPrinting.com Help, What’s considered good mesh tension?
- Impressions, Troubleshooting screen printing (2018)
- Ink Kitchen, Why out of register? Let me count the ways
Where sources disagree, the page says so.