Water Based Screen Printing
What works for some people, may not work for other; that is just a reality of the world we live in. Because of this, we are in world filled with options. People are always trying to come up with new ways to ‘skin a cat’ so that it works best for them. In the custom garment printing world, this type of innovation has given us water based screen printing. Water based screen printing is an alternative way of screen printing your custom garments that comes with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Water Based Screen Printing
Originally screen printing was done using plastisol inks, which are petroleum based. Plastisol is great for keeping costs down because they are reusable as long as you properly maintain them. They won’t dry up in the screens because there is virtually no solvent in them. The problem with plastisol is that for some customers, the feel of the ink on the garment known as the ‘hand’, is too firm. For designs that are all over coverage or that have multiple colors, plastisol ink can feel quite heavy and stiff. Water based screen printing is perfect for those who are looking for a soft, ‘barely there’ feeling print.
Water based inks are susceptible to drying out and as such, are mixed for the amount needed for the job. Since the inks aren’t reusable, water based screen printing is generally more expensive than printing with plastisol. At AMBRO Manufacturing, you can have the best of both worlds as we offer screen printing with both plastisol and water based inks. We also are capable of water based discharge printing too, so don’t forget to ask us about that! If you are interested in placing an order, or if you would like to find out more about water based printing, you can contact us by email or by calling us at (908) 806-8337.