Its like discharge prints are just part of the shirt. Our list of the 11 top-rated screen printing inks on the market this year will provide you with multiple options that you can use today to obtain good-looking print results. Ive seen really amazing salesmen work their butts off to get a shop to take on a new ink systemonly to find out that they cant ship that ink to their shop without a rush charge. Our picks below will help you find the best silkscreen ink available in a growing market. If done right, you should not be able to feel the ink on the garment once its been washed. Scheduling, quoting, approvals, payments, customer communication, automation and more. And stays on the substrate its printed on permanently, provided you properly heat set it. Dont forget the ink is easy to clean with soap and water without fading or getting discolored. What sets acrylic screen printing inks apart is their ability to air dry. The printing inks produced by Arch Colours are all environmentally friendly and solvent free. Looking to make super soft custom t shirts? When using this ink, it is important to keep in mind that it only works with 100% cotton-made garments. They're a popular option for beginners to use and available in a wide range of vibrant colours. This chemical reaction is due to the active ingredient ZFS (zinc formaldehyde sulfate).

If you'd like to try other kinds of printing, take a look at our lino cutting for beginners guide and our block printing for beginners guide. You should mind your safety (and that of those around) you when choosing ink. Keep in mind that because it has a very low viscosity, you may go through more ink, particularly if youre working with darker fabrics. Below, well explain the most common types of inks available today: Plastisol is characterized by exceptional opacity and the ability to remain on the screen for longer periods of time without drying up. Printavo is simple shop management software. This particular comprises six colors packaged in a 4oz jar each. Last, but not least, we have the Speedball Art Products Fabric Screen Printing Ink Fluorescent. Buy the Hunt the Moon water-based screen printing ink starter kit from Amazon for 33.61, Hunt The Moon gold and silver water-based metallic screen printing ink. The inks include Rocket Red, Lemon Yellow and Midnight Blue. Acrylic inks are a new and emerging variety of screen printing ink. There are some pros and cons to water based inks which you should explore further in our article about water based inks but there are two primary things to know: Discharge inks are a subcategory of water based inks. The ink is 100% non-flammable, non-toxic, and cleans up easily and quickly with soap and water. It comes packaged in an 8oz jar and is made for printing on fabric paper as well as cardboard. This set of inks has all of the qualities that youd expect from the Aqua Art range theyre light-resistant and perfect for all of your art prints. Just looking at your design will tell you what colors you need to buy. In this video, I break down the different types of garments you can print on and what type of white ink you'll need to use. Brands like Nike will print sily-smooth silicone designs with reflective inks and other special effects. Subscribe today and save up to 33%! The catalysts needed to actually print silicone inks only work during a brief duration, so your production time and ink supply is limited by what you can mix. Laminating Machine Problems and Solutions. Some of the top names in the screen printing ink industry include Speedball, Jacquard, and Permaset. In addition to that, this is ink for screen printing on t-shirts. This type of ink is ideal for use by all skill levels, and when used correctly, it can give you good-looking prints. Buy the Hunt The Moon gold and silver water-based metallic screen printing ink from Amazon for 14.99. This ink also comes in an 8 oz jar and promises you good consistency when you apply it. It also comes in an 8 oz jar and is a fluorescent color. Packaged in 8 oz. The truth about screen printing ink is this: most inks that you can buy from a major supplier are good screen printing inks. Sarah has previously written features for The Guardian, In The Moment Magazine, Project Calm Magazine, countryfile.com, radiotimes.com and yourhomestyle.uk. It can be used to create everything from stunning art prints to creative fabric designs. These are truly opaque colors that will show up even on dark surfaces, and they can be used for printing on fabric, paper, and cardboard, This set comes with six four-ounce jars in red, yellow, blue, silver, black, and a pearly white. They can get a hands-on experience with your technique and process and typically, they can help you print better. However, it cannot be printed on nylon substrates. This means that when you run out of ink, you run out while youre printing a job or mixing colors. Buy Jacquard screen printing ink from Amazon for 15.21. When plastisol is cured, it is exposed to high heat (290 to 320 degress Fahrenheit). Compared with water-based inks, these have better color vibrancy, are easier to cure, and have a heavier body; in fact, theyre a standard in the garment industry. You can really accomplish something interesting things with water based inks and theyre going to be the future of the industry one way or another. Do you need dozens of custom colors or a handful of stock shop colors? The pots contain 240ml of ink, so they should last you for quite a while. Silicone inks are largely novel applications done in large shops with nearly scientific printing capabilities. .toc_container ol li a{}.toc_container ol li{font-size:16px;margin:0;padding:0;line-height:32px}.toc_container ol{}.toc_container{margin-bottom:1.75em;padding:.75em;background-color:#f8f9fc}.toc_container h4{margin:15px}.toc_container ol{padding:0 40px 0 50px;margin-bottom:25px}.toc_container{background-color:#fff!important;border:1px solid #e0e0e0;margin-bottom:40px!important}.toc_container a{font-size:17px!important;color:#16508d}.toc_container a:hover{color:#4f97e3;font-size:17px!important}. It also stays wet for a good amount of time. Did you know that you can do screen printing using acrylic paints? She enjoys designing her own unique lino prints and dreams of opening her own online shop. How do I pick the best ink for my screen printing projects?. Considering the different types of screen printing inks and the numerous ink manufacturers, picking the best ink for your screen printing needs might not be an easy task. They can easily come by your shop and offer feedback, advice, or guidance. These inks have the quality that you would expect from Hunt The Moons products and would make a good addition to printmaking work. Answer: While its definitely preferable to have a properly ventilated gas dryer for curing discharge inks, you dont actually need a gas dryer to print discharge. Water based inks are less opaque (read: more transparent) than plastisol inks, Water based ink is a very broad umbrella with many different inks, to have a properly ventilated gas dryer for curing discharge inks, you dont actually. All Rights Reserved. All these inks conform to ASTM D-4236, which means theyre non-toxic. However, this does mean that colors have lower opacity. All the inks in this set are inter-mixable, so you can easily come up with your own custom colors. During that time, he owned and operated a small screen printing shop in northern California for more than 7 years. Be sure to follow the curing directions for your nylon white ink to the letter. We like Ecotexs product for its creamy consistency and easy workabilityunlike water-based inks, they wont dry during the printing process. She shares her work @sarahormeprints. The best way to ensure youre getting a quality screen printing ink that will meet all your needs and expectations involves buying from reputable brands. Like our previous product, it is also water soluble, non-flammable, and non-toxic. It has been the primary ink until fairly recently as more and more companies have been converting. The set has a good selection of colours, which can be mixed and blended together. What special effects do your customers want? All in all, water-based inks are an excellent option for screen printing. 2022 Art Media, LLC. Used on fabric, the results are safe to wash many times over once properly heat-set and air cured for at least 72 hours. Their WOW system is touted as a great way for shops to get into water based printing without a lot of R&D and risk. If youre new to print making, this starter set of printing inks from Hunt The Moon provides good value for money. Speedball Fabric Screenprinting Ink is marketed as a starter set. Speedball is a top-rated USA-based manufacturer of quality fabric printing ink, so be prepared to come across more products from them in this list. That said, youll need to invest in the right screen printing ink for successful screen printing for your tees or any other items. These semi-transparent, water-based inks come with a smooth, creamy consistency that all screen printer dream of. This Lime Green screen printing ink is also great for both fabric paper and cardboard. As youve seen from out top inks reviews above, various inks differ on the surfaces they can be print on. Since discharge removes the dye in the garment, you can print super vivid prints on dark shirts even though water based inks are less opaque than plastisol inks. You might also find it useful to read our guide to the best screen printing kit. Besides, you can trust the ink pack to produce brilliant results when used on cardboard and paper. This is the most widely used ink in the industry. This ink is lightfast with less amount of water compared to the other water based inks out there. Discharge inks emit formaldehyde gas during curing. It contains six vibrant colours for you to try out, including primary shades so you can mix any colour you like! Black in color, this ink comes packaged in an 80z container, which is well worth it considering its wallet-friendly pocket. To get the best results from a screen printing press, you need a reliable ink that has consistent flow, low tack, and longevity. Screen printing is one of the most preferred methods of t-shirt printing for both individuals and businesses. They offer sample kits with different properties and have a dedicated team of professionals on staff to offer advice. There are low-formaldehyde discharge inks available or you can simply utilize large fans and an effective cross-breeze. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. Youll need to heat-cure this ink if youre using it on fabric. They can be mixed to create more colors, and they dry quickly with a subtle, pleasing sheen. The ink cleans easily with water; it will wash fast when properly heat set. Don't risk it! Although the individual jars are fairly expensive, you get a lot of ink for your money. The World's Premier Art Magazine since 1913. The inks do have a strong odour, so you may want to open a window while youre using them. This makes it the most widely used type of ink around the world. Aqua Art ink is archivable, which means that the colours wont fade over time or turn yellow ideal if youre planning to sell your finished prints. Not every print shop needs to be like Denver Print House, churning out complex art printed with scientific precision in a tightly controlled environment. Shes a keen crafter and artist and loves creating DIY tutorials for Gathered. This water soluble ink from Speedball is suitable for papers and textiles. For permanence, the manufacturer recommends you to heat set this ink once. Buying ink that conforms to ASTM D 4237 means it has been tested and proven to be free of toxins, so itll not have any effects on the user. This is a water-soluble ink thats made for use on textile and paper substrates. MagnaColours has spent approximately 40 years developing alternatives to plastisol inks. You can use screen printing to make beautiful products to sell, to create your own t-shirt designs or make unique soft furnishings for your home. What do I actually need from my screen printing inks? Additionally, they do not contain solvents that might affect the print quality and produce no offensive odors. If you want to print exclusively on paper or board, then wed recommend choosing Aqua Arts screen printing ink range. Still, others can print on fabric papers and textiles only.