4 types of inks used for custom T-shirt printing in Mumbai

The success of a custom shirt depends on many factors - it has to look attractive, it has to be durable, and the design has to fit just right! When it comes to getting the right design, it is important to use the right printing ink. If you don't use the right type of ink, the entire design will fall apart. In screen printing, which is one of the most common printing technologies, the type of ink used is important because each comes with its own pros and cons. Thus, it is essential to understand the features of the different types of inks to enable the use of the inks that best suit your shirt design.

Let's have a look at some of the inks that are commonly used in Custom T-shirt printing in Mumbai!

1. Plastisol Ink

Commonly used in screen printing, Plastisol ink is versatile and durable, and therefore ideal for custom T-shirt printing. It's thick ink and easy to mix, too. Another advantage is that it is well suited for various types of screen printing. Plastisol ink has a high density, thus does not arch, and for its viscosity, the ink is suitable for smoother printing, making it a preferred choice for professional T-shirt printers in India. The viscosity factor also helps create opaque prints that allow for better coverage, a feature that helps while printing darker garments.

Plastisol ink prints cannot be dried in the sun but do require curing. It is a chemical process where a heat source is used to heat the ink to a certain temperature.

2. Water-based ink

The main benefit of water-based ink is that it binds to the fabric, imparting the essence of the dye. Hence, the print doesn't look like it's based on the garment as it does with plastisol ink. The print looks smoother and more solid with water-based ink. The ink works best on light-coloured or white fabrics. When using water-based inks on dark fabrics, you can give the print a vintage look. Even a novice printer can easily work with water-based inks as they are easy to handle.

Water-based inks are environmentally friendly, and if you want to work with them, learn the best ways to use them first. If used well and correctly, you will be able to get some great ink prints.

3. Ink discharge

Vacuum inks tend to remove the original colour of the garment and replace it with its dye. They are available in water-based and plastisol inks. Many printers use dump ink because it works well on darker garments without the base.

A disadvantage of ink dump is that it works best with 100% cotton. For the discharge ink to cure completely, a heat source is necessary. Also, the printer must be experienced and skilled in handling vacuum inks. Since inks give off an unpleasant odour, the workspace should be well ventilated.

Vacuum inks can be an asset to any printer as long as they understand the business and learn the proper ways to work with them. Working with vacuum inks saves printers time and money. Vacuum inks tend to remove the original colour of the garment and replace it with its dye. They are available in water-based and plastisol inks. Many printers use dump ink because it works well on darker garments without the base.

4. Special effects ink

Today, custom t-shirts come in various designs and effects. Gone are the days when custom tees were white T-shirts with a small logo. As personalized t-shirts have become more and more popular, so have unique designs. When you want distinctive designs on your T-shirts, the ink should be unique too.

A custom shirt trend that refuses to fade is vintage-influenced shirts. There are special inks to give that vintage feel to tees. Suede inks give a suede feel to shirts that appeal to young men.

If you are looking for high-quality custom shirts, contact us at UnTag. Our contact number is 8828375976