The success of an Untag custom t-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 take a look at some of the inks commonly used in Custom T-shirt printing in Mumbai
Here are some of the inks that are used by custom T-shirt printing companies 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 is thick ink and easy to mix as well. Another advantage is that it is well suited for various types of screen printing. Plastisol ink has a high density and therefore 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 is also a practical choice for printers due to the accuracy it imparts while matching the Pantone colour scheme. Since they work on almost all types of fabrics, custom t-shirt printers love using plastisol ink.
Although plastisol ink has many advantages, there are also some disadvantages. On the one hand, it is not sustainable, and therefore, many printers today are looking for other options. The ink is very thick because it doesn't soak into the fabric but just rests on top of it. The design gives off a rubber or plastic feel. Although there are ways to reduce the thickness, the end effect may not be as good as you want it to be.
Plastisol ink prints cannot be dried in the sun, but they 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.
There are also many drawbacks to water-based inks. Since it is in liquid form, colours may appear faded when printed on dark clothing. Thus, the inks do not have a high degree of opacity or coverage. You will need a white base to use the water-based ink on dark shirts.
Since it is a water-based ink, you will have to wait for the colour to dry. Therefore, if you are printing during the rainy season, or in humid conditions, you will have to use a heat source to dry the fabric.
You may also have problems getting custom colours because the colours may not look the same after printing due to the semi-transparency of the ink.
Another downside is that water-based inks work best on cotton fabrics only. Although you can use it on other fabrics as well, you won't get the same colour, but only the muted version. These days, printers have devised ways for water-based inks to work on other fabrics as well, but this will require more effort and time.
Also, water-based inks do not have a shelf life because they dry out after some time. Even if you add a vacuum agent, you may have to use it within 48 hours.
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.
4. Special effects ink
Today, Custom T-shirt Printing Mumbai 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.
So, to make different effects like metallic, fluorescent, lustre or glow in the dark, ink helps special effects. There are many different types of special effects inks, each of which lends a unique look to clothing. Glow-in-the-dark ink is one of the most popular speciality inks. Many also like a little sparkle on their shirts. Consequently, specialized metallic inks are now also popular with printers. Custom t-shirts with a touch of sheen and shine are a win-win situation for the brand and its wearer.
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.
Heat-activated and light-activated colour-changing inks are also becoming more popular. Therefore, your shirt changes colour when it is at a certain temperature or light. Imagine you walked out of your house wearing a certain colour and bam! When you step into the sun, the previous colour changes and a new one appears! How sexy!
Although special effects inks help in creating stunning and attractive designs, it is not easy to work with and requires practice as well as precision. Plastisol and water-based inks are available, and speciality inks may work well with only certain types of fabrics.
Various factors determine the choice of ink for screen printing, from budget and design to end goals. There is no such thing as the perfect ink because it will vary from project to project. If you want to go for an eco-friendly option and a super soft tee, water-based ink is the way to go. But for bright prints and working with blended fabrics, plastisol inks are best. Then again, variations of both types of inks are available, allowing for different options of T-shirt Printing in Mumbai. What you should do is get as much information as possible and choose the information that will make your custom t-shirts unique.
If you are looking for good-quality custom t-shirts, get in touch with us at UnTag.
We have a team of professional T-shirt designers who can help you. Call us 0-998-758-3233 or visit our website www.untag.co.in