| Plastisol Ink | PVC resin dispersed in plasticizer; generally solvent-free before curing | Cotton Cotton blends Polyester with low-bleed grades Sweatshirts Sportswear | Opaque, durable print with a comparatively heavier hand; can be formulated for matte, gloss, soft-hand, puff, metallic, or high-density effects | Usually heat-cured around 150–170°C, depending on the formulation and film thickness; the ink film must reach the supplier’s specified cure temperature | High opacity, long screen open time, broad effect range, strong production versatility, and good suitability for dark garments | Can feel heavier than water-based ink; requires controlled curing; some formulations may contain restricted substances unless compliant grades are selected | Technical data sheet, cure window, bleed resistance, wash-test results, restricted-substance declaration, and applicable regulatory certifications |
| Water-Based Ink | Water-based polymer or acrylic dispersion with pigments and additives | Cotton Rayon Viscose Lightweight apparel Fashion garments | Soft, breathable, low-profile print that allows more of the fabric texture to remain noticeable | Requires evaporation of water followed by heat curing; many systems cure in the approximate range of 150–170°C, subject to the supplier’s specification | Soft hand, breathable result, reduced surface plasticity, and strong suitability for premium fashion printing | Can dry in screens during production; often needs careful humidity, storage, screen, and workflow control; opacity on dark fabrics may require an underbase or specialized formulation | Screen-open-time guidance, retarder requirements, viscosity range, dark-fabric opacity data, curing instructions, and shelf-life information |
| Discharge Ink | Water-based system containing an activating agent that removes or decolorizes certain fabric dyes while depositing pigment | Reactive-dyed cotton Dark cotton garments Soft-hand fashion prints | Very soft, breathable print because the original dye is partially removed rather than covered by a thick ink layer | Requires drying and heat activation, commonly around 150–170°C; the exact result depends on the fabric dye and activation system | Excellent soft hand on suitable dark cotton fabrics; reduced need for a heavy white underbase | Performance varies with the original dye; generally unsuitable for many synthetic fibers; ventilation and safe chemical handling are important; color results may vary by fabric lot | Fabric-dye compatibility test, activation method, ventilation and handling guidance, formaldehyde or restricted-substance information, and wash-test data |
| Silicone Ink | Two-component or catalyzed silicone elastomer system | Polyester Performance wear Stretch fabrics Sports uniforms Technical textiles | Highly elastic, smooth, rubber-like or matte finish; can provide excellent coverage with a premium surface feel | Often heat-cured approximately around 140–170°C, depending on catalyst, ink grade, and equipment; precise time and temperature control is essential | Excellent stretch and recovery, strong adhesion to many synthetic fabrics, high opacity, and good resistance to dye migration when correctly specified | Higher material cost; mixing and pot-life control are necessary; specialized screens, tools, and cleaning procedures may be required | Mixing ratio, pot life, curing profile, elongation data, bleed-resistance test results, storage conditions, and compatibility with automated equipment |
| Acrylic or Hybrid Ink | Water-based or solvent-assisted acrylic polymer system, sometimes combined with other binders | Cotton Polyester blends Home textiles Promotional apparel | Ranges from soft and matte to moderately raised or glossy, depending on additives and curing conditions | Typically requires drying and heat curing, often within approximately 140–170°C; always follow the product-specific technical data sheet | Flexible formulation options, broad fabric compatibility, and a balance between print softness, durability, and cost | Performance can vary significantly among formulations; some grades may have lower opacity or lower stretch than specialized systems | Binder composition, recommended mesh count, viscosity, opacity, crocking and wash ratings, curing profile, and compatibility with the target fabric |
| Puff Ink | Plastisol or water-based ink containing a heat-reactive expanding additive | Cotton T-shirts Sweatshirts Casualwear Logo graphics | Raised, three-dimensional, soft or textured surface with a visibly elevated appearance | Requires controlled heat activation; excessive heat or over-curing can reduce the desired expansion effect, so the supplier’s profile must be followed | Creates dimensional effects using standard screen-printing processes; useful for fashion graphics and tactile branding | Limited detail sharpness compared with flat ink; expansion height can vary with mesh, deposit, pressure, and curing; excessive thickness may reduce wash durability | Expansion ratio, recommended mesh and stencil thickness, curing profile, wash-test results, and guidance for overprinting or halftone details |
| Metallic Ink | Ink containing reflective metallic or pearlescent pigment particles in a suitable binder | Cotton Blends Fashion apparel Decorative textiles | Reflective, shimmering, or pearlescent finish; hand feel depends on particle size and binder system | Heat curing is required; the correct temperature depends on whether the system is plastisol, water-based, or another binder technology | Produces premium decorative effects and strong visual contrast on suitable fabric colors | Metallic particles may affect screen selection and print smoothness; brightness can decrease after washing or abrasion; very fine details may be difficult | Pigment particle size, recommended mesh count, opacity, curing method, wash and abrasion performance, and storage or settling instructions |
| High-Density Ink | High-solids ink printed through a thick stencil or specialty emulsion system | Cotton Polyester Promotional garments Labels and logos | Raised, sharp-edged, tactile surface with a sculpted or embossed appearance | Requires complete drying and curing through a relatively thick ink deposit; curing parameters depend on the ink chemistry | Strong dimensional impact, crisp edges, and enhanced tactile recognition | Requires precise stencil preparation and print deposition; thick films may crack or lose adhesion if the formulation is not matched to fabric stretch | Recommended stencil thickness, deposit control, stretch performance, adhesion data, curing requirements, and compatibility with automatic presses |
| Low-Bleed Polyester Ink | Specialized low-migration plastisol, silicone, or hybrid formulation designed to reduce dye migration | Dye-sublimated polyester 100% polyester Sportswear Team uniforms | Usually opaque and elastic; finish may be matte, soft, glossy, or rubber-like depending on the formulation | Requires a carefully controlled cure; excessive heat can increase dye migration in some polyester fabrics, while insufficient heat can reduce durability | Improved resistance to color migration and strong suitability for performance garments | No formulation can eliminate every migration risk; fabric dye, dwell time, temperature, and storage conditions all affect results | Migration-test results, recommended blocker or underbase system, maximum curing temperature, fabric qualification procedure, and wash-test reports |
| Reflective Ink | Binder system containing retroreflective glass beads or engineered reflective particles | Safety apparel Workwear Outdoor garments Sportswear | Visible reflective appearance under directed light; surface texture depends on bead size and print construction | Requires curing suitable for the selected binder while preserving the orientation and performance of reflective particles | Provides enhanced visibility in low-light conditions when illuminated by a light source | Reflectivity may decline with abrasion, incorrect curing, excessive overprinting, or unsuitable washing; it is not a substitute for certified high-visibility construction | Reflectance test method, visibility-performance data, recommended mesh, wash durability, curing instructions, and compliance documentation for the intended market |
| Discharge-Plus-Pigment Ink | Discharge base combined with pigment color for soft-hand prints on selected dyed fabrics | Dark reactive-dyed cotton Premium T-shirts Fashion graphics | Soft and breathable with a colored image integrated into the fabric surface rather than sitting as a heavy layer | Requires activation and heat curing; the supplier must specify the correct temperature, dwell time, and ventilation requirements | Combines the soft feel of discharge printing with a wider color range than unpigmented discharge systems | Color consistency depends heavily on the fabric dye and process conditions; not suitable for every fiber or garment finish | Compatibility testing by fabric lot, color-development instructions, activator information, emissions guidance, and wash-test results |
| Silicone Stretch Ink | Elastic silicone polymer system formulated for high elongation and recovery | Elastane blends Compression wear Swimwear Stretch sportswear | Flexible, smooth, low-tack surface designed to move with highly elastic fabrics | Requires controlled catalyst mixing and heat curing, commonly within an application-specific range around 140–170°C | Excellent flexibility, adhesion, and resistance to cracking on stretch garments when properly cured | Requires precise formulation control; poor mixing or insufficient curing can cause adhesion and durability failures | Elongation and recovery data, mixing ratio, pot life, cure verification method, recommended screen system, and repeated-stretch test results |
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