A Guide to Common Additives for Water-Based and Plastisol Screen Printing Inks

Screen printing is an awesome way to bring your designs to life on various materials like fabric, paper, and more. But did you know that you can take your prints to the next level by using ink additives? These little magic potions can help you achieve different effects, improve ink performance, and even make your prints stand out. Let’s dive into the world of additives for water-based and plastisol screen printing inks.

Water-Based Ink Additives:

1. Retarder: Ever struggled with ink drying too quickly on the screen? Retarder to the rescue! It slows down the drying time of water-based inks, giving you more time to work with your design without worrying about clogging up your screen.
2. Thickener: Need to bulk up your ink for a thicker print? Thickener additives can increase the viscosity of water-based inks, making them perfect for printing on heavier fabrics or achieving a raised texture.
3. Softener: Want that super soft feel on your prints? Softener additives help to improve the hand feel of water-based inks, making them more comfortable to wear on garments.
4. Fixer: Worried about your prints washing out too soon? Fixer additives can enhance the wash-fastness of water-based inks, ensuring that your designs stay vibrant even after multiple washes.

Plastisol Ink Additives:

1. Reducer: Need to thin out your plastisol ink for smoother printing? Reducer additives can help you achieve the perfect consistency, making it easier to work with and reducing the risk of clogging your screen.
2. Opaque White: Want to print bright colors on dark fabrics? Opaque white additives can increase the opacity of plastisol inks, allowing you to achieve vibrant prints on even the darkest materials.
3. Adhesive Promoter: Struggling with ink adhesion on certain substrates? Adhesive promoter additives can improve the bond between plastisol ink and difficult-to-print materials, ensuring that your designs stay put.
4. Catalyst: Looking for a faster cure time for your plastisol prints? Catalyst additives can speed up the curing process, reducing production time and allowing you to move on to the next print job more quickly.

Conclusion:

Whether you’re printing with water-based or plastisol inks, additives can be your secret weapon for achieving the perfect print. Experimenting with different additives can help you unlock new possibilities and take your screen printing game to the next level. So next time you’re stocking up on ink, don’t forget to grab a few bottles of additives and see what magic you can create!