The current clothing industry is always changing and evolving thanks to new technologies and methods. There has maintained a standard printing method that is most frequently used for printing on lightweight clothing and vintage clothing throughout these modifications. The process is known as hand screen printing and it comprises a step in which water-based inks and soft base fashion additives are used. Several factors explain why hand screen printing has become a well-liked method of printing:
- Light and White Clothes
White and light-colored clothing is ideal for hand screen printing, especially when paired with water-based inks and soft base additives. It can be a little trickier to use hand screen print on dark clothing because it might not show up as well. To achieve the proper design/look, discussions with screen printers are required. On distressed and old clothing, hand screen printing is advised since it gives the print a more “authentic,” appearance, especially on high count items.
- Subtlety and Detail
Forget about inks for harsh printing that break and shatter after just one or two washings! When using plastisol inks for hand screen printing, there is a “plastic feel” that usually goes away after one wash. Additionally, even while hand screen alternatives are more flexible, inks blended with these additives still offer the same level of detail as regular ink options.
- Printability and Opacity
Because they contain plastisol, inks blended with hand screen additives print effortlessly and are therefore a favorite of screen printing businesses. It is vital to remember that while Pantone inks blended with these additives might not provide the same color, the end result will still be close to the original hue. Pantone colors perform better on lighter clothing than on darker ones because they become more transparent when combined with hand screen additives. They produce a washed-out design when printed on white or light clothing but are barely perceptible on dark clothing.
- Specification & Curing Time
Ink can dry in these locations, which can cause detail loss if the garment in question has smaller sections of the design. Even while some versions’ curing times make it more difficult to achieve the ideal pattern, the end effect is nevertheless long-lasting and organic when printing on light or white clothes.
All screen printing techniques have advantages and disadvantages, but hand screen printing produces a natural, supple look that complements a variety of light-colored clothing. For printing on a variety of apparel items, consider hand screen printing!
Here are some benefits:
- Softness
equally as soft as inks made of water. After one wash, there is no longer any ink to feel! The plastisol alternative to hand screen printing is these base ingredients.
- Detail
The same level of detail can be maintained with Detail Inks and hand screen additions as with their conventional pantone counterparts.
- Printability
In the majority of screen print shops, these are perfect for manual screen printing because the ink is still plastisol.
- Opacity
Regular plastisol formula colors are less translucent than Pantone colors combined with a hand screen base. When printed on white underbases, they frequently acquire a washed-out appearance. They are primarily designed for white and light-colored shirts, thus it is not advised to use them on dark clothing. In dark clothing, hand screen bases are not visible.
- Softness
This ink’s chemical composition results in a softer, less plastic-like print.
- Detail
There is a minor amount of loss in any detail region or fine halftone because this ink has a propensity to dry in small design areas.
- Printability
The ink tends to dry towards the edges of the stencils and the curing process takes longer. To maintain consistency in print, more personnel are required at the press. Expect more spoiling than usual.