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Discharge Ink vs Plastisol

By on May 3, 2017 in All Over Apparel Printing, All Over Custom Shirts, All Over Custom T Shirt Printing, All Over Design T Shirts, All Over Dye Sublimation, All Over Garment Printing, All Over Print Shirt Custom, All Over Print Shirts, All Over Print Shirts Custom, All Over Print T Shirt, All Over Print T-Shirts, All Over Print Tees, All Over Printed Shirts, All Over Printed T-Shirts, All Over Printing, All Over Printing Companies, All Over Screen Printing, All Over Screen Printing Companies, All Over Screen Printing T Shirts, All Over Shirt Print, All Over T Shirt Printing Companies, All Over T Shirts, All Over T-Shirt Printing, All Over Tee Shirt Printing, All Over Tees, All Over Tshirt Printing, Allover T Shirt Printing, Contract All Over Screen Printing, Custom All Over Print T Shirts, Custom All Over T Shirt Printing, Custom Discharge Printing, Discharge Ink vs Plastisol, Discharge Printing on Fabric, Discharge T Shirt Printing, Full Design T Shirts, Full Print Tshirts, Full Shirt Design, How to Print All Over T Shirts, Oversized Prints, Print All Over T Shirt, Screen Printing All Over T-Shirt, T-Shirt All Over Printing Source, Water Based and Discharge Screen Printing on T-Shirts

Discharge Ink vs Plastisol

One of the questions that we get asked on a weekly basis is to define the difference between Discharge Ink vs Plastisol inks.  Traditionally screen printers have used Plastisol inks which are in effect, a liquid plastic that gets applied through a screen to a garment.  Plastisol printing is most common in the United States; whereas overseas screen printing has been more heavily focused on water based acrylic inks and/or discharge screen printing inks.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both types of inks and where you make your decisions on using Discharge Ink vs Plastisol, will be dependent on both the garment as well as how the garment will be used.  Discharge inks provide a lighter feel; color is being removed from the garment and replaced with the discharge inks.  Using Discharge Ink vs Plastisol, you will notice a softer feel or light “hand” you will also notice that the end result is much lighter and less “bullet proof”.  Discharge inks tend to be PVC Phthalate free, although not all are.  Another huge benefit of using discharge inks is that they are a water based ink, which is more environmentally friendly and offers an easy clean up.  Discharge inks can be cleaned with water vs. solvents.

Discharge Ink vs Plastisol

So far it sounds like Discharge inks are winning the battle over Plastisol, but the view is not all rosy for Discharge inks.  Working with Discharge inks requires the use of Formaldehyde.  In order to “active” the discharge properties of these inks, small amounts of formaldehyde must be used.  Proper ventilation is required and it poses no harms to the person wearing the garment, but the printing process does take longer and required precautions.  In addition Discharge inks dry quickly and often inside of the screen, rendering them useless.  Plastisol can be left in a screen for months and then still print properly, but Discharge inks have a 24 hour life span once activated.

AMBRO Manufacturing offers both ink methods for your printing requirements.  If you are unclear on which ink set to use for your project, contact us and we would be happy to discuss it with you.  If you are using a partner already, talk with your screen printing partner and have them recommend the best method of printing for your application.

If you have any additional questions about the nuances of Discharge Ink vs Plastisol inks, please contact us (908) 806-8337 or you can email us.

Discharge Ink vs Plastisol

Discharge Ink vs Plastisol

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