Break the Rules: A Renegade's Guide to Screen Printing Ink

The man says you gotta pick an ink. He says there are rules. Well, we say screw the rules. We say pick your weapon and own it. Forget the textbook; this is about what you need to know to make your mark. Let’s get to the grit of the matter and talk about the only three inks that matter.

Plastisol Ink: The Brawler

This ain’t your grandma’s watercolor. Plastisol is the heavyweight champion, the street brawler of the ink world. It sits on top of the fabric like a defiant statement, refusing to blend in. It’s what the pros use to make prints that pop and don’t quit.

• What it is: A tough-as-nails, oil-based concoction that laughs at a washing machine.
• Why you use it: You want colors that scream, designs that last, and a print that feels like you earned it. It’s for the bold, the loud, and the proud.
• The Catch: This bad boy needs a blast of heat to cure. No heat, no glory.

Water-Based Ink: The Ghost

Want a print that feels like a whisper, a phantom of a design that’s part of the fabric itself? Then water-based is your weapon of choice. It’s the stealthy rebel, leaving no trace but the design itself. It’s a quiet rebellion for those who prefer their art to be felt, not just seen.

• What it is: An ink that gets down and dirty, soaking into the fibers.
• Why you use it: You want a soft print that feels like nothing’s there. For a worn-in, vintage look that says you’ve been around the block a few times.
• The Catch: It dries faster than a cop on a hot lead. You gotta be quick, and you gotta work clean.

Discharge Ink: The Saboteur

This is the ultimate act of defiance. Discharge isn't just an ink; it's a chemical rebellion. It doesn’t just sit on the fabric or soak into it—it strips the very color from it, leaving your design in its place. It’s the ultimate zero-hand, no-feel print.

• What it is: A sneaky, water-based concoction that activates to bleach the fabric itself.
• Why you use it: You want a print that’s so soft it feels like a ghost, so clean it looks like it was born there. It's for the true artists who know the power of subtlety.
• The Catch: It only works on 100% cotton, and it's got a smell. The smell of victory, if you ask us.

So, pick your weapon, learn its rules, and then break every damn one of them. Now get out there and make some noise.

‍