WHAT IS SCREEN PRINTING? 

 Screen Printing is a printing technique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink-blocking stencil. The attached stencil forms open areas of mesh that transfer ink or other printable materials which can be pressed through the mesh as a sharp-edged image onto a substrate. A roller or squeegee is moved across the screen stencil forcing ink past the threads of the woven mesh in the open areas. 

 

WHAT TYPE OF INK DO WE USE?

 

PLASTISOL INK:

Here at FitmanPro we primarily use plastisol inks. Plastisol is a thermoplastic ink that only adheres to the surface material of the garment and dries when heat is applied.   Plastisol is versatile, easy to manage and user-friendly. There are plastisol inks formulated for most fabric types, including nylon, polyester and cotton. Printers may need to use an underbase on certain garments, particularly with dark colors, to help prevent dye migration. The garments you choose must be able to withstand the heat required to cure plastisol. A fabric with the potential to melt wouldn’t be a good candidate for screen printing. 

   

SPECIALTY PLASTISOL INKS

Metallic Inks : These inks are used to give the print a metal appearance. They are often shiny and brilliant when first printed. Gold, silver and copper are the most common.

Glitter Inks : These fun inks are made with a metal flake called crystalina. This is a small flake of reflective foil or plastic suspended in a plastisol base. The base may be clear or tinted. Common colors include gold, silver, red, blue and other various colors.

Glow-in-the-dark Ink : The photoluminescent effect is achieved by using a non radioactive, nontoxic zinc sulfide pigment that absorbs daylight or artificial light. This glowing ink creates a glowing effect in the dark when charged by light.

 Printers can create unique prints, using special-effect plastisol. There are glow-in-the-dark inks, glitter inks and other additives that give prints a distinctive look.