A Guide to Use Waterbased Ink— The Right Way!

Waterbased Ink is completely free from harmful chemicals, and that’s why they are safe not just for the environment but also for the long-life of printers too.

Working with water-based ink undoubtedly needs precision and some level of experience and expertise too.

So why should you switch to waterbased ink?

• Waterbased inks are becoming popular across the world
• They are a cleaner and more environmentally-friendly ink
• They are softer to touch
• They are extremely long-lasting
• They are breathable

We have shared some helpful tips to achieve smoother, cleaner and softer prints with waterbased inks. Here are the best tips to create impressive print results –

Tip 1- Select an Apt Screen Mesh

As compared to plastisol inks, consistency is quite thinner in water-based ink. Because of its low viscosity, it becomes quite easier for the fabric to effectively soak the ink. That’s why it is better to choose finer mesh for printing when working with water-based ink.

Tip 2- Make Use of an Underbase

When correctly and professionally used on light-coloured fabrics, the waterbased fabric printing ink delivers some of the most bold and bright colours. It is always advisable to use an underbase when silk screening on darker fabrics because water-based inks are usually too translucent.

Tip 3- Saturate the Screen Mesh with Ink

Since water-based ink usually dries out too quickly, which eventually results in clogged screens. In such cases, it is worth flooding the screen with ink. Also, ensure to tightly secure them to prevent the ink from drying up in the ink tubs.

Tip 4- Make Sure to Keep Your Screen Well Hydrated

Simply spray water on the screen damp before printing. Once the screen gets starts drying on screen, run a test print for removing all the excess ink. Wipe down both the side properly using a damp cloth and again with a dry one. Repeat the process till there’s no ink left!

Tip 5- Heat in the Right Way

To cure waterbased ink, heat setting treatment is a must, as it gives the print a durable, smooth and matte look. To make your print success with the use of waterbased ink, it is important to fire up that drying tunnel or heat press.

When it comes to choosing the right fabric printing ink or waterbased ink available in the market, there are many factors to consider. The design you want to print, the material you want to print on, budget, workspace size, print finish you want and environmental concerns are a few things that make an impact while choosing the right ink for your business needs. It is extremely important to choose professional, and top-quality fabric printing ink to get that perfect, bright, and clean print design.