Ink is the core component of any screen printing business, and choosing the right one can make a significant difference in the quality and success of your projects. The type of ink you use impacts durability, finish, and overall customer satisfaction, making it an essential decision for both beginners and experienced printers.

This guide aims to simplify things for you. We will analyze the different types, look into their pros and cons, and guide you to choose the best screen printing ink that meets your requirements with certainty. Let’s get started.

The Two Big Screen Printing Ink Types: Plastisol vs. Water-Based Ink

There are a lot of screen printing ink types businesses use for different projects. But two significant choices: plastisol inks and water-based inks are most popular in 2025. They both have advantages and disadvantages that make them better suited to various applications.

Plastisol Ink: The Reliable Workhorse

The plastisol inks are mostly used in commercial screen printers. These are oil-based inks that do not dry up during printing and are therefore very convenient. You also do not need to worry about the ink getting stuck on the mesh and blocking your screens for a long period.

How to cure Plastisol Ink?
Plastisol inks generally dry at 320degF, though there are some formulations that can dry at as low as 280degF. Wet inks require not only increased temperature (300degF-360degF) but also increased dwell times of 90 seconds to several minutes to permit sufficient evaporation.

Pros of using Plastisol Ink?

  • Great coverage on dark clothes.
  • Bright colors that stand out.
  • Screens last longer because the ink doesn’t dry out.
  • Tends to be tougher and resists fading better.

Cons of Plastisol Ink?

  • Need higher temperatures to cure, which might mean buying special drying equipment.
  • Might feel a bit thicker or “plasticky” on fabric, though newer formulas have gotten much better.
  • Plastisol ink is more durable and not easily cleaned without special solvents.

Trying to print on a fabric like cotton or poly-cotton blends for rich hues and outstanding durability? Plastisol ink might be the best screen printing ink for your projects.

Water-Based Ink: The Eco-Friendly Alternative

As the name suggests, water based screen printing ink involves the use of water as a primary solvent. This makes them environment friendly and tends to give the material a softer touch. Water-based ink is trendy in fashion printing and those who want something to have a lighter feel.

How does Water-Based Ink cure?

Water-based inks dry when the water inside it evaporates from the surface. This needs a good heat source, but the curing temperature is lower than plastisol.

Pros of using Water-Based Ink?

  • Softer touch – the ink often melds with the fabric without seams.
  • Eco-friendly and simpler to wash off with water.
  • Ideal to create aged or worn-out appearances.
  • Works on more fabric types, including those with less synthetic content.

Cons of Water-Based Ink?

  • It can harden on the screen if not handled well, needing frequent screen “flooding” with ink.
  • Less opaque, particularly on dark clothes, sometimes needing multiple coats or special white foundations.
  • Sometimes less long-lasting than plastisol, though improvements have made them quite comparable.

If you want a soft aged look or care about green materials, water based screen printing ink might be your top choice.

Beyond the Basics: Other Ink Types and Considerations

Screen printing has more to offer than just plastisol and water-based inks. You might come across these specialized screen printing ink types:

  1. Discharge Ink: A water based ink that dissolves the dye of the garment where it is being printed and then releases its own pigment.
  2. UV-Curable Ink: All these inks can cure immediately under UV light. They are commonly employed to print on plastics and metals and on other non-porous surfaces.
  3. Textile Inks: This is a broad term that encompasses the plastisol inks, and also the water-based inks that print on cloth.

Some Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Screen Printing Ink 

So, how do you actually choose the best ink for screen printing for your project? Think about these key factors:

The Substrate 

What’s your print surface? T-shirts made of cotton? Polyester hoodies? Paper posters? Each material needs a specific ink to stick well. To illustrate, plastisol inks perform very well on cotton and cotton blends. Water inks may be excellent on lighter materials and a softer finish.

The Desired Look and Feel

Does it have to be a bright and bold print with some level of texture or a soft vintage touch where the ink should hardly be felt? This is a significant determining factor between water-based and plastisol.

Durability Requirements

How often will your printed item get worn out? For stuff you wash a lot that needs to stay bright, plastisol inks work better.

Your Equipment

Is a conveyor dryer or a good heat press available to cure plastisol? Or do you have less complicated tools where the water inks could be handled more easily?

Environmental Concerns

Do you want an eco-friendly option? Water-based inks tend to be more environmentally friendly.

To sum up

Selecting the best screen printing ink is necessary to set the framework to achieve professional and long lasting prints. By learning about different screen printing ink types, what your project requires, and investing in quality materials, you will be all set to turn your creative ideas into production. Feel free to try new things, learn from every print, and above all, have fun with the fulfilling process of screen printing!