What is plastisol ink?
Plastisol is the standard screen-printing ink: a PVC-based ink that sits on the fabric surface and cures under heat into a durable, opaque film. It is what most printed workwear, team kits and bold logos are printed with.
Why it matters
Opacity and durability. Plastisol covers dark garments completely and outlasts the fabric. It has a slight hand-feel, which water-based and discharge inks avoid at some cost in opacity.
On our floor
Our default for dark garments, uniforms and anything washed daily. Puff, metallic and high-density inks are plastisol variants.
Common questions
- Is plastisol durable?
- Cured correctly, it lasts the life of the garment. It is the most durable print ink we use.
- Does it feel heavy?
- A large solid area has a noticeable hand. Keep plastisol prints modest on lightweight tees, or choose water-based.
- Can plastisol print on polyester?
- Yes, with low-cure formulations and a dye-blocking underbase where the polyester dye might migrate.
- Plastisol or water-based?
- Plastisol for opacity and workwear; water-based for a soft finish on light cotton.
Related terms
water-based ink
Water-based ink carries its pigment in water rather than PVC, so it soaks into cotton fibre instead of sitting on top. The print is soft,…
discharge printing
Discharge printing uses an ink that bleaches the garment's own dye out of the fabric where the design sits, then replaces it with pigment.…
screen printing
Screen printing pushes ink through a fine mesh screen stencilled with your artwork, one screen and one pass per colour. Setup is per…
puff print
Puff print is a plastisol screen-printing ink mixed with a blowing agent. Printed like any screen print, it expands in the curing tunnel…
Where this applies
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