Plastisol sits on top of the fabric and gives a bright, opaque print that stays vivid on dark garments, with a feel you can notice in large solid areas. Water-based ink soaks into the fabric for a softer feel and works best on light-colored cotton. We print with both and recommend one based on your garment color, fabric and the feel you want.
Side by side
| Plastisol | Water-based | |
|---|---|---|
| Feel | A layer you can feel, most in big solid areas | Soft, closer to the fabric itself |
| On dark garments | Stays bright and opaque | Not our usual pick |
| Best fabric | Cotton, blends and many performance fabrics | Light-colored cotton |
| Look | Bold, saturated color | Softer, slightly worn-in look |
| Good for | Event shirts, uniforms, bold merch | Fashion tees and retail-style blanks |
When plastisol is the call
If your shirts are black, navy or any dark color and the design needs to pop, plastisol is usually the answer. It’s also the base for specialty finishes like puff ink, which raises the print off the shirt.
When water-based is the call
If you’re printing on white, cream or other light cotton tees and want the shirt to feel like a retail piece rather than a promo shirt, water-based ink gives that softer hand. It works especially well on large designs where a thick layer of ink would feel heavy.
Want soft and full color?
For detailed, full-color art on cotton with a soft feel, DTG may be the better method. Our post on DTG vs screen printing covers how the feel compares.
Get a quote
Tell us the garment, color, quantity and the feel you’re going for. We’ll recommend the ink and show you the design before production. Standard turnaround is two weeks. See our screen printing page and how screen print color count works.
A few questions we get
Which lasts longer?
Both hold up through regular wear when cared for well. Wash cold, inside out, and skip fabric softener.
Can I mix inks on one order?
Different garments in one order can use different inks. Tell us what each piece is and we’ll recommend the best fit.