Quoting from the print industry publication ‘Printwear & Promotion’ – ‘Water-based ink is any ink which uses water as a liquid base to carry the pigment. Water molecules are smaller than oil-based molecules, making them move quicker. This combined with the pigment size difference makes them evaporate quicker, which can be problematic. The lower viscosity (thinner) consistency soaks into the fabric, making the handle much softer’.
Although water-based inks demand a huge amount of attention to detail, and much more pre-press preparation on our part than using plasticol based inks, they offer the following benefits:-
Water-based inks are safer and better for the environment, production staff and end users.
The inks sink in to the fabric leaving no surface feel and are also very colourfast and durable when washed.
Colours are really vibrant and can be mixed to any pantone or shade required.
We purchase all the components for our binders, colour concentrates, water based metallic and discharge inks through just one UK-based supplier, with whom we work incredibly closely, on all aspects related to print quality, colourfastness, environmental issues etc.
Our screen print ink supplier offer the following industry world-wide accreditations so you can be completely confident in the safety and sustainability of our inks:-