Soft Feel, Bold Results. Without the Water-Based Headaches

The Appeal of Water-Based Ink — And the Catch

When people ask for water-based ink, they’re usually chasing that soft, vintage, worn-in feel. It’s a valid goal. The right finish can elevate a design.

But here’s what most people don’t realize: you can achieve that same softness using plastisol, with more consistency and fewer complications. No drying in screens. No surprises on dark garments. Just clean, reliable prints that feel as good as they look.

How We Get That Soft Water-Based Feel (Without the Headaches)

We’ve spent years refining our plastisol process to deliver everything clients want from water-based — minus the unpredictability. That means:

• Hard squeegees for better shear
• Thin-thread, high-tension, high mesh count screens for a cleaner deposit
• A plastisol mix with more additives than your favorite sour candy
• And when the job calls for it, we finish with an iron or roller to smooth out the print even further

Every variable is intentional. All to deliver soft, smooth, breathable prints that don’t sacrifice durability.

Why We Don’t Use Water-Based Often

Water-based ink looks great in the right conditions, but most of the time, it introduces more challenges than it solves:

• Dries fast in screens
• Struggles with opacity on dark garments
• Sensitive to temperature, humidity, and dwell time
• Inconsistent unless everything’s dialed perfectly

We’ve run water-based before. We’ve used additives to speed things up when the project made sense. But for 90% of the work we do, plastisol just performs better. Especially when you want your print to look and feel good after 30+ washes.

It’s Not About the Ink — It’s About the Outcome

Most people wearing your shirt won’t ask what kind of ink was used. They’ll notice how it feels, how it looks, and whether it holds up.
That’s what we focus on. Because that’s what matters.

Want prints that feel good, look sharp, and actually last?
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