Discharge Printing
A waterbased technique that removes the dye from the shirt and redeposits a new color in its place.
Discharge printing is a specialized waterbased process where the ink contains an activator (typically zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate) that strips the original dye from the shirt during curing. The discharged area can be left a creamy off-white or pigmented to a new color.
The result is a print with zero hand-feel — the design is literally part of the dye structure of the shirt. It looks vintage and worn-in, even on a brand-new garment. This is why discharge is the go-to for fashion-forward brands and high-end band merch.
Limitations: discharge only works on 100% cotton, and only on shirts that were dyed with reactive dyes (most are, but some — like sport-grey heathers — will not discharge cleanly). Color matching is also tricky because the underlying shirt color affects the final result.
Related terms
Waterbased Ink
Ink that soaks into the fabric for a soft, breathable print — popular on premium tees.
Screen Printing
Pushing ink through a stenciled mesh screen onto fabric — the classic high-volume t-shirt method.
Plastisol Ink
A thick, opaque ink that cures with heat and sits on top of the fabric. The default for screen printing.