Plastisol Ink
A thick, opaque ink that cures with heat and sits on top of the fabric. The default for screen printing.
Plastisol is a PVC-based ink suspension used in 95% of commercial screen printing. It does not dry at room temperature and only cures when heated to about 320°F (160°C). That property makes it forgiving on press — you can leave ink in screens overnight — and gives prints their signature opaque, vibrant look.
Plastisol prints sit on top of the fabric with a slight raised feel. They are extremely durable (50–80 wash cycles is normal), color-accurate, and work on any fabric type. The texture can be tweaked: thin plastisol with reducer for a softer print, or build it up thick for high-density "puff" effects.
Downside: plastisol is plastic, so the print does not breathe with the fabric. It also requires proper curing — under-cured plastisol washes off, while over-cured prints scorch. Compared to waterbased ink, plastisol has a heavier hand-feel but is much easier to print.
Related terms
Screen Printing
Pushing ink through a stenciled mesh screen onto fabric — the classic high-volume t-shirt method.
Waterbased Ink
Ink that soaks into the fabric for a soft, breathable print — popular on premium tees.
Underbase
A white layer printed under colored inks on dark garments so the colors show up.