Waterbased Ink
Ink that soaks into the fabric for a soft, breathable print — popular on premium tees.
Waterbased inks are pigments suspended in water rather than PVC. The ink penetrates the fibers of the garment instead of sitting on top, leaving a print that feels almost like part of the fabric. On 100% cotton, a properly printed waterbased design has virtually no hand-feel.
They are favored for premium fashion lines, soft-feel band merch, and brands that market sustainability — waterbased inks contain no PVC and are easier to clean up. Discharge printing (which removes the dye from the fabric and re-deposits a new color) is a closely related waterbased technique.
Trade-offs: waterbased ink dries fast in the screen, so press operators have to work quickly. It also has trouble producing vibrant colors on dark garments without an underbase. Pricing tends to be higher because the technique demands more skill.
Related terms
Plastisol Ink
A thick, opaque ink that cures with heat and sits on top of the fabric. The default for screen printing.
Discharge Printing
A waterbased technique that removes the dye from the shirt and redeposits a new color in its place.
Screen Printing
Pushing ink through a stenciled mesh screen onto fabric — the classic high-volume t-shirt method.