There’s no single “best” emulsion. The right emulsion depends on your experience level, exposure setup, ink type, and darkroom conditions. Understanding how emulsions work and which type fits your needs will save you time, reduce errors, and lead to better prints.
To choose the right emulsion, ask yourself:
- What kind of ink are you using? Plastisol, water-based, discharge, UV, solvent?
- What exposure unit do you have? Fluorescent, LED, CTS, LTS, metal halide?
- What are the conditions of your darkroom? Humidity, light safety, temperature?
- What’s your experience level? Beginner, intermediate, advanced?
Types of Emulsion
There are three primary types of emulsions used in screen printing: Presensitized Photopolymer, Diazo Mixed, (also called Dual-Cure), and Hybrid Photopolymer. Each has unique strengths depending on your print environment and workflow. Use a Step Wedge to dial in your exposure times.
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PRESENSITIZED PHOTOPOLYMER
Presensitized emulsions are ready to use out of the container, expose quickly, and capture high detail. These emulsions are more sensitive to UV light, which makes them less forgiving, yet ideal for sharp, clean prints when paired with the right equipment.
Best for:
- LED or metal halide exposure units
- High detail and halftone work
- Controlled, light-safe darkrooms
Recommended:
- Chromaline ChromaBlue: Great for plastisol inks and fast exposure setups
- Baselayr Plastisol: Fast exposure, excellent detail
- Baselayr Complete: High solids, water resistant, versatile; can be paired with diazo for extra durability
- Saati Textil PHW Red: One-part SBQ photopolymer, fast exposure, excellent resistance
- Saati Textil PHU-HR Red: Presensitized one-part emulsion, no mixing required
- Chromaline ChromaLime: LED optimized, very fast exposing, ideal for plastisol work and high mesh counts
For customers that need even greater detail in their designs, want to push the boundaries of resolution, or require greater initial stencil durability, try using Baselayr Complete with diazo. With the addition of diazo, exposure times will increase, image resolution can be enhanced, and the longer initial exposure can improve the stencil’s longevity on press. Follow the diazo packet guidance.
DIAZO MIXED
Diazo emulsions require mixing before use and expose slower, which makes them more forgiving. They are perfect for beginners and printers working in less than perfect environments. They are typically more affordable and provide solid durability for many ink types.
Best for:
- Shops using fluorescent exposure or sunlight
- Beginners and hobbyists
- Budget conscious workflows
Recommended:
- Chromaline CP Tex: Durable with diazo mixing, water resistant for water based and discharge
- Baselayr Long Lasting: Dual-cure with diazo mixing, forgiving exposure latitude and strong durability
HYBRID PHOTOPOLYMER
Hybrid photopolymer emulsions combine modern photopolymer chemistry for faster exposure, excellent resolution, and high durability. Many are LED friendly and work well with plastisol, water based, and discharge inks.
- Chromaline Hydro-X Red: High resistance, LED optimized hybrid for UV, solvent, and water based inks; presensitized and fast exposing
- Baselayr Complete: While not a hybrid photopolymer, it’s a versatile one-part emulsion that can be mixed with diazo to improve durability and resistance across a wider range of inks and exposure systems
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EXPOSURE UNIT MATCHING
Fluorescent Tube: Use fast exposing emulsions.
LED, CTS, or LTS: Use hybrid or versatile emulsions.
- Hydro-X Red
- Baselayr Complete
- Baselayr Long Lasting (diazo mixed, expect longer exposures)
- Saati Textil PHW Red
Metal Halide: Any emulsion, prefer durable.
Sunlight: Fast exposing emulsions.
EXPERIENCE LEVELS
Beginners: Forgiving emulsions that tolerate imperfect exposure.
- Try Chromaline CP Tex or Baselayr Long Lasting
- Prefer a one part, fast option on LED, try Chromaline Hydro-X Red.
Intermediate: Experiment with dual-cure options or presensitized photopolymers to balance speed and durability.
- Water based or discharge focus: Chromaline CP Tex or Baselayr Complete or Saati PHW Red for thick stencils and high density effects.
- Plastisol production and high mesh detail: ChromaBlue, ChromaLime, or Baselayr Plastisol.
- LED, CTS, or LTS speed with strong resistance: Hydro-X Red. For extra durability, mix Baselayr Long Lasting.
Advanced: Tailor the emulsion to each job’s ink system and exposure setup.
- Add diazo to Baselayr Complete when you need extra resolution and stencil life.
- Maximum durability for UV or solvent work: Baselayr Long Lasting or Saati PHU-HR Red.
- Water based or discharge on longer runs: Chromaline CP Tex or Baselayr Complete with diazo.
- Ultra fine detail and halftones: ChromaBlue or Baselayr Complete with diazo.
- Fast LED throughput with broad ink compatibility: Hydro-X Red.
DARKROOM ENVIRONMENT
Your setup matters. If your space is not light safe, use slower emulsions like Chromaline CP Tex or Baselayr Long Lasting and protect your screen during washout. Ideal conditions: 60 to 80°F, 30 to 40% humidity, and yellow safe light.
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FINAL THOUGHTS
There is no universal best emulsion. There is a perfect emulsion for your print job, setup, and skill level. Use this guide, revisit it as you grow, and choose your emulsion with confidence.
Explore All Emulsions and find the perfect match for your darkroom today.