The screen printing ink you use should be designed for the fabric material you're printing on. From cotton to polyester, tri-blends to totes, each material calls for the right formulation to ensure bright color, smooth feel, and long-lasting wear. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly which screen printing inks for fabric to use, with trusted brand options like FN-INK, Green Galaxy, Avient, and Wilflex™ that are among the top screen printing inks in the industry.
Understanding Ink Types and Fabric Types
Understanding the types of ink available and how they interact with different materials:
- Plastisol Ink: Sits on top of the fabric, offering excellent opacity and durability. Great for cotton, blends, and synthetics.
- Water-Based Ink: Soaks into the fibers, creating a soft-hand print. Ideal for cotton, but with the right additives or blockers, can work on blends and polyester too.
- Discharge Ink: A form of water-based ink that removes the dye from fabric and replaces it with pigment. Great for ultra-soft prints on 100% cotton.
- Dye-Blocking / Low Bleed Inks: Designed specifically to prevent dye migration on polyester and sublimated garments.
Common Fabric Types: Cotton, poly-cotton blends, 100% polyester, tri-blends, dye-sublimated poly, and canvas. Each fabric behaves differently under heat and pressure, which makes ink compatibility critical.
Cotton: Use Plastisol or Water-Based Ink
100% cotton is the most common fabric in screen printing. It holds both plastisol and water-based ink well, offering versatility for all types of designs.
- FN-INK or Wilflex™ Plastisol Inks: Ideal for bold, opaque prints with minimal setup. Great for beginners and pros alike. Browse all plastisol ink options.
- Water-Based Ink: Perfect for soft-hand fashion prints and breathable garments. Excellent for vintage printing, youth apparel, or eco-forward brands. Explore Green Galaxy water-based inks or Screen ALGAE INK™ by Living Ink, a carbon-negative water-based black ink made with renewable algae.
Tip: Use 110–156 mesh for thicker inks like white plastisol, and 230+ mesh for detailed water-based prints.
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Poly-Cotton Blends: Use Low-Cure, Low-Bleed Inks
Blended fabrics can bleed dye or stretch under pressure. They’re also more heat sensitive, so curing the ink at a lower temperature is key. You’ll need an ink that adapts without cracking or discoloring.
- Wilflex™ Epic Quick White Plastisol Ink: A go-to white for poly-cotton blends and tri-blends. Low-cure and creamy for smooth application.
- Wilflex™ Epic Rio Plastisol Inks: Rio Colors are low-cure and designed for wet-on-wet printing. Suitable for both manual and automatic presses.
- FN-INK Plastisol Inks: Cures as low as 260°F to reduce dye migration and save energy. Ideal for both light and dark blends.
Tip: Flash your base quickly and cure at low temperatures. A conveyor dryer makes this process fast, consistent, and repeatable.
100% Polyester: Use Dye-Blocking or Low-Bleed Inks
Polyester is notorious for dye migration—a process where the dye in the fabric moves into the ink, altering its color. That’s why you need an ink that blocks bleed before it happens. Blockers and poly-specific underbases are designed to stop dye migration by creating a strong foundation.
- FN-INK Barrier Black Ink: A reliable underbase blocker that prevents dye bleed under white and bright top layers.
- Wilflex™ Epic Rival Sport LC Defender: A low-cure, high-opacity dye blocker built specifically for 100% polyester, polyester blends, triblends, and dye-sublimated garments.
- Wilflex™ Epic Polywhite LC: A low-bleed white plastisol ink formulated for poly-rich garments. Soft feel with dependable dye resistance.
Tip: Always test your fabric for dye migration before running a full job. A simple heat test can reveal whether the dye will rise into your ink.
RELATED: How to Test for Dye Migration Before You Print
Tri-Blends: Use Stretch-Friendly, Low-Cure Ink
Tri-blends (cotton, polyester, rayon) are ultra-soft. Their stretch and varied dye content mean you’ll want a flexible ink that cures low and prints clean.
- FN-INK: Handles tri-blends with ease. Stays flexible, resists cracking, and cures low to prevent dye bleed.
- Wilflex™ Epic Rival Sport LC Defender: Ideal for printing light colors on dark, dye-heavy tri-blends.
Tip: Be extra mindful of your flash temperature. Tri-blends are heat sensitive, so less heat is often more effective.
Sublimated Garments: Use Barrier Inks
Dye-sublimated fabrics are pre-dyed with heat-reactive ink. That ink can rise through your print and discolor it. Barrier inks are your best friend—they block dye migration before it starts.
- Wilflex™ Epic Rival Sport LC Defender: Designed specifically for dye-sublimated polyester. Use it under whites, neons, or light inks.
- FN-INK Barrier Black: Reliable and economical for shops that want a strong defense under top colors.
Tip: Test the garment first. Apply heat with a swatch of white cotton to check for bleed.
Canvas & Tote Bags: Use High-Opacity Inks
Heavier fabrics like canvas and totes need bold, thick ink that won’t soak into the weave. Avoid water-based ink unless you’re using discharge, printing on pre-treated materials, or intentionally going for a vintage look.
- FN-INK or Wilflex™ Plastisol Inks: Ideal for bold, opaque coverage on canvas. Browse all plastisol ink options.
Tip: Try a lower mesh screen like 110 or 156 to lay down a heavier ink deposit.
RELATED: Texture, Shine & Dimension: Meet the Latest Avient Specialty Inks
Specialty Inks: Add Texture, Shine, and Dimension
Specialty inks open the door to creative effects that set your prints apart. These inks go beyond flat color to deliver texture, shimmer, puff, and more. Perfect for fashion, merch, or standout branding pieces.
- High Density: Adds raised, 3D-like texture to prints for bold graphic elements or logos.
- Glow-in-the-Dark: Charges under light and glows in the dark
- Metallic: Offers shimmer and shine with gold, silver, or pearl-like finishes.
- Puff Additives: Expands when cured to create soft, raised prints.
- Fashion Soft: Softens the hand feel of a plastisol print.
Explore the full collection of Special Effects Inks to discover what's possible when you push beyond the standard print.
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Quick Reference: What Ink to Use When
| Fabric Type | Best Ink Options | Why It Works | General Cure Temp | Recommended Mesh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% Cotton | Plastisol, Water-Based, Discharge | Easy ink adhesion and color payoff | 320°F (Plastisol), 270–320°F (Water-Based) | 110–230+ |
| Poly-Cotton Blend | Wilflex™ Epic Quick White, FN-INK™, Wilflex™ Rio | Low-cure inks reduce bleed risk and keep soft hand feel, use a blocker to ensure no color bleed | 260–290°F | 110–158 |
| 100% Polyester | Wilflex™ LC Defender (underbase), FN-INK Barrier Black (underbase), Wilflex™ Polywhite LC, Plastisol | Use dye-blocker underbase to stop bleed, then print with standard plastisol or low-temp inks | 260–290°F | 110–158 |
| Tri-Blend | Wilflex™ LC Defender (underbase), FN-INK, Wilflex™ Rio | Stretchy fabric needs flexible, low-cure ink; blockers help prevent bleed on darks | 260–290°F | 110–158 |
| Sublimated Polyester | Wilflex™ LC Defender (underbase), FN-INK Barrier Black (underbase), Plastisol | Use blocker underbase to prevent dye bleed; print top colors with low-cure inks | 260–290°F | 110–158 |
| Canvas / Tote Bags | FN-INK™ White, Wilflex™ Quick White, Plastisol | Thick fabric requires high-opacity plastisol; lower mesh helps ink sit on top | 320°F | 110–156 |
Can Water-Based Ink Be Used on Any Fabric?
Yes, with the right strategy. While water-based ink works beautifully on cotton, it can also be used on poly-blends, tri-blends, and even polyester. Since water-based inks are absorbed into the fabric, the fiber types and weave can show through the print (see example above).
You’ll often need additives like Warp Drive to speed up curing, or a water-based blocker like Gamma Blocker to prevent dye migration.
High cure temperatures and dye migration are common challenges when printing beyond cotton, so always test your process and adjust accordingly.
Final Thoughts
The key to successful apparel printing is matching artwork with the right inks and fabric. Whether you’re printing high-volume teamwear or boutique blanks, brands like Wilflex™ and FN-INK offer pro-level performance for every print challenge. Keep this guide handy and let your ink do the work.
Ryonet is here to help you #PowerThePrint with the right ink, on the right fabric, every time.