What Is The Best Ink For Screen Printing?

In screen printing on apparel, there are various techniques and two types of inks that are commonly used, water-based inks and Plastisol inks. So, which one is the best? Well, like many techniques in this field, it depends. In this post, we will compare the two and ultimately give you advice on the best ink for the type of print you are trying to achieve.

What is water-based ink?

Water-based inks are inks made with water instead of plastic or PVC, water-based inks can be split into two primary ingredients which are water and pigment. One of the main features of this type of ink is the fact that it is a more eco-friendly option. Water-based inks soak into the fabric as opposed to sitting on top of the fabric, therefore, making the print smoother and breathable. Water-based inks are better when printing on light-colored cotton, if the design has a lot of details, and if the ideal print has muted colors.

What is plastisol ink?

Plastisol ink is made up PVC particles suspended in a liquid plasticizer, it is very durable, flexible, and is commonly used in apparel printing. Plastisol is thick and opaque and it can be mixed easily to create just about any color imaginable. With plastisol ink, we can create special effects like suede, glow-in-the-dark, glitter, shimmer, or metallic. Plastisol is most commonly used on dark-colored fabrics, and it is ideal when printing designs that are less detailed and very colorful.

Which one is the best?

The best ink depends on what type of print, the fabric, and the design you are trying to accomplish as there as many factors to consider. Below we’ve broken-down the considerations for you to make your choice as well as our opinion.

Softness & Breathability

Water-based inks allow for a lighter and softer print which makes the fabric more breathable and comfortable, while Plastisol tends to be a lot thicker and because it is made up of PVC (or plastic) particles, and the ink sits on top of the fabric, it is less breathable around the printed area.

Color

Plastisol inks allow for more vibrant colors and a more accurate color matching process, especially on darker colored fabrics. Vibrant prints using water-based inks are possible, however, the fabric would need to be a lighter color. Plastisol is considered 100% solid, so every bit of it stays on the fabric when cured.

Durability

While both types of inks are durable, Plastisol ink has the reputation to be the most durable, however, some factors need to be taken into consideration. For example, Plastisol ink is thick and can withstand several washes before fading, although, Plastisol inks tend to crack when exposed to high heat. Water-based inks tend to fade faster with frequent washing.

Versatility

With Plastisol inks, you are able to use a variety of different types of fabrics, other inks, and additives. Water-based ink is best suited for 100% cotton fabrics. Blended textiles are less likely to absorb the water-based ink, although there are some tricks to do this successfully, you will run into a lot of difficulties.

Eco-friendliness

While water-based inks are more eco-friendly, but it’s not by much. Why? Well, water-based inks also contain plastic in the form of acrylics and other binders. they rely on solvents that evaporate, leaving the pigmented binder compounds on the garments. The primary solvent is water, but they often contain co-solvents such as formaldehyde and alcohol. These solvents can be harmful and put you at risk unless you use protective gear to protect you from evaporative fumes. Therefore, the two inks are not that much different when it comes to this issue.

Cost

In most cases, plastisol inks tend to have a lower cost. However, as more people prefer softer prints, water-based inks are becoming more popular and print shops are able to reduce their cost by making large purchases with ink vendors. Therefore, consumer prices may vary from shop to shop.

Based on the criteria above, we believe plastisol inks are ultimately the best option in most cases. It is easier to use, cost-effective, and long-lasting ink. Plastisol is sure to maintain the color and details of the design for a long time.

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Check out T-Shirt Screen Printing Instructions

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Our showroom at 2755 Fruitdale Street, Los Angeles, CA 90039 is open by appointment only from 10 am - 4 pm Monday through Friday.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

Screen Printing With Puff Ink

If you’ve been paying attention you’ve seen that more and more streetwear brands are bringing back the Puff Ink prints. This type of ink is a plastisol based ink that has been modified with the addition of a heat reactive foaming agent that makes the ink expand tp give you that ‘Puffy’ look.

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How Does It Work?

Puff ink adds a 3 dimensional aspect to screen printing on garments. With this type of ink, you will follow the same screen printing steps as printing with standard water-based inks.

You can use puff ink across the entire artwork, or you can choose specific elements or colors of the design to give it the desired effect to bring more attention or 'pop' to a particular part of the artwork.

One of the downsides to printing with puff ink is that it’s hard to match the exact Pantone ink colors as opposed to using regular water-based ink. This is because the puff ink additive changes different colors in different ways. However, usually, lighter Pantone colors are easier to match than darker colors.

Keep It Simple

There are no fundamental limitations when using puff ink for t shirt printing, apart from when your design has small details that are less than 1 - 2mm wide. For the best puff print, you will want your design to have thick lines and minimal small details. When creating a design featuring text, choosing the right font is key. The thicker the lines the more your design will stand out.

Check out How To Add Puff Additive To Plastisol Ink

How It’s Made

You should use plastisol inks of any color and add a puff additive such as “Rutland NPT puff’ which recommends a 5% to 15% ratio for an optimum puff. The amount of additive dictates how much the ink will rise. With puff ink, it’s important to measure how much additive and paint to mix by weight.

When it comes to your screen, the lower the mesh count, the more open the holes are, which translates to more ink deposit and results in a more “puffy” print.

Once you’ve added the ink to your garment in the chosen design, as the ink goes through the dryer and the heat rises, so does your ink. Like a loaf of bread!

Aftercare

To preserve a puff print or any other specialty prints, it is recommended that you wash it inside out with cold water. Do not use a tumble-dryer, hang dry if possible and do not iron over the print.

Check out Puff Ink – The definitive designers guide for apparel creation

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Pro’s and Con’s List

Pros of Puff Screen Printing

• Fast printing technique for printing in large volumes

• Can be printed in conjunction with a wide selection of other inks and effects

• Can produce designs with multiple colors

• High-durability, will not crumble and flake off

• Professional finish and usually less expensive (consult with your printer)

• Can print on most types of fabrics

Cons of Puff Screen Printing

• Initial setup fee makes it unsuitable for small quantity orders

• Not good for use in fine detailed artwork

• Can not be used for image (raster based) prints

• Can not be printed alongside, foil, flock or high density print effects

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your design with Puff Ink?

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Get the inside scoop from Lee Stuart printing with Puff Ink for the first time!

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Brand Spotlight

Japangeles is a Los Angeles based streetwear brand located in the heart of Little Tokyo. Japangeles has done collaborations with other major brands such as Kirin, Hello Kitty, Champion, and Lexus. Their simplistic yet eye-catching approach to design and word play has caught the attention of many people looking for high-quality garments and minimalistic aesthetics in Los Angeles. Their newest design features a puff ink print, demonstrating the current popularity of this type of specialty print method.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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A Guide To Creating Your Own Merch

Creating a brand is a way to develop your unique business personality, connect with the consumer and establish yourself within the corporate market. Once you have solidified your brand, the next step can be creating merchandise that is exciting and viable to market to new or existing customers.

Some businesses may appear more suited for merch than others. For example, creative businesses or businesses that deal in similar merchandise may seem more well-placed to sell custom promotional products on the frontlines. However, the truth is that all businesses can benefit from creating merch for their own brand, no matter the product or service.

Creating merchandise for your own brand can give you the freedom to sell and use swag as custom products for any service. It’s a great and creative way to get your brand design out in front of other people and make some extra income while doing so.

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“Conversation is not simply a two-way process, but also a continuous process. Brand research enables brands to ask the questions and listen to their customers, allowing them to keep their finger on the pulse and adapt appropriately.”

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Research

Researching your audience whether you’re a service provider or a product retailer is a must. By identifying your customer demographics, you will be able to gear your merch products more specifically and ensure a successful launch.

When doing your research, you’ll want to follow these questions.

• How old is your audience?

• What are generally their interests?

• What is the general socioeconomic status?

• What is their employment industry?

The use of social media often can also be very revealing. Sometimes people aren’t that willing to share details over interviews or creating an account on your platform / store, or simply aren’t aware of their own habits.

Following your audience on social media can most often give you a very good idea of what they are into, this requires a lot of time but can be very rewarding.

Design

After the research phase, design becomes the focus. It may be enough to add your logo to a cool gadget or a wearable good, but if you are looking to make a profit, adding an element of design can really bump up the interest in your merch. It’s necessary to try to make a statement by either creating a clever design or creating a product with a lot of color and character.

Some companies may hire an artist to create a work of art to be printed unto their merch, which makes those pieces a little more valuable than if it was just your logo or a simple component of your branding aesthetic.

Diversify Your Merch

Not all merch is created equal, and not all merch is equally useful for everyone.

By diversifying the products offered, you’re giving the consumer a choice of products that best serves them. Your demographic according to your research may have different variants, this is when you should make the decision of creating different products for different people.

Anyone willing to buy merchandise is usually happy to browse a range of products and see what you have on offer, rather than only having the option to buy one thing. Happy merchandise consumers may also return to your online store to buy a different item next time, so having a choice is key.

Budget

Maximizing your budget can make all the difference. If you’re unable to offer a variety of products, concentrate on the product you think will perform the best according to your audience research.

Many brands will also launch a pre-order product(s) and can fund their merch production using this method as the purchase will be done upfront making it easier to increase your budget. While this works for most companies, we suggest you advise your customer of potential lead-times as printing and production times my vary.

Read more about What To Include In Your Promotional Products Budget

Fulfillment

If your budget allows it, we recommend using companies such as Family Industries for all your fulfillment needs. The good thing about this process is that you will never have to touch the product, they will be made, printed, packed, and shipped all from a single source. Fulfillment can become overwhelming if you have a large following and a healthy stream of daily orders, and services like fulfillment can be a time-saver and allow for you to focus on your overall business.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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The Rise of Gender-Neutral Clothing

Source: Christen Press and models sport gender-neutral streetwear in a promotional image for Re-Inc.

We often think of clothing as a way to express our gender identity, but what about defying the gender norms when it comes to what you wear? This ideal has become more and more accepted by newer generations who are working to break down the berries of gender norms in fashion. In this article, we’ll take you through the latest in this fashion movement.

What is Gender-Neutral / Genderless Apparel?

Source: Youth Incorporated

We actively break down apparel into 2 main differentiations, men or women, while the conversation of gender continues to evolve within our society, and fashion is trying to keep up. It is true that the notion of clothing having a gender is a social construct, for example, when looking back at the way in which the high heel shoe was invented, men wore them to imply their upper-class status; only someone who did not have to work could afford, both financially and practically, to wear such extravagant shoes.

So, gender-neutral apparel is now becoming more popular among the new generation, but what does gender-neutral apparel look like? Well, “Genderless” clothing is being designed without a specific color or texture in mind, it is simply designed to be able to fit a variety of body types and the fashion is fluid, not inherently masculine nor feminine.

Check Out 3 Designers on How They Define Genderless Fashion

“The term gender was first used in 1955 to describe social and cultural aspects of whether a person was male or female, regardless of their biological sex. Next, the term unisex was coined in the 1960s in reference to garments that were intended to be worn by either sex.”

Comfort Over Gender

Source: One DNA

One of the many reasons gender-fluid apparel is trending, is the comfortability factor. Women’s clothes have a history of being uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time, and this is part of the reason many women look for more comfortably fitting clothes, oftentimes in the men’s section.

Additionally, not only is athleisure wear becoming more and more gender-less, but it’s the every-day clothing choice that attracts people, especially after more than a year being stuck at home wearing sweats or pajamas due to the covid-19 lockdowns.

In March of 2020, pajama sales increased by 143%2, but bra sales decreased by 13%. Right from the start, comfort became a priority.

Sales of gender neutral clothes on the rise

For brands looking to maximize sales, going gender-less can be a beneficial move. Because design isn’t inherently feminine nor masculine, fabrics and patterns can be worn by either gender or non-binary person. By taking the gender-fluid route, brands can cut costs on design time and sourcing fabric as well as manufacturing.

We have seen big brand such as Zara who introduced a line of unisex clothing for adults, while GapKids did the same for children’s wear. Toronto’s Muttonhead Apparel, whose utilitarian casuals are designed to fit both men’s and women’s bodies, has gained a huge following. Haute fashion houses like Hood by Air, J.W.Anderson and Gucci have all released unisex lines.

“Brands can create long-lasting, high-quality pieces that can be sold at higher prices.”

Source: EDITHMARCEL.

Photo: Alessio Costantino

Ethical & Sustainable

We have seen that fast fashion is slowly losing traction, and shoppers are looking for more sustainable options and ethically sourced apparel. This is where smaller brands can outshine big corporations. Yes, the cost is higher but studies show that consumers are more interested in quality, so they are more likely to spend a little more if the product is marketed right.

The Future of Apparel

Designing apparel that goes beyond the binary is predicted to become more and more popular among young people. Along with the size inclusion movement and trans and non-binary issues on the forefront of social conversations, we will be seeing more brands launch unisex apparel.

Read In-depth guide: un-gendered fashion and unisex clothing brands

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How To Design

Unisex Clothing

Source: Zero Waste Daniel

Proportions

Biologically speaking, women’s bodies and men’s bodies are inherently different, therefore, adjustments are necessary but it should not compromise the overall style of the garment.

T-shirts for example, are easy to design to be worn by either gender. However, for a jacket or a blouse, it is important to have variety in size and proportions.

Design

Keep It Simple. If you’re just getting started, select a few garments that can be worn by either gender and adjust sizes accordingly. The overall design should be simple and loose, nothing form fitting but not too baggy.

Most unisex clothing was, and is, based on male styles. Fit may be adjusted, some new fabrics may be introduced, but it is still basically men’s clothing adjusted to include women wearing it.

Color

Go crazy with color, don’t be afraid to use a lot of colors and patterns.

Functionality

Not only is comfort a big part of unisex design, but functionality such as deep pockets, buttons, and zippers also play a big role. Think utilitarian!

Fabric

It is recommended to source recycled or natural fabrics like silks and organic cotton to achieve an “adaptable-type style” that downplays certain parts of the body and that can be worn in various ways.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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What Is a Full Service Promotional Merchandise Agency?

If you own a business, you’ve probably already heard of the importance of promotional items and chances are you already have branded merch. Some merch is better than others and this may vary depending on the merch agency.

Not all agencies have full capacity to bring your ideas into fruition, however, a full-service merch agency can help you beyond the printing process and in this article, we will take you through the different services that are possible when you hire a full-service merch agency such as Family Industries.

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5 Reasons Why You Need A Branded Merch

Customer Loyalty

Merch can increase customer loyalty! Giveaways have been proven to be a great tool to excite current customers to actively engage with your social media and therefor cement customer loyalty.

Increased employees’ morale

Employees play a huge role in a company’s success, therefore, looking after their needs should be the priority of the brand. A happy employee makes sure that they meet the company’s objectives and serve them right. Hence, giving away customized water bottles, tees, etc. might be a little gesture, but it surely boosts employees’ morale.

Brand Recognition

Merch is another marketing tool, therefore, it’s helpful to look at it as an investment that will generate more sales. The first thing that every brand is looking for is to create brand awareness and marketers are solely working for the same reason. Unless you grab the attention of your customers, you cannot encourage them to shop from you.

Check Out What’s The Difference Between Brand Awareness and Brand Recognition

Lead Generator

For every business, lead generation is extremely important. Not only is it necessary to gain new customers, but also to retain the old ones. Brand merchandising creates brand awareness that is quite strong and does not let a customer easily forget about your brand. There are hundreds of ways through which you can increase lead generation, but if none of them works for you – you can always trust merchandise branding.

Beat Competitors

Merchandise branding can help businesses to differentiate themselves from their competitors. The promotional product will create an engaging, dedicated, and can set yourself apart visually. Not all brands work on branded content, hence, your approach can set you apart from your competition especially when it comes to design and creativity.

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Why Do You Need A Full Service Merch Agency?

You may have a great business model and think that perhaps merch is not for you, however, investing in merch can be the one thing that pushes your brand just a bit further. Each year you should be looking to ways in which you can improve and stay ahead of the curve.

Not only is merch good for marketing, but it can also be a way to establish yourself as a serious brand or simply add to your bottom line.

Learn more How Can Branding Costs Be Capitalized

DESIGN

A full-service merch agency has a team of designers to help assist with the design process. This step is important when considering certain products to print on. Our in-house design team provides a full range of creative services—from branding and fashion forward graphics, to innovative product concepts, and more.

Manufacturing

As a full-service merch agency, we specialize in high-quality garment and merch production using a variety of methods such as screen printing, vinyl, foil, embroidery and more.

Working with a variety of products from apparel to swag such as hats, drinkware, bags, and tech accessories gives clients more freedom and the ability to get more creative.

Fulfillment

As part of a well-rounded merch service agency, offering fulfillment is an integral part of the premium experience. Not only does a full-service merch agency provide the best quality print and finished product, it’s can also be a big time-saver by providing direct fulfillment to your customers or clients.

Read more The Benefits of Merch Fulfillment Services

Events

A full-service merch agency such as Family Industries LIVE can also provide on-site event merch printing such as t-shirts, tote bags, and embroidery on hats, and other apparel items.

Not only does a full-service merch agency provide live printing, but they also provide a full staff that includes brand ambassadors. In an event space with a lot of other brand and vendors, it’s important to have brand ambassadors that can represent your brand in the best way possible.

Our staff at Family Industries takes this job very seriously as we pride ourselves in having the best customer service and our goal is to represent our clients the best way possible.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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send us an e-mail at quotes@familyindustriesla.com, or give us a call at 323.227.1547 and we'd be happy to help.

Our showroom at 2755 Fruitdale Street, Los Angeles, CA 90039 is open by appointment only from 10 am - 4 pm Monday through Friday.

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Merch Guide For Musicians & Bands

Whether you’re a successful musician or an up and coming band, having merch to sell at events is critical. There’s a variety of items you can sell as merch to event goers as a way to promote your music. Choosing the right items is key to ensuring sales.

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Why Do Musicians Need Merch?

Grouplove Band Poster

Musician merch has always been important to bands, both as a source of revenue and to help raise awareness of your ‘brand’. Fans love buying merch too - the music we like is closely tied in with our identity, and wearing a band’s t-shirt is a way of showing off that identity to others - adverts for your band, helping promote your band anywhere and everywhere they go.

Having a good range of merchandise not only generates you income but raises your profile as a band and can help get you new fans!

Check Out How To Design A T-Shirt

What Merch Should You Sell?

The real key to getting started with merchandise is to look at how much budget you have to invest. If you have a larger budget it is worth looking at what your fans would like - ask them and develop a small range, but you could also go for plenty of low budget options such as badges, stickers and posters. Your budget will also play a crucial role in determining what your inventory will look like.

Ask Your Fans

You can slap your band logo on just about anything these days, but don’t leave it up to chance. Be direct and ask your fans what they want! Put up a quick poll on your social media, in your email newsletter, or on your music website to get an idea of the kind of merch your fans would actually enjoy.

Research

Check out other band’s merch - Gather merch inspiration from bands that are similar to yours in terms of genre, brand identity, and number of followers.

Check Out Merch Ideas: Band Posters & Art Prints

Cost Effective Merch

When you’re deciding what to get made, cost is always going to be a factor. There are three main things to bear in mind:

• Overall cost of production: Patches, stickers, and keychains are popular because they’re a low-cost items that you can give away as well as selling them. By contrast, hoodies are a more expensive item that will cost more - however, the profit is bigger.

• Minimum runs: All items will have a minimum quantity that you’ll be allowed to order. This will be higher for some types of merch than others.

• Complexity of design: If you’re screen printing items (the most common technique for t-shirts), you’ll be charged a set-up cost for each color in your design - meaning a complex design with 4 colors will be much more expensive to produce than a simple 1 color print.

Find A Designer

Creating the right attention-grabbing artwork is a big part of a successful merch campaign. Hiring a professional graphic designer can save you a lot of headaches when it’s time for the printing process. It’s important to communicate what you are intending to do with the art work as certain designs may not be suitable for screen printing (too detailed or thin lines).

Finding a merch designer that specializes in packaging or has knowledge of apparel printing is a plus! Otherwise, make sure they understand what your intentions are before beginning the designing process.

Check Out How To Design Artwork For Screen Printing With Puff Ink

Custom Merch

Adding an element of customization to music merch item can be a great incentive for event goers. Being able to add initials to a jacket or a hat by using a live embroidery service is a low cost way to customize merch on-site.

If a live event merch customization agency can fit into your marketing budget, do it! Having experts working at your event either embroidering hats or screen printing t-shirts adds an additional element of entertainment to your show which encourages sales.

Selling Merch Online

While not on tour, selling merch online is another way to earn passive income and still promoting your music.

If you’re attracting fans to your website or Instagram profile, it’s a missed opportunity if you’re not offering them stuff to buy once they’re there. Services like BigCartel give you a free shopfront where you can easily add your products and have fans pay by Paypal. You just need to keep track of stock levels, and make sure one band member is in charge of packing and shipping the orders.

Another solution is merch agencies such as Family Industries who offer a variety of merch items that can also be fulfilled on-site and shipped directly to the buyer. Merch manufacturers can often also add additional branding items such as stickers or personalized notes and they guarantee great quality.

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Be Creative!

Selling a t-shirt with your band name and artwork is essential, however, thinking outside the box and offering a vinyl with an art print can elevate your brand and ensure you’re providing quality to your fans. It may also additionally present as a great gift for someone, which automatically takes your merch to the next level.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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