Screen Printing at OCC APPAREL
Screen printing is a classic and lasting way to print on t shirts. At OCC Apparel it is the most popular and often the most economical way to decorate garments. We can use any combination of colours with any colour t-shirt. We print across all mediums and will complete your garments with efficient turnaround times.
How Screen Printing Works
Screen printing is a printing technique that involves passing ink through a mesh screen. The screen is prepared with a stencil, which allows ink to pass through only in the areas where the stencil is not present. This results in a print that is precise and accurate.
The screen printing process involves several steps, including creating a stencil, preparing the ink, setting up the screen, and printing the image onto the garment. There are several different types of screen printing equipment available, including manual and automatic presses.
When we create a screen printed t-shirt, each colour in your design is separated into individual screens. Coloured t shirts require an undercoat known as base print + artwork colour. We then place each individual screen over your garment to lay down each ink colour – the end result is your completed design.
It’s a bit more intricate than that, but you get the idea: more colours = more screens and more screens = a higher cost per print.
We can print any combination of colours with any colour of T-shirt to your preference. We print across all mediums (discharge, water based, plastisol, GOTS certified organic, foiling or metallic, just to name a few options) and can complete your garments in super-fast turnaround times.
Types of Screen Printing Inks
There are various types of inks used in screen printing, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The two most commonly used inks are water-based and plastisol inks.
Water-Based Inks
Water-based inks are made from water-soluble dyes and pigments. They are eco-friendly and do not contain harmful chemicals. Water-based inks are best suited for printing on light-coloured materials and are ideal for projects that require a softer and more breathable print.
Advantages of water-based inks include:
- Eco-friendly and non-toxic
- Soft feel and breathable print
- Can be used on a wide range of materials
Disadvantages of water-based inks include:
- Not suitable for printing on dark-coloured materials
- Longer drying time
MagnaColours Inks
For 40 years, Magna Colours have pushed the boundaries of water-based printing inks to create innovative alternatives to plastisol. With MagnaPrint Eco-friendly water-based inks, you do not compromise on print quality. In fact they surpass plastisol in terms of stretch and hand feel. They have gone further than any one else to make screen-printing a greener and more sustainable industry – in fact, it is their mission.
That’s why many printers and global brands, like Nike, Under Armour and Adidas choose to use their inks. It’s also why they were presented the Queen’s Award for Innovation. OCC Apparel currently print with Magna Colours Inks on automatic screen printing machines in Sydney.
Permaset Inks
Founded in 1958, Colormaker Industries is an environmentally responsible manufacturer of quality surface coatings. Colormaker’s success is founded on dedication and commitment to developing industry-leading products through extensive research and development as well as a focus on sustainable business practices.
Australian and privately owned since foundation, Colormaker has developed numerous innovative coatings products, including the revolutionary, eco-friendly water-based textile screen printing range of PERMASET AQUA®, PERMATONE® and PERMAPRINT PREMIUM® inks and PERMAPLASTIK® scenic paints.
All products are developed and manufactured in the Sydney based production facility under strict quality control procedures and distributed nationally and internationally, from Iceland in the North to Dunedin in South Island of New Zealand.
The team has more than 100 years of cumulative experience in the coatings industry from manufacturing through R&D through to customer service.
MagnaPrint AquaFlex water-based
Virus Inks
Virus® is the pioneer of ecological sustainable water based inks. Sustainable in terms of the raw materials choice and the care of the entire production process. Sustainability is an integral part of our innovation strategy: every day we update our manufacturing processes and we reconsider the raw materials involved to achieve the targets of sustainability including the ones of our customers.
We have set ambitious targets for the safety, the health, the respect and the protection of the environment.
Plastisol Inks
Plastisol inks are made from PVC resin and plasticiser. They are more durable and long-lasting than water-based inks and are ideal for printing on dark-coloured materials. Plastisol inks are also more opaque and offer better coverage.
Advantages of plastisol inks include:
- More durable and long-lasting
- Better coverage and more vivid colour
- Suitable for printing on light and dark-coloured materials
Disadvantages of plastisol inks include:
- Not eco-friendly
- Not breathable
Wilflex – plastisol
The Wilflex brand of inks emerged in the early 1960s as screen printing on t-shirts gained popularity for self-expression. Wilflex continued to make history twenty years later when it provided design freedom with the introduction of the first plastisol mixing system.
Wilflex offers White inks, colour mixing systems, off-the-shelf colours, polyester solutions, special effects, transfer inks and additives.
Choosing the Right Ink for Your Screen Printing Project
Choosing the right ink for your screen printing project depends on several factors, including the type of material you are printing on, the colour of the material, and the desired look and feel of the print.
Water-based inks are best suited for projects that require a soft and breathable print on light-coloured materials. Plastisol inks are more suitable for printing on dark-coloured materials and projects that require a more durable and long-lasting print.
Other factors to consider when choosing the right ink for your project include colour matching and environmental considerations. For example, water-based inks may be more suitable for projects that require a more eco-friendly and non-toxic ink.
