Screen Print Plastisol Base Ink | Plastisol White Base for Screen Printing
What Is Plastisol Base Ink?
Plastisol base ink serves as the foundation for custom color mixing and specialty printing effects. It’s typically clear or semi-transparent and provides excellent flow, stretch, and durability when paired with pigments or additives. Printers across Alabama, Georgia, and Florida rely on plastisol base ink to formulate soft hand inks, metallics, and custom spot colors tailored to their branding or customer requirements.
Why Use a Plastisol White Base?
A plastisol white base is used as an underbase when printing on dark or colored garments. It creates a bright, opaque surface that ensures top colors remain vibrant and unmuted. In screen printing shops throughout Florida and Georgia, using a quality white underbase is essential for maintaining consistency, color accuracy, and long-term washability on tees, hoodies, and performance fabrics.
Mixing Plastisol Base Inks for Custom Colors
Start by combining pigment concentrates with a clear plastisol base. Use up to 20% pigment load for full-opacity prints, or reduce to 5–10% for soft-hand applications. The flexibility of base ink makes it ideal for short-run custom jobs, fashion brands, and specialty effects. Shops in Alabama often blend soft-hand bases with base ink for triblends or fashion tees where print feel is just as important as color quality.
When to Use a White Underbase
Use a white plastisol base whenever you're printing light or bright colors on dark garments. Without a white underbase, most top inks lose their clarity and vibrancy. In Georgia and Florida, where sportswear, school merch, and event shirts often require bright logos, printers depend on underbases to maintain contrast and definition. Proper flash curing between underbase and top color is critical to avoid pick-up and ensure alignment.
Mesh Count and Stencil Thickness for Base Printing
Use a lower mesh count (110–156) for white underbases to allow more ink to pass through the screen. This results in better coverage and opacity. In contrast, use higher mesh counts (200–305) when using plastisol base for soft hand effects or pigment blending. Emulsion thickness also impacts how much ink gets laid down. In humid southern climates like Alabama and Florida, screen tension and humidity management are key to avoiding ink bleed and ghosting.
Base Additives for Plastisol Ink
Plastisol ink base additives enhance performance, softness, stretch, or cure profile. Common additives include soft hand base, puff base, or high-opacity enhancers. Florida print shops use these to fine-tune prints for coastal weather and heat sensitivity, while Georgia shops use them to dial in performance for cotton-heavy markets. Each additive must be carefully balanced to retain printability and final look.
Tips for Printing Soft Base Ink
To print soft base ink effectively, use high mesh counts (230+), minimal squeegee pressure, and a thin stencil. Cure just enough to gel the ink and avoid overbaking. The result is a print that feels like part of the garment, not layered on top. In Alabama’s fashion-forward markets, this is a major selling point for boutique brands and eco-conscious labels.
Soft vs Bold: Choosing the Right Base
If you're aiming for a vintage, soft hand look, blend plastisol base with reducer or soft hand additives. For bold, high-opacity jobs like athletic logos or band merch, start with a dedicated white plastisol base for crisp edge detail and brightness. Printers across Florida and Georgia often keep both options in stock to serve different customer tiers, from retail-ready brands to fast-turn event jobs.
Using Plastisol Base Ink for Special Effects
Beyond soft-hand and underbase use, plastisol base ink can be the vehicle for high-density, shimmer, suede, or puff effects. Add the corresponding specialty additive and adjust your stencil and curing setup. In Florida’s resort wear market or Georgia’s collegiate apparel scene, combining base ink with shimmer or suede base opens up creative options without switching to water-based or discharge systems.
Training and Support for Southern Printers
Whether you're screen printing in Montgomery, Atlanta, or Orlando, Buckets of Ink provides expert support for every plastisol ink question. We supply base inks, white underbase inks, and additives alongside real-world advice for mesh, curing, and setup tailored to your shop’s needs.
Start Printing with Plastisol Base Inks
Plastisol base inks and white underbases are essential tools for screen printers throughout Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Whether you're customizing soft fashion tees or bold brand logos, the right base ink and stencil strategy make the difference between an average print and one that commands attention. Shop online or connect with our team at Buckets of Ink for the best plastisol base inks and white base inks available.
