Ink Opacity – What It Means and How to Control It in Screen Printing

Understanding ink opacity is essential for producing bold, high-quality prints, especially when working with dark garments. In screen printing, opacity refers to how well an ink covers the fabric beneath it. High-opacity ink masks the fabric color entirely, while low-opacity ink allows the underlying color to show through.

How to Adjust Opacity in Custom Ink Printing

Whether you're creating custom shirts or artwork, learning how to adjust opacity in custom ink gives you full control over the final look. Here’s how:

1. Choose the Right Ink Formula

Use high-opacity plastisol inks like Wilflex Epic Amazing White or WM Plastics Ultimate White for full coverage on dark garments. For semi-transparent effects, opt for low-opacity or specialty inks.

2. Modify with Additives

You can reduce opacity by adding a curable reducer or soft-hand additive. Be careful not to dilute the ink too much, as it may affect adhesion and wash durability.

3. Use Underbases Strategically

For lighter colors on dark shirts, print a white underbase layer to boost color vibrancy. This technique is common in high-volume commercial printing.

4. Adjust Mesh Count and Stroke Pressure

Lower mesh counts (e.g., 86–110) allow more ink to deposit, increasing opacity. Higher mesh counts (e.g., 156+) reduce ink volume for finer details but lower coverage.

Get Expert Help with Ink Opacity

At Buckets of Ink, we offer high-opacity inks from Wilflex, Avient, and WM Plastics, with technical support to help you dial in your prints. Whether you're new to screen printing or running auto presses nationwide, we’ll help you get the results you want—sharp, vibrant, and built to last.

Learn More About High Opacity Inks