Our Print Styles
SuperSoft vs. Bold vs. Vintage
SuperSoft
A water-based ink that literally dyes the fabric of your t-shirt. Depending on the shirt fabric, SuperSoft could result in a more vintage looking print, but always one that's extraordinarily soft.
Bold
Our Bold ink is a high-opacity water-based ink that creates a slightly thicker print than SuperSoft. While it has a bit of a feel to it, the results are an exceptionally vibrant print across all fabric colors and blends.
Why Water-Based?
Industry-standard plastisol inks are made with polyvinyl chloride (aka PVC)—which was dubbed the “Poison plastic” by Greenpeace. It goes without saying that plastisol is terrible for the planet. It’s also itchy, uncomfortable, and prone to cracking & peeling after just a few washes—but that’s another story.
Our water-based ink is completely free of PVC resin and is water-soluble—making it easier to clean, safer to print with, and better for the environment. As an added benefit, water-based ink also soaks directly into your garment (rather than sitting on top of it), which means that it gets more comfortable with every wash.
Comparing Each Print Style
Soft and Unnoticeable
Since the ink actually re-dyes the fabric rather than sitting on top of it, you won’t feel the print on the shirt at all after a single wash.
Partial to Full Vibrance
The vibrance is slightly reduced by the ink settling into the shirt's fibers, picking up fabric textures.
Pantone Approximations
Colors will be close to the selected Pantone color but not exact due to the natural blending of ink and fabric.
No Underbase
The lack of the "underbase" in the printing process means designs retain greater detail and definition.
Super Soft
SuperSoft is the right choice for you when you want a lightweight print that is incredibly soft and pliable. The print will last long and won’t flake or crack over time. The clarity of details in the print will be phenomenal, though colors won’t be quite as intense as Bold printing.
Surf Club Tee
AS Colour 5001 – Natural
Bozal Tee
District 6000P – Black
Super Supporter
Next Level Apparel 6210 – White
Information | SuperSoft | Bold | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
100% Cotton | Good | Good | ||||
50/50 Blend | Great | Good | ||||
Tri-blend | Good | Good | ||||
100% Polyester | Good | Good | ||||
Feel | Minimal feel | Slight feel after wash | ||||
Color Vibrance | Generally Bold – Fabric Color Dependent | Always Bright & Bold | ||||
Detailed Designed/Line Art | Good | Good |
Printing FAQs
Printing
Specialty Print Styles
We've got some out-of-the-box options for you if you're looking to expand your print horizons.
Tonal Printing
Tonal printing is a subtle print style that is ideal for creating a more vintage look and feel to your shirts.
Sim-Process Printing
Use sim-process printing for designs with a lot of color blending, like gradients or photorealistic prints.
Glow-in-the-Dark Printing
Whether you’re organizing a nighttime event, want to stand out at a party, or want to add a unique twist to your brand’s merch, our glow-in-the-dark printing service is the perfect solution.
Over-the-Seam Printing
Over-the-seam screen printing allows designs to be printed across the seam or zipper on garments without distorting the design or disrupting the zipper's functionality.
Foil Printing
Foil screen printing is a specialized technique that applies metallic or iridescent foil to custom apparel, such as t-shirts, hoodies, jackets, and more.
Metallic Printing
Metallic ink screen printing is used in the custom apparel industry to create shiny, metallic effects on garments of all kinds.
Puff Printing
Puff print is a specialized screen printing technique that creates a raised, three-dimensional effect on printed designs. Unlike traditional flat prints, puff print adds texture and depth.