Usage Method Of Water-Based Ink – Specifications and Industry Applications

June 18, 2026 at 22:00 PM EDT

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Preparations:

Materials and Tools

Water-based ink: Select the appropriate type based on the substrate (textiles, paper, plastics, etc.)

Screen: Choose the mesh count (usually 80-200, use a higher mesh count for detailed patterns)

Scraping plate: Hardness 70-85 degrees, made of rubber or polyurethane.

Substrate: T-shirts, paper, plastics, metals, etc.

Auxiliary tools: Mixing knife, washing water for the screen, drying equipment

Printing operation process:

Step 1: Plate installation and positioning

Fix the screen on the printing table and adjust the positioning of the substrate

Screen gap (the gap between the screen and the substrate): 2-5mm

Step 2: Ink application and printing

Ink pouring: Pour an appropriate amount of ink (about 10-15 cm wide) at one end of the screen

Ink return: Use the scraping plate to gently push the ink to the starting point of printing, keeping the mesh moist

Printing:

Scraping plate angle: 60-75°

Pressure: Moderate (visible ink passing through the mesh is acceptable)

Speed: Uniform and constant, usually 15-30 cm/s

Travel: Scrape once to avoid multiple scraping causing edge bleeding

Drying and curing:

Textiles: Heat air drying, 120-150°C, 1-3 minutes

Paper: Natural drying/drying, room temperature 30 minutes or 80°C drying

Plastics / metals: Drying, 60-80°C, 10-20 minutes

Cleaning and maintenance:

Screen plate cleaning

Immediately rinse after printing (water-based ink is easy to wash off when not dry)

Use special washing water for stubborn residues

Avoid using organic solvents (they will damage the water-based system)

Equipment maintenance:

Scraping plate: Wipe with a soft cloth to avoid solvent corrosion

Screen plate: Cleaned and dried after washing, stored in a dark place

Special application techniques:

Thick plate printing: Use a low mesh count screen plate (60-80 mesh), add thickening agent, multiple overlapping prints

Four-color dots: High mesh count screen plate (200-305 mesh), low viscosity ink, precise alignment

Foaming effect: Add foaming agent, heat expand after printing

water based ink1-2

water based ink1-1

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