Printing Techniques
Oceanaire Sportswear offers the latest in printing and production techniques so your product is always ahead of the curve. Read below for more information on a selection of our processes and techniques.
Plastisol
Plastisols are the most commonly used inks for printing designs on to garments, and are particularly useful for printing opaque graphics on dark fabrics.
Water-Based
Water-based ink is a water soluble ink that gives a super soft hand because it is absorbed into the fabric instead of being fastened to the outside of the fabric like plastisol.
Foil
Foil is a metallic acrylic that is extruded on to a plastic carrier sheet and transferred over a adhesive that leave a metallic looking effect to the graphic.
High Density
A special effect also known as lenticular printing. A method by which normally flat static images convey depth. This is done by using an extremely thick stencil and with inks made specially for this purpose.
Flocking
A type of raised decoration applied to the surface of a fabric in which an adhesive is screen printed on the fabric in a specific pattern, and then finely chopped fibers are applied by means of dusting, air-brushing, or electrostatic charges. The fibers adhere only to the areas where the adhesive has been applied, creating a "fuzzy" like feel to the graphic.
Heat Transfer
Using a special plastisol inks that are screen printed onto transfer paper and then applied to a garment by heat. This process allows the printing of images with complex and intricate details. The heat transfer can have a glossy, matte or brushed look, with a soft hand.
Puff Ink
Puff ink is similar to High Density inks, but have a much softer “puffy” feel. You use a puff additive to standard Plastisol inks to create this effect, which is then activated during the curing/heating process.
Crackle Ink
Crackle ink is an additive in standard plastisol inks that will create a crackled/worn look. The additive is activated during the curing/heating process.
Index Printing
Index printing is a process where a design with lots of colors is reduced down to a limited color palette using Adobe Photoshop’s Index Color Mode. This type of printing works great and prints equally as well on both light and dark shirts.
Simulated Process
Simulated Process is a method of printing photo-realistic images without using the standard CMYK separations. This type of printing is used on darker colored garments to look similar to the four color process.
Embroidery
The process of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as, beads, quills or sequins.
