The water-based, environmentally friendly TEXPRINT-AQ screen printing inks are ready to use and can be printed directly from the container. Thanks to their high pigmentation and creamy consistency, the colors in this series impress with excellent opacity. Even on black and dark textiles, the colors cover exceptionally well. TEXPRINT-AQ can be printed on cotton, polyester, and all common fabric blends. The inks are non-toxic, vegan, solvent-free, non-hazardous, and produced according to European environmental regulations. When properly fixed, the prints are highly resistant to light, abrasion, and washing. All colors, including custom shades, are available in 1 kg containers and 5 kg buckets.
The ink should be well stirred with a spatula before each use. To thin the ink, up to 5 % water can be added. We advise against adding significantly more than 5 % water. Firstly, because every dilution reduces the opacity of the ink, and secondly, because adhesion to the textile may be compromised. If necessary, the ink can be thickened. To do this, 0.5 % to 3 % of the TEXPRINT-AQ thickener (Art.-No.: TPAQ-ZVD) can be added. This additive is only useful for special applications, as the TEXPRINT-AQ inks are already relatively creamy and firm in consistency.
All colors can be freely mixed with one another. To create translucent, transparent shades, the color can be extended with TEXPRINT-AQ Colorless Binder (Art.-No. TPAQ-201). For tinting and mixing pastel shades, TEXPRINT-AQ Mixing White (Art.-No. TPAQ-10) is typically used.
The choice of the right screen printing fabric is crucial for successful printing. For opaque prints on dark/black textiles or coarse fabric qualities, we recommend using screen printing frames with 43T, 47T, or a maximum of 55T mesh fabric. This ensures a high ink deposit and good coverage. It also helps prevent the ink from drying too quickly in the mesh openings. For light textiles, 55T or 61T mesh fabric can be easily used. In this case, the ink may be diluted with 5% water. For prints with coarse-pigmented glitter gold or glitter silver, 32T, 39T, or 43T screens should be used. The thinner Brilliant Gold, Brilliant Silver, and Pearl inks can be printed well with 47T or 55T mesh fabric.
As for the squeegee, a soft or medium hardness of 65 or 70 Shore is preferred. For creating the screen stencil, we recommend a waterproof photo emulsion such as our popular FLX SCREEN, FT COAT PRO, or the high-resolution, two-component SERICOP SUPREME.
First, apply plenty of ink onto the frame and distribute it above the design. The ink should not be applied too sparingly, as this will unnecessarily complicate the work. Next, flood the design completely. This means gently pushing the ink across the design with the squeegee without applying much pressure. This fills the design entirely with ink. To prevent the ink from accidentally transferring onto the textile during flooding, the frame should be slightly lifted during this process. Then, the pre-flooded ink is squeegeed through the screen onto the textile. The squeegee is typically held at a 45-degree angle during this step. Immediately after printing, flood the design again to keep the screen moist and prevent the ink from drying in the design. We recommend flooding only once, as too much ink in the screen can lead to uneven results.
The squeegee and flooding technique, as well as the pressure applied, are crucial for a clean print result. The squeegee angle should not be too shallow during both squeegeeing and flooding. Additionally, there is only one squeegee direction: either from top to bottom or from bottom to top. Squeegeeing in both directions or at too shallow an angle can cause ink to seep under the screen, resulting in blurry, smudged prints.
Note for screen printing beginners: The technique of flooding and squeegeeing requires some practice and experience. A common beginner mistake is flooding too frequently and too shallowly, which causes ink to seep under the screen. The result is usually blurred outlines and prints that look "muddy." Achieving the optimal pressure and proper control of the squeegee also takes some practice at the beginning.
When printing with water-based inks, unlike with plastisol inks, printing is typically done without an off-contact gap. This means the screen rests directly on the fabric during printing. However, when printing high-viscosity white ink, a 3 mm off-contact distance can be very useful.
A rich, optimal coverage on dark textiles is achieved using the "Print-Dry-Print" method. This involves printing two layers of ink on top of each other. The first layer of ink sinks deep into the fabric and forms the base. The second layer, printed over the first, provides the desired opacity. To dry between layers, a heat gun or flash dryer can be used. We provide an excellent step-by-step guide on printing white ink on dark textiles in the YouTube video linked here: Ultimate tips for perfect screen printing with water-based white
Unlike widely used plastisol inks, water-based screen printing inks tend to dry out in the screen after a while, as the water evaporates from the ink mass during printing. This causes the ink to thicken unintentionally, which can clog individual mesh openings. This is especially true when using too fine of a screen mesh or when the ink stays in the screen for an extended period without printing. High room temperatures and low humidity (think: overheated rooms in winter or warm summer months) can also accelerate drying.
Drying out of the ink can be prevented through various simple measures. The correct choice of screen mesh is crucial here. Especially creamy opaque inks should ideally be printed with 43T, 47T, or at most 55T mesh. Directly before printing, it’s recommended to spray the emulsion layer with a pump spray bottle to moisten it. The emulsion layer, already saturated with water, will then absorb less moisture from the ink during printing.
With water-based inks, active printing is also required. This means printing should be continuous, without long pauses. Additionally, during printing breaks, the design should always be flooded with ink to keep finer details wet. By adding TEXPRINT-AQ RETARDER GEL (Art.-No. TPAQ-ZVG), the mesh openness can be extended up to 1.5 hours, significantly delaying ink drying. This is highly recommended for uninterrupted workflows during large runs.
If the screen becomes clogged or partially blocked despite the above measures after many prints, the screen can be flooded and then scraped free with strong pressure. If this still doesn’t clear the screen, apply some warm water to the blocked areas and clean with a cloth.
After printing, the ink should first be air-dried or dried with heat until it feels dry to the touch. Once most or all of the water has evaporated from the ink layer, actual heat fixation takes place. During this process, the ink bonds permanently and wash-fast with the fabric. Ideally, the printed textiles should be exposed to a temperature of 150 to 160°C (302-320°F). The duration of the fixation depends on the method used. It’s important to note that thicker ink layers need to be fixed slightly longer than thinner ones.
When using a transfer press for fixation, we recommend pre-pressing for 10 seconds at 150 - 160°C to allow any residual moisture to evaporate briefly as steam. Then, press again for 30-45 seconds.
For fixation in a drying tunnel, the optimal fixation time is 2-3 minutes. In a DIY setting, fixation can also be done with a heat gun, an iron (iron inside out), or a heat press. Each method should ensure full-area fixation for 2-3 minutes. Wash tests should be performed before producing larger batches. If the ink washes out entirely or in spots, inadequate or too short a fixation time is usually the cause.
Heat fixation can optionally be skipped entirely by adding 5-10% TEXPRINT-AQ COLD FIXER (Art.-No. TPAQ-ZKF) to the ink before printing. The ink will then fix at room temperature within 72 hours and remain washable up to 60°C (140°F) as usual. In terms of wash fastness, cold fixation is no less effective than heat fixation. This can save a lot of production time. It should be noted that the cold fixer remains active in the ink for only about 8 hours. After that, it loses effectiveness. Therefore, only mix as much ink with the cold fixer as will be printed within that time. More information on cold fixation can be found in our video: Instructions for cold setting water-based screen printing ink
The screen frame should be cleaned immediately after completing the print job. Fresh ink residues are easy to remove, so it’s important to avoid letting the ink dry on the screen unnecessarily. To clean the screen mesh as thoroughly and gently as possible and prevent "ghost images," we recommend using water along with our environmentally friendly and biodegradable “WASHOUT-AQ” cleaner (Art.-No. WAQ001). If the screen will not be archived but de-coated, all ink residues should be thoroughly removed from the emulsion layer beforehand.
The inks can be stored for up to two years in sealed containers at room temperature. To prevent the ink from drying out in the pot, the containers should be sealed tightly after the required amount of ink has been removed. Keep ink protected from frost. Avoid prolonged direct sunlight. If the ink thickens after a long storage period, it can be thinned again with a little water.
TEXPRINT-AQ inks are delivered ready for use. However, depending on the application, the use of additives can be very beneficial. Here’s an overview of the additives:
It is recommended to wash printed textiles inside out. Suggested washing temperature: 30 to 60°C (86-140°F).
Textile fabrics can have different fine or coarse weaves and may be finished with lubricants, anti-static agents, or other additives, which can reduce ink adhesion and affect wash fastness. Similarly, finishes may cause yellowing under heat. Pre-testing is therefore essential. The print result mainly depends on the quality of the textile and the printing conditions. Seemingly identical materials can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, and even between batches.
If problems arise with printing, drying, fixation, cleaning, or wash fastness, and the cause cannot be identified from the above explanations, we are happy to assist in troubleshooting. For precise solutions, it’s helpful if you can send us some clear photos of the issue. These can be sent via email to info@siebdruck-versand.de. We also offer support over the phone at 0391 / 243 587 53.
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