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Our clothing print style options
At VisibleART LLP, we deliver high-quality, eco-conscious print styles to clients across Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Gwent, and even as far as London. Whether it's anything from plastisol to CYMK process printing, our expert team is here to help you choose the right technique for your project. From streetwear brands to corporate clothing, every style we offer reflects our commitment to sustainability, craftsmanship, and customisation. Explore our full range below to find the perfect fit for your needs.
Plastisol print options
Water-based options
Colour matching available
Plastisol
A staple for most textile printers, this ink bonds to the outer fibres of the fabric, creating a very durable print. However, it can feel heavy on dark garments. Historically, this ink has had a reputation for being unfriendly to the environment, but significant efforts have been made to improve its image.
One of the main challenges is that solvents are required to clean the screens after use. At VisibleART, we use a self-contained cleaning system that prevents any chemicals from entering the water system. This system is highly efficient, requiring the chemicals to be changed only once every six months.
Water-based
As the name suggests, this is a friendlier ink. It tends to penetrate the garments more so than plastisol and leaves a softer feel when printed. Traditionally, it doesn't fare well on mixed fibre garments but the inks we use work just fine on 100% polyester garments. We are also proud to offer a Soil Association Approved range of inks.
Dis-charge
This ink is activated during the curing process in the dryer. It removes the colour of the shirt and replaces it with the printed ink. Although it’s water-based, it’s not the most user-friendly ink to work with. However, it leaves an incredibly soft finish. It doesn’t work well on every shirt colour—blues, purples, and greens are particularly problematic—and it tends to show signs of aging after just a few washes. That said, with the right design, this ink can produce amazing results. It's also a bit more expensive, as any unused ink must be discarded due to its short shelf life.
Synthetic inks
We use these inks to print on nylon and polyester garments, making them ideal for water-repellent and technical clothing. These high-opacity inks provide a soft finish on windcheaters, jackets, and gym sacks.
CMYK process printing
We do all our full colour process separations in house. This process allows us to print full colour images onto white/natural t-shirts while only using four screens. Spot colour may be added to match brand specific colours.
Dis-charge and plastisol combination
So by using a clear discharge to create a soft base layer, we're able to print plastisol ink on top. This gives a softer finish to the ink but keeps the vibrancy your design's colours.
Simulated process printing
Slightly different to CMYK separations, this style uses spot colours (pantone specific colours) to create the image. This works particularly well on images with a very strong specific colour palette. Works really well on black shirts and can also be used with discharge links to create an even softer finish.
Grayscale photographic
Over the years, we have perfected the pricing of grayscale images. While these types of images are often recommended to be rendered in a single colour, this isn't always the best approach. To add depth and bring out the best in the image, we prefer using a mix of greys and translucent inks.
Split fountain / blends
Some printers create blends by placing two different ink colours into the screen and allowing them to mix during printing. This method can result in inconsistencies in the blend throughout the print run.
At VisibleART, we use halftoning for our blends, which gives us complete control over the final result. This ensures that every print— from the first to the last— is perfectly consistent.
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