Greetings from Luxe Riot, In this fall issue of our periodical, we are featuring discharge printing and water-based printing. Both of these methods are great ways to translate your ideas on to a shirt in a different way. We will go over some of the properties that separate them from traditional inks and what applications work the best with them. Also featured in this issue are printable umbrellas, exceptionally soft tees, towels, eco-friendly tees, aprons, and warm alternatives are featured at the end of the issue. Some of the softer blended shirts are a great surface for water based inks. Whether this fall sees you going back to school, or just enjoying the cooler weather, Luxe Riot wishes you the best! Let’s hope the sun stays around until past Halloween.
Eric Green
Water-Based Printing Water-based inks have been around since the beginning of screen printing, and are more commonly used for printing on paper, rather than shirts and other fabric. Plastisol is the ink most commonly used for printing on t-shirts and apparel; it is a plastic-based ink that lays on top of the fabric, allowing for strong, vibrant colors. It’s very easy for us to use, easy for matching specific pantone colors and will not dry until it’s cured at a certain temperature. The only real disadvantage is when you have large deposits of ink on a shirt it can get thick. Water-based ink’s best property is the soft hand that it imprints on the garment. It creates a breathable,soft print that lasts
for the life of the shirt. Waterbased inks, instead of sitting on top on the fabric,soak down into the fabric. The look is a bit more toned down than the plastisol. Great for vintage prints, not so great for bright neon colors. With the correct inks, water-based inks are also much better for the environment than plastisol, and are an eco-friendly choice for printing. Ideally, water-based inks are used for printing dark colors on to lighter colored t-shirts. You can print water based colors on darker colored garments but you won’t get the same bright ink you will with traditional plastisol. We can color match water based inks but mixing exact Pantone colors can be difficult.
Water-Based Printing The frame for this tee was printed with water-based inks, and the mirror was done by foil application.
Water based works great for oversized prints. It will be softer but can blow out a little more going over seams.
This print shows light colors on dark with opaque water based inks. It can be done but will look just a little toned down.
This is a multi color print that shows you can hold onto the detail with waterbased inks.
Discharge Printing
At Luxe Riot we use water based
Remember discharge printing is only
discharge products. Discharge is used to print
intended for dark garments. There are also
lighter colors onto dark fabrics. To do this,
a number of limitations. First, your fabric
they use a color-destroying agent that removes
must be 100 percent cotton. So 50/50
the dye of the shirt allowing us to print more
shirts, or Tri-Blend shirts won’t work. This
on the original base color of the garment. It’s
means no Heather Grey Shirts either. Some
similar to bleaching. There are also pigments
sweatshirts work but many of the are blends
that can be added to discharge inks, so you
of 80 cotton/ 20 poly. I’ve had some work
can discharge using different colors. Color
great and some not as good. The second
matching your inks with discharge can be a
big limitation is the process doesn’t work on
little tougher, we can get very close but exact
every color garment, depending on the dye
pantone matching is difficult.
of the original manufacturer. It varies brand
to brand but problems are most likely in
Because rather than actually putting
pigment on the garment, discharge takes it
Reds, Royal Blue, Purple and Kelly Greens.
out, so it doesn’t leave build up like other
We usually check with our apparel vendors
inks can. Once you wash the garment you
before trying to print discharge on any of
won’t feel anything but shirt where the prints
these colors but the results might not be what
are. Discharge printing works very well for
you expected.
distressed prints. You can work with coloring
and other effects to really create a print that
some insight on the applications and the
looks as if it were just bought off the rack of
difference between water based, discharge
Goodwill. You can create a new print that
and traditional plastisol printing. Please let us
looks like it’s from the 70’s or 80’s. You can
know if you have any additional questions or
even buy blanks now with holes and scuff
would like further information. We would be
marks already on them to go with it.
happy to go over the print options with you.
I hope we were able to give you
on your next order.
DISCHARGE PRINTING Discharge will work in many ways, such as oversize and over seams.
Discharge can be combined with plastisol as well - leaving a soft base with bright multicolors on top.
Here is an oversized 2-color discharge. This print in traditional plastisol would be a little uncomfortable to wear.
Here we used 3 blue discharge colors on a blue shirt.
N
o one can deny the classicism of the screen printed tee, but sometimes it’s nice to mix up your life and try something new. Check out these unconventional print ideas to make sure you stay fresh this fall.
Rain or shine, these unique accessories are sure to get you noticed!
Ask about printable umbrellas for your next print job.
Original Options from
District Young Mens CottonRinger Tank
Juniors Slub V-Neck Hoodie.
Juniors Marled Full-Zip Hoodie
Young Mens Concert Tee
Soft Options
F
eatured on the right are garments from American Apparel that are constructed from Tri-Blend fabric, which contains 50% Polyester, 25% Cotton, and 25% Rayon. The polyester retains shape and elasticity, the cotton lends both comfort and durability, and the addition of rayon makes for a unique texture and drapes against the body for a slimming look.
Tri-Blend Racerback Tank
Tri-Blend Tank
Tri-Blend Longsleeve V-Neck
Tri-Blend Turtleneck
Tri-Blend Deep V-Neck
Tri-Blend Hoodie
Tri-Blend Track Shirt
Tri-Blend Short Sleeve V-Neck
Tri-Blend Raglan Pullover
Towels from Luxe Riot!
Towels are perfect candidates for water based prints, because the fluid water based ink soaks down into the texture of the towel.
This is different.
Now you can spice up your restaurant with printable aprons from Luxe Riot.
Green Options Because the world won’t save itself.
Recycled Tee Seventy percent pre-consumer recycled cotton and thirty percent post-consumer P.E.T. recycled polyester
Organic Tee
Organic Tote
One hundred percent certified organic preshrunk cotton
One hundred percent certified organic cotton canvas
Organic Longsleeve Tee One hundred percent certified organic preshrunk cotton
Warm Options
Fine Jersey Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Dov’s Hoodie
California Fleece Pullover Hoodie
Fleece Scarf
Baby Thermal Long Sleeve Henley
Flex Fleece Dog Zip Hoodie
Enjoy the fall weather!