Besides the ink delivered with the xTool Screen Printer kit, the screens support multiple other types of ink, which can be purchased at xtool.com.

Types of ink available at xtool.com

You can purchase water-based ink, acrylic ink, plastisol ink, oil-based ink, and featured ink such as thermochromic ink, photochromic ink, and puff plastisol ink at xtool.com. These types of ink all feature vibrant colors, easy-to-work-with quality, and non-flammable characteristics. The following describes their unique features.

Water-based ink

Water-based ink is easy to clean because it barely requires a solvent. Though water-based ink has vibrant colors, it is more effective on light-colored fabric rather than dark-colored ones.

Acrylic ink

Acrylic ink is a type of water-based ink that provides good covering capabilities.

Plastisol ink

Compared with water-based ink, plastisol ink yields better results in dark-colored fabric. Plastisol ink cures at high temperatures and thus does not easily clog screens.

Oil-based ink

Oil-based ink cures at high temperatures like plastisol ink. It can be cured for 24 hours by air drying or for 10 minutes by using a heat press set to 80°C to 100°C.

Thermochromic ink

Thermochromic ink is temperature-sensitive. When the temperature rises above 33°C, the color of the thermochromic ink changes; it returns below 26°C.

Photochromic ink

When photochromic ink is exposed to UV light, such as sunshine, its color changes; it returns to its original color when the ink is kept in the shade. However, prolonged exposure to UV light prevents the ink from changing color.

Puff plastisol ink

Heat is necessary for puff plastisol ink to cure. The ink can be printed at least 50 times if the temperature is not high enough for it to cure. A puff vinyl-like cubic effect can be achieved by using puff plastisol ink with xTool Heat Press machines.

Note: Water-based ink, acrylic ink, thermochromic ink, and photochromic ink can only be applied to 100-mesh screens rather than 200-mesh screens. Otherwise, screen clogging may occur.

UV ink

Materials supported by ink

Note: The performance of UV ink is correlated with light intensity/energy and curing time. It is recommended to use high-efficiency UV curing lamps for optimal results.

Removing ink from screens

Removing ink with water

To remove water-based ink, acrylic ink, thermochromic ink, and photochromic ink, rinse the screen. You can use a soft brush to remove the ink gently. If the ink is dry and hard to remove, soak the screen in water or use xTool Ink Thinner to clean it.

Removing ink with solvent

To remove plastisol ink, oil-based ink, puff plastisol ink, and UV ink, use a solvent such as xTool Ink Thinner to dissolve the ink. When using with xTool Ink Thinner, spray the cleaner evenly on the target area of the screen, wipe gently by hand with lint-free cloth or rubber gloves, and wait a bit to let the thinner to fully react with the ink.

If you use other solvent other than xTool Ink Thinner for cleaning, test the solvent in a small area of the screen to see whether it damages the screen before using it to clean the screen. 

After cleaning, rinse the screen with a water gun or wipe it with a towel to remove the remaining solvent, and then air-dry the screen or dry it with compressed air.

Note:
■ The clearning ability of xTool Ink Thinner decreases rapidly on contact with water.
■ Before you use any detergent or solvent, be sure to read its user manual carefully and follow all the safety instructions. Ensure that you use it in a well-ventilated place.
■ Do not use a hard or sharp tool to scrape the ink from the screen, or damage may be caused to the screen.