Best-Plastisol-Inks

Best Plastisol Inks for Small Shops — Affordable, Reliable, Repeatable

Running a small screen-printing shop means every job has to hit that sweet spot: good colour, clean cure, and minimal do‑overs—all without burning through your margins. The inks you choose are a huge part of that equation. The best plastisol ink for a small shop is not just the one with the brightest colour; it is the one that prints consistently, cures predictably, and works across a wide range of garments and artwork.

Victory Screen Factory has been serving printers since 1980, evolving from one of the first mail‑order pre‑stretched frame companies into a full‑line supplier of inks, films, screens, and shop essentials. Their plastisol inks and inkjet films are designed specifically for small and mid‑size shops that need pro‑level results without enterprise‑scale budgets.

This guide breaks down which plastisol inks make sense for most small shops, how to build a simple but powerful ink system, and where inkjet film fits into a repeatable production workflow.

What Small Shops Really Need from Plastisol Ink

When you are printing out of a garage, small warehouse, or shared space, you don’t need every special effect under the sun. You need a core ink system that:

  • Covers dark garments without multiple extra passes.
  • Flashes and cures consistently at reasonable temperatures.
  • Works on everyday blanks (100% cotton and cotton/poly).
  • Washes well so you stay off the reprint treadmill.
  • Is priced so you can keep stock on the shelf, not just buy “per job.”

Victory Screen Factory’s Plastisol Inks collection is built around those realities: high‑opacity whites and colours, specialty whites for poly and blends, clear base, extenders, reducers, puff additives, and more. You can see the full range here: Plastisol Inks – Victory Screen Factory.

Core Plastisol Inks Every Small Shop Should Own

You don’t need 40 colours to run a professional shop. With the right core inks, you can cover 80–90% of day‑to‑day orders.

1. High Opaque White Plastisol

A good high‑opacity white plastisol is the backbone of almost every shop. Victory’s High Opaque White is formulated to:

  • Cover dark garments in fewer strokes.
  • Flash quickly and cure at standard plastisol temps.
  • Deliver a bright, clean underbase for colours.

This is the white you keep on press for underbases and white prints on black, navy, and heather garments.

2. Everyday Black Plastisol

Victory’s Black Plastisol is designed as a go‑to, not a specialty ink:

  • Smooth, creamy printability for manual and auto presses.
  • Good opacity on light and mid‑tone garments.
  • Solid top print over a white underbase on darks.

Between High Opaque White and Black Plastisol, you can handle a surprising volume of work—especially text‑heavy and logo jobs.

3. Core Spot Colours

Victory’s standard plastisol line includes high‑opacity colours like Flag Red, Royal Blue, Golden Yellow, Lemon Yellow, Burnt Orange, Navy Blue, Emerald Green, Light Blue, Scarlet Red, Purple, Sienna Brown, Dark Green, and Russell Grey. These are formulated for:

  • Strong coverage on lights and, over a white underbase, on darks.
  • Similar hand feel and cure windows so you are not juggling settings per colour.

Most small shops can comfortably stock 5–8 core colours and mix tints as needed, adding specialty colours only when demand justifies it.

4. Athletic / Poly White and Stretch Additives

If you print on sport polyester, blends, or performance fabrics, basic cotton whites often bleed or crack. Victory offers:

  • Athletic Poly White Plastisol Ink – an extra bleed‑resistant white for poly and blends.
  • Plastisol Stretch Clear – a clear base/additive to increase stretch and flexibility.

These let you expand into teamwear, athleisure, and more technical garments without jumping into a completely different ink system.

When to Consider Bio Plastisol Inks

Victory also offers a Bio Plastisol Ink range—more eco‑conscious inks with bright colour, low cure, and high opacity designed to save energy and reduce impact. This line includes:

  • Creamy Opaque White and Dense Black Bio inks.
  • Process CMYK Bio inks for simulated process.
  • Metallic and puff options for special effects.

For small shops:

  • If you want lower cure temps (good for heat‑sensitive garments and saving energy), Bio inks are worth a look.
  • If your customers ask for “greener” printing options, Bio inks give you a tangible talking point.

You can run Bio inks alongside standard plastisols as you transition or for specific clients.

Inkjet Film: The Other Half of “Repeatable”

Good prints start before ink ever touches mesh. If your film positives are weak, fuzzy, or inconsistent, even the best plastisol ink will struggle.

Victory Screen Factory’s Inkjet Film products are designed specifically for screen printers:

  • Victory Factory Inkjet Film Sheets: Fast‑drying, water‑resistant film sheets with excellent light transmission and the ability to produce deep, dense blacks for clean exposure.
  • Victory Factory Inkjet Films Roll: Roll stock inkjet positive film for larger formats and higher‑volume shops; engineered for clarity, dense blacks, and razor‑sharp halftones without requiring RIP software.
  • Positive Film Output Service: For shops without the time or setup to print their own films, Victory will output your art onto waterproof inkjet film at high density and resolution.

Using quality inkjet film that holds deep black density means:

  • More consistent stencil exposures.
  • Better detail in fine lines and halftones.
  • Less trial‑and‑error on the exposure unit.

That’s a big part of making your plastisol work repeatable, not just “pretty good most of the time.”

See all film options in the Films and Supplies collection here: InkJet Film – Victory Screen Factory.

Why Small Shops Like Victory Screen Factory

Victory has over 40 years of experience in the screen-printing space and operates from a 10,000 sq ft facility in Hollis, NY, shipping frames, inks, films, and supplies nationwide. For small shops, that means:

  • One supplier for screens, plastisol ink, and inkjet film—fewer vendor headaches.
  • Products built for real printers, not just catalogue specs—high‑opacity inks, low cure options, and practical additives.
  • 24/7 online ordering at victorysfactory.com so you can restock after hours.

For a clean overview of their plastisol range, start here: Plastisol Inks – Victory Screen Factory.

FAQs: Plastisol Ink and Inkjet Film for Small Shops

1. What makes a plastisol ink “the best” for small shops?

For most small shops, the best plastisol ink is one that:

  • Covers well on common fabrics (cotton and cotton/poly).
  • Cures at standard temperatures without surprises.
  • Prints smoothly on manual and automatic presses.
  • Is affordable enough to keep a core palette in stock.

Victory’s plastisol line focuses on high‑opacity colours, consistent cure windows, and competitive pricing, making it a strong fit for growing shops.

2. Do I need both standard plastisol and Bio plastisol inks?

Not necessarily. Many shops start with standard plastisols (High Opaque White, Black, and a few colours) and add Bio Plastisol Inks when:

  • They want lower cure temps or energy savings.
  • They have clients who value environmentally friendlier options.

The two systems can co‑exist in the same shop with proper labeling and workflow.

3. Why can’t I just use regular office transparency film for screens?

Office transparencies typically do not hold the dense black ink needed to block UV light effectively, especially on larger or detailed designs. Dedicated inkjet film like Victory’s Inkjet Film Sheets and Rolls are:

  • Coated for better ink absorption and density.
  • Water‑resistant and fast‑drying.
  • Designed specifically to produce crisp, high‑contrast positives for screen exposure.

This directly improves stencil quality and print consistency.

4. Will Victory’s plastisol inks work on polyester and blends?

Yes, but you should choose the right ink for the fabric:

  • Standard plastisols work well on 100% cotton and light blends.
  • For highly pigmented poly and blends prone to dye migration, Victory’s Athletic Poly White and the use of bleed‑resistant inks or additives are recommended.

Always test on your actual garment blanks before full production.

5. What cure temperature should I use for Victory’s plastisol inks?

Most of Victory’s standard plastisol inks cure in the 290–320°F (143–160°C) range, while specific products like Athletic Gold and other specialty inks list precise flash and cure temps on their product pages. Always:

  • Verify the cure on‑press with a temperature probe or test prints.
  • Ensure the ink film (not just the dryer air) reaches full cure temperature.

6. Where can I buy Victory plastisol inks and inkjet film?

You can order directly from Victory Screen Factory at https://victorysfactory.com/. For inks, start with the Plastisol Inks collection; for films, see the InkJet Film section under Films and Supplies.

Victory Screen Factory

 

  • Address: 184‑10 Jamaica Ave, Hollis, NY 11423
  • Phone: 718‑454‑2255
  • Toll‑Free: 800‑255‑5335
  • Website: https://victorysfactory.com/

Conclusion: Build a Simple, Solid System That Scales

You don’t need every ink under the sun to run a successful small print shop. What you need is a reliable core set of plastisols, paired with trustworthy inkjet film and consistent processes. High‑opacity whites and blacks, a focused set of spot colours, proper bleed‑resistant options, and good film positives go a long way toward making every job “just work.”

Victory Screen Factory’s plastisol line and inkjet films are built around that reality—affordable, reliable, and repeatable solutions from a supplier that has been serving printers for over 40 years.

Explore inks, films, and more at the Victory Screen Factory homepage and start building or upgrading your small‑shop ink system with the Plastisol Inks collection today.

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