Screenprint

Professional Screen Printing Supplies for Working Print Shops

Consistent screen printing begins with dependable supplies at every stage of production. Kolormatrix carries professional screen-printing ink, emulsion, aluminum frames, film positives, squeegees, adhesives, tape, reclaim chemicals and everyday pressroom essentials for manual and automatic print shops.

Whether you are opening your first shop, improving an established process or keeping a busy production floor supplied, our goal is to help you choose products that work together—not simply fill a cart with unrelated items.

Shop Screen Printing Supplies by Production Stage

Artwork, Film Positives and Screen Preparation

A successful print begins before the screen reaches the press. Artwork quality, film density, mesh selection, coating technique, exposure and washout all affect registration, detail and durability.

Kolormatrix offers pre-press supplies including:

• Waterproof inkjet film in sheets and rolls
• Laser film and compatible imaging products
• Aluminum screen-printing frames
• Screen-printing mesh and remeshing options
• Photo emulsions for different ink and exposure requirements
• Scoop coaters
• Blockout and screen-repair products
• Exposure and quality-control tools

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Plastisol Screen Printing Ink

Plastisol remains one of the most widely used ink systems in garment screen printing because it offers strong opacity, production-friendly print characteristics and dependable durability when completely cured.

Our plastisol selection includes:

• High-opacity whites and colors
• Low-bleed and low-cure ink
• Polyester and performance-fabric options
• Simulated-process ink
• Four-color process ink
• Fluorescent, metallic and specialty effects
• Bases, reducers and additives
• Ready-to-use and mixing-system colors

Choose ink based on the garment, required opacity, artwork, mesh count, flash sequence and curing limitations—not color alone. Polyester, sublimated fabrics and performance garments may require low-cure, low-bleed or barrier products to reduce dye migration.

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Water-Based and Discharge Ink

Water-based ink can produce soft-hand prints, detailed artwork and a different appearance from traditional plastisol. Available products include ready-for-use colors, whites, discharge-capable systems, bases, additives, color-mixing components and specialty formulations.

Water-based printing requires control over screen preparation, ink management, humidity, press technique and curing. The correct emulsion and screen preparation are especially important because not every stencil is designed for prolonged water-based production.

Always review the ink manufacturer’s instructions before adding discharge activator, modifiers or other additives. Test the complete process on the actual garment before production.

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Color-Matching Ink Systems

A professional color-mixing system allows a shop to create repeatable custom colors from a controlled group of components. It can reduce the need to stock every possible color while helping printers document and reproduce customer-approved matches.

Accurate color matching still depends on weighing, mixing, ink-film thickness, underbase, mesh, garment color, curing and viewing conditions. Record the formula and production variables used for every approved color.

If your shop does not have the time, equipment or trained personnel to mix custom colors, Kolormatrix also offers professional color-matching services for several ink systems.

On-Press Supplies

Small pressroom supplies can have a major effect on production speed and consistency. The collection includes products for preparing platens, controlling garments, maintaining screens and keeping jobs moving.

On-press essentials include:

• Aerosol and water-based pallet adhesive
• Flash adhesive for heated platens
• Pallet mask and application tape
• Screen tape and split tape
• Squeegees and replacement blades
• Pellons and test-print materials
• Screen opener and on-press wash
• Screen wipes and cleanup products
• Spot-cleaning supplies
• Smoothing-screen components
• Ink scoops and cleanup cards

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Screen Cleaning and Reclaim Chemicals

A controlled reclaim process helps protect mesh, improve stencil consistency and reduce avoidable labor. Kolormatrix carries screen-printing chemicals for routine cleaning, ink removal, emulsion removal and stain treatment.

Available chemical categories include:

• Screen degreasers
• Ink degraders and ink removers
• Emulsion and stencil removers
• Haze and stain removers
• On-press screen washes
• Combination reclaim products

Never assume that stronger chemistry automatically produces a better result. Choose products that fit your ink system, reclaim method and wastewater process. Review the product label and Safety Data Sheet, use the recommended personal protective equipment and provide appropriate ventilation.

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Startup and Supply Packages

A supply package can simplify the first order for a new shop by combining commonly needed products. Packages may also help established printers equip an additional production area or standardize supplies for employee training.

Review each package carefully to confirm the included ink type, screen size, chemical products and accessories. Your equipment, garment market and planned print method should determine which package is appropriate.

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Choose Supplies as a Complete Printing System

Screen-printing products do not work independently. A change in one part of the process can affect several others:

• Artwork detail influences film output and mesh selection.
• Mesh count affects ink deposit and print resolution.
• Ink type affects emulsion selection and curing requirements.
• Garment fabric affects bleed resistance, opacity and cure temperature.
• Flash temperature affects wet-on-wet printing and intercoat adhesion.
• Squeegee profile, pressure and speed affect ink deposit.
• Dryer temperature and belt speed affect finished durability.
• Reclaim chemistry affects labor, mesh life and stencil removal.

When changing ink, emulsion, mesh, additives or curing conditions, test the complete process before beginning a production order.

Supplies for Manual and Automatic Printing

Many supplies can be used in either manual or automatic shops, but the best product may change with production speed and press style.

A manual printer may prioritize easy printability, longer open time and flexibility between short jobs. An automatic shop may place greater emphasis on wet-on-wet performance, ink stability, faster flashing, reduced buildup and consistency across long production runs.

Tell us what type of press you operate, what garments you print and where the current problem occurs. That information is far more useful than simply asking for the “best” ink, emulsion or chemical.

Test Before Production

Even a familiar product should be tested when the garment, supplier, production method or curing conditions change. A practical test may include:

• Print appearance and opacity
• Registration and edge definition
• Flash behavior and cooldown
• Dye migration or color change
• Stretch and adhesion
• Complete cure
• Wash durability
• Hand feel
• Reclaim performance

Record successful mesh counts, squeegee settings, flash times, dryer settings and ink formulas so the process can be repeated by another operator.

Why Screen Printers Choose Kolormatrix

• Decades of screen-printing experience: We understand the process from artwork and screen making through printing, curing and reclaim.
• Products for real production: Our supply selection supports manual printers, automatic shops, artists, schools and growing apparel businesses.
• Technical guidance: We help customers think through ink, mesh, emulsion, garment and curing compatibility.
• Atlanta training center: Customers can learn screen printing through hands-on classes taught by an experienced printer.
• Professional services: Film output, photo screens, pre-coated screens, color matching and simulated-process separations are available when outsourcing makes more sense.
• Real people: Customers can call and speak with someone familiar with screen-printing production.

Need Production Help Beyond Supplies?

Sometimes the most profitable supply is the one you do not have to process yourself. Kolormatrix offers professional services that can reduce darkroom labor, artwork preparation and production setup.

• Film Output Service
• Photo Screen Service
• Pre-Coated Screens
• Professional Color Matching
• Hands-On Screen Printing Classes
• Customized Onsite Training

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Screen Printing Supplies FAQ

What supplies do I need to start screen printing?

A basic workflow normally requires artwork, film positives or another imaging method, screens, emulsion, a coating tool, exposure and washout equipment, ink, squeegees, pallet adhesive, curing equipment and cleaning products. The exact list depends on your press, ink system and planned production.

Should I use plastisol or water-based ink?

Plastisol is widely used for its opacity, production-friendly characteristics and dependable results when properly cured. Water-based ink can provide a softer hand and different appearance but requires closer control of screen preparation, ink management and curing. Neither system is automatically best for every shop.

Which ink should I use on polyester?

Polyester and sublimated fabrics may release dye when heated. Use an ink system designed for low-cure or bleed-resistant printing and test the actual garment. Difficult fabrics may also require a gray or black barrier underbase for additional protection.

How do I choose an emulsion?

Consider the ink chemistry, exposure unit, artwork detail, mesh count, expected run length and reclaim process. Water-based and discharge printing usually require an emulsion rated for water resistance or an appropriate hardener procedure.

How do I choose the correct mesh count?

Mesh count depends on artwork detail, ink type, desired ink deposit and garment. Lower mesh counts generally deposit more ink, while higher mesh counts can hold finer detail with a thinner deposit. Your ink manufacturer’s recommendations are a good starting point.

Why are my film positives important?

A film positive must provide sufficient image density, clean edges and accurate registration. Weak density can allow unwanted light through the image area, contributing to difficult washout, lost detail or inconsistent screens.

Can Kolormatrix output films or prepare screens for me?

Yes. Kolormatrix offers professional film-output, photo-screen and pre-coated-screen services for shops that want to reduce darkroom labor or do not have the equipment to complete every step internally.

Do you offer custom ink color matching?

Yes. Kolormatrix offers professional color-matching services for several ink systems. Available options and required sample information are listed in the Color Matching collection.

Can I visit Kolormatrix for help choosing supplies?

Yes. Kolormatrix serves local and visiting customers through our Atlanta-area location. If you need help with a specific process problem, bring as much information as possible about the ink, garment, mesh, emulsion, press and curing conditions.

How can I get help before ordering?

Call Kolormatrix at (404) 691-0015. Tell us what you are printing, what equipment you use and what result you are trying to achieve so we can help narrow the options.

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Stock Your Shop with Supplies That Support Better Printing

Explore professional screen-printing ink, pre-press products, aluminum frames, squeegees, adhesives, chemicals and pressroom essentials below. If you are uncertain which product fits your process, call (404) 691-0015 and speak with the Kolormatrix team.