May 01, 2005

Differentiate yourself from competitors by incorporating special effects into even the most basic designs. You can choose from an array of easy-to-use special effects inks to used alone or in conjunction with traditional artwork to enhance certain areas of the print. Here are a few special effects inks to investigate:

Puff ink expands in all directions when heated.

Glitter ink cures to a glittering, textured metallic finish when printed.

Crystalline ink gives prints a multicolor, pearlescent appearance.

Shimmer ink cures to a glittering textured, or "shimmer," finish.

Suede ink combines a matte finish with a fuzzy texture and slight puff for a suede-leather appearance.

Thermochromic ink changes color when exposed to sufficient body heat.

Gel ink creates 3-D and glossy, wet looks when printed directly on garments or overprinted on underbase colors.

High-build ink produces prints with an extraordinarily thick ink layer that retains sharp edges and crisp, highly detailed definition, even after curing.

Caviar beads/PVC flake are beads or flakes of PVC that adhere to a garment using a screen-print adhesive.

Foils add a brilliant, high-gloss metallic finish and are applied using a heat transfer press