Inktek Process Clear Plastisol Ink Additive – Soft-Hand Extender & Reducer
Inktek
Inktek Process Clear is a versatile, transparent plastisol additive that works as a soft-hand extender, viscosity reducer, and transparent process base in one product. Add it to any Inktek plastisol ink to achieve a softer feel on garments, improve ink flow through fine mesh screens, reduce screen buildup during wet-on-wet printing, or create transparent tonal effects for 4-color process and specialty work.
Soft-Hand Extender
Viscosity Reducer
Transparent Process Base
Reduces Screen Buildup
Cures at 320°F
Mix 10–30% by Weight
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Price range: $39.99 through $299.99
Description
Inktek Process Clear – Soft-Hand Extender, Viscosity Reducer & Transparent Base
Inktek Process Clear is a versatile, transparent plastisol additive that works as a soft-hand extender, viscosity reducer, and transparent process base in one product. Add it to any Inktek plastisol ink to achieve a softer feel on garments, improve ink flow through fine mesh screens, reduce screen buildup during wet-on-wet printing, or create transparent tonal effects for 4-color process and specialty work.
Available in Quart, Gallon, and 5-Gallon. Compatible with all Inktek LB and LBX plastisol inks.
Is This the Right Ink for Your Job?
Use This When You Want…
✓
Ink is too stiff or heavy for fine detail work
✓
Need a softer feel on fashion or lightweight cotton garments
✓
Printing 4-color process or halftone wet-on-wet
✓
Want to create transparent or tonal effects
Consider Something Else If You Need…
✗
Printing on dark garments needing full opacity
✗
Using LBX inks on polyester (compromises bleed resistance)
✗
Need maximum coverage on a challenging substrate
Key Features
Softens Hand Feel
Reduces the stiff plastisol surface deposit and allows ink to penetrate into fabric, producing a softer, more breathable feel on lightweight cotton and fashion garments at 10–20% addition.
Reduces Viscosity
Lowers ink body for improved flow through high mesh counts (160–305). Reduces squeegee drag and back-side screen adhesion during wet-on-wet multi-color runs on automatic presses.
Transparent Process Base
At 30–50%+, functions as a near-transparent base for 4-color CMYK printing, tonal same-color-on-color effects, and specialty glaze work over cured ink layers.
Extends Coverage
Increases the volume of your ink supply. A cost-effective way to stretch inventory across longer runs without affecting cure characteristics at recommended ratios.
Standard Cure
Fully curable formulation fuses at 320°F — no dryer adjustments required at 10–30% addition.
Broad Compatibility
Works with Inktek LB standard colors, Triple Strength CMYK inks, shimmer inks, and most general-purpose plastisols.
Pairs Best With
Add to any LB color for immediate soft-hand improvement or transparent effect
Mix at 15–25% into CMYK for better wet-on-wet flow and reduced dot gain
How Screen Printers Use Process Clear: Soft-Hand, Process Printing & Transparent Effects
Soft-Hand Fashion Printing
Add 10–20% to standard Inktek LB colors when printing on lightweight tees, ringspun cotton, or fashion blanks. Ink penetrates deeper into the fabric weave, producing a soft, vintage-print feel with reduced surface buildup.
4-Color Process & Halftone Work
Mix 15–25% into Triple Strength CMYK inks to improve wet-on-wet flow and reduce dot gain on high mesh counts (200+). Lower viscosity allows halftone dots to penetrate without smearing, producing cleaner transitions.
Tonal & Transparent Effects
At 40–50%+, use as a near-transparent glaze for same-color tonal prints (black on black, navy on navy), or print over cured ink as a specialty topcoat for gloss or texture effects.
See It in Action
Mix Ratio Calculator
Enter your ink weight and select a ratio to see exactly how much Inktek Process Clear to add.
Select a ratio above to calculate.
Complete Inktek Specialty & Effects Inks
River City Supply stocks the full Inktek SE specialty ink line. Use this guide to choose the right ink for your application.
Transparent base & soft-hand extender
Best for: 4-color process, tonal effects, soft-hand
Rich warm gold metallic plastisol
Best for: Athletic logos, fashion accents, branded merchandise
Cool-tone silver & platinum metallic plastisol
Best for: Chrome-look elements, athletic graphics, fashion
High-concentration liquid metallic gold
Best for: Bold metallic statements, premium branding
Phosphorescent glow-in-the-dark plastisol
Best for: Nightlife, safety, event & novelty printing
Pink-gold metallic plastisol
Best for: Women’s fashion, cosmetic brands, lifestyle apparel
Warm athletic gold — non-phthalate
Best for: Athletic team wear, school spirit, sport uniforms
Ultra-fine metallic flake — subtle sparkle
Best for: Fashion garments, subtle shimmer, boutique apparel
Large-particle glitter flake — maximum sparkle
Best for: Statement fashion, festive printing, bold effects
High-shine chrome-finish metallic plastisol
Best for: Chrome logos, premium athletic graphics, luxury apparel
How to Wash Test Plastisol Prints
Whenever you change ink, mesh count, dryer settings, or substrate — run a wash test before releasing production. This is the only definitive check for cure and wash durability.
Step 1 — Cure a Test Print
Print and cure a test garment at your production dryer settings. Let cool completely before washing.
Step 2 — Wash Hot
Machine wash on the hottest setting with standard detergent. Hot water is the stress test — if it holds here, it holds everywhere.
Step 3 — Repeat 3–5 Cycles
Run 3–5 full wash/dry cycles. Under-cured prints fail in the first 1–3 washes. Properly cured prints show no change.
Step 4 — Inspect
Look for cracking, peeling, delamination, or color change. A properly cured metallic print retains its shine and adhesion. Do a stretch test — pull the print firmly and check for cracking.
If metallic prints dull or lose sheen after washing: This is almost always under-cure. Check actual garment surface temperature with a donut probe or temp tape — not dryer air temp. Increase dwell time before re-testing.
Opacity Warning
Process Clear reduces ink opacity proportionally. Not suitable for dark garment high-opacity printing. Use on light garments and process printing only.
Polyester Caution
Do not add to Inktek LBX low-bleed inks when printing on polyester — Process Clear dilutes bleed-resistance chemistry. Use LBX inks unmodified on polyester.
Questions about this product?
Call (512) 454-0505 or email [email protected] — Mon–Fri 9am–5pm CT
River City Supply · Authorized Inktek Distributor Since 2008
Technical Specifications
Technical Specifications
| Product Information | |
| Product Name | Inktek Process Clear Plastisol Ink Additive |
| Brand | Inktek (Printers Choice) |
| Type | Transparent soft-hand extender, viscosity reducer, process base |
| Available Sizes | Quart, Gallon, 5 Gallon |
| Mixing Guidelines | |
| Soft-Hand / Flow | 10–20% by weight |
| 4-Color Process / Halftone | 15–30% by weight |
| Transparent / Tonal Effects | 30–50%+ by weight |
| Maximum | No hard limit — opacity decreases as % increases |
| Printing Parameters | |
| Recommended Mesh | 160–305 mesh for process and halftone |
| Squeegee Durometer | 70–75 durometer |
| Wet-on-Wet | Yes — reduces back-side screen adhesion |
| Curing | |
| Cure Temperature | 320°F (160°C) |
| Cure Impact | None at 10–30% — fully curable formulation |
| Compatibility | |
| Compatible Inks | Inktek LB, Triple Strength CMYK, shimmer, most plastisols |
| Not Recommended | LBX inks on polyester; high-opacity dark garment printing |
| Documents | |
| Safety Data Sheet | Inktek SDS (PDF) |
Technical Sheets / Safety Data Sheets / Documents
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
How much Process Clear should I add to my ink?
Start at 10% by weight and adjust from there. For soft-hand on cotton garments, 10–20% is typically sufficient. For 4-color process and halftone wet-on-wet work, 15–30% is common. For transparent tonal printing or glaze effects, 40–50% or more is appropriate. Always test before running production.
Will Process Clear affect my cure temperature?
No — at recommended ratios (up to 30%), Process Clear is a fully curable formulation that fuses at 320°F, the same as your standard Inktek plastisols. At very high percentages for transparent effects, run a wash test to confirm full cure before releasing production.
Can I use Process Clear with LBX inks on polyester?
Not recommended. LBX low-bleed inks are formulated with specific chemistry that resists dye migration on polyester fabrics. Adding Process Clear dilutes that chemistry and can reduce bleed resistance. Use LBX inks unmodified on polyester.
What is the difference between Process Clear and Curable Reducer?
Both reduce viscosity, but Process Clear is primarily a soft-hand extender and transparent base optimized for hand feel and process printing. Curable Reducer is a pure viscosity reducer with de-tacking agents specifically designed to reduce screen buildup during wet-on-wet runs on automatic presses. Process Clear for soft-hand and process printing; Curable Reducer for de-tacking on auto press.
Does Process Clear work on dark garments?
Not well. Process Clear reduces opacity — on dark garments you need maximum coverage. It is not suitable for use with high-opacity underbase whites or dark garment coverall inks. Best suited for light garments, process colors, and fashion applications.
Still have questions?
(512) 454-0505 · [email protected] · Mon–Fri 9am–5pm CT
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