Inktek Glow in the Dark Nite Brite Plastisol Ink – High-Visibility Specialty Ink for Screen Printers
Inktek
Inktek Nite Brite is a phosphorescent plastisol ink that absorbs ambient and UV light during the day and re-emits it as a green glow in darkness. Unlike fluorescent inks that require a black light to activate, Nite Brite charges passively under normal indoor and outdoor lighting — producing prints that glow brightly when the lights go out, making it the go-to specialty ink for nightlife, outdoor events, safety printing, and novelty apparel.
Phosphorescent Glow-in-the-Dark
Charges Under Any Light
Yellow-Green Glow in Darkness
MUST Print on White Background
86–110 Mesh for Max Glow
Cure at 320°F
Same-Day Shipping Before 3:30 PM CTFree shipping on orders $200+ | (512) 454-0505
Price range: $82.99 through $307.99
Description
Inktek Nite Brite Glow in the Dark Plastisol Ink – Phosphorescent Screen Printing Ink
Inktek Nite Brite is a phosphorescent plastisol ink that absorbs ambient and UV light during the day and re-emits it as a green glow in darkness. Unlike fluorescent inks that require a black light to activate, Nite Brite charges passively under normal indoor and outdoor lighting — producing prints that glow brightly when the lights go out, making it the go-to specialty ink for nightlife, outdoor events, safety printing, and novelty apparel.
Available in Quart, Gallon, and 5-Gallon. Phosphorescent glow color: yellow-green. Must be printed on white or very light backgrounds for maximum glow intensity.
Is This the Right Ink for Your Job?
Use This When You Want…
✓
Printing on nightlife, concert, or event apparel
✓
Safety-enhanced work wear or high-visibility garments
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Novelty or costume apparel that needs a glow effect
✓
Printing on white or light-colored garments
Consider Something Else If You Need…
✗
Printing directly on dark garments without a white underbase (glow will be dim or invisible)
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Need a UV-reactive fluorescent effect (this is phosphorescent, not UV-fluorescent)
✗
Need a colored daytime print that also glows (Nite Brite appears off-white/pale yellow in daylight)
Key Features
True Phosphorescent Glow
Nite Brite uses strontium aluminate phosphorescent pigments — the same chemistry used in professional glow-in-the-dark products. Absorbs and stores ambient light energy, then re-emits it as visible yellow-green light in darkness.
Charges Under Any Light Source
Unlike UV-reactive inks that require a black light to activate, Nite Brite charges under sunlight, indoor lighting, and UV lamps. A 10–30 second exposure to bright light provides visible glow for 30 minutes to several hours depending on charge duration.
White Background Required
The phosphorescent pigments are pale yellow-white in daylight. On dark garments, the glow appears very dim because the dark fabric absorbs the emitted light. Always print over a white or light background for maximum glow brightness.
Maximum Pigment = Maximum Glow
More ink deposit = more phosphorescent pigment in the print = brighter, longer-lasting glow. Use 86–110 mesh for the heaviest practical ink deposit. A thicker print is always brighter than a thin one.
Two-Appearance Print
In daylight, Nite Brite prints appear off-white or pale yellow-green — a subtle, understated look. In darkness after charging, the print glows bright yellow-green. This dual appearance is a feature for novelty and event apparel.
Standard Cure Process
Cures at 320°F using your standard conveyor dryer — no specialized curing equipment required. Full cure is critical for wash durability of the glow pigment.
Pairs Best With
Print a cured white underbase first on dark garments before applying Nite Brite — dramatically increases glow brightness
Overprint Crystalina Fine Flake for a dual sparkle-and-glow effect on fashion garments
Getting Maximum Glow: How to Print Nite Brite Effectively
Nightlife & Concert Apparel
Event tees, club merchandise, festival apparel, and rave clothing are the primary market for glow-in-the-dark screen printing. Print Nite Brite over a white underbase on a dark garment for maximum visual impact — subtle in daylight, dramatic in the dark environment of the event.
Safety & High-Visibility Work Wear
Add Nite Brite to safety logos, warning text, or reflective stripe graphics on work wear garments. The passive glow provides emergency visibility in power-failure situations without batteries or electronics. Works as a supplementary safety element on industrial and utility garments.
Children’s Novelty & Halloween Apparel
Glow-in-the-dark prints are reliably popular for children’s costume apparel, Halloween items, and novelty clothing. Print on light-colored garments for daytime wearability and nighttime glow. Simple, bold graphics glow most effectively.
See It in Action
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.
White Background is Not Optional
Nite Brite on dark fabric without a white underbase produces a faint, unsatisfying glow that disappoints customers. Always print a fully cured white underbase before applying Nite Brite. Test glow intensity in a dark room before releasing production.
Glow Is Yellow-Green — Not Customizable
The phosphorescent glow color is inherent to the chemistry — yellow-green. You cannot change the glow color by adding pigment. Adding colored inks to Nite Brite will reduce glow intensity significantly as the opaque pigment absorbs the emitted light.
Glow Duration Varies
Glow brightness and duration depend on charge time and ambient lighting. A 5-second exposure provides a short, dim glow. Direct sunlight exposure for 30+ seconds provides the brightest, longest-lasting glow result. Set customer expectations accordingly.
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 Nite Brite Glow in the Dark Plastisol Ink |
| Brand | Inktek |
| Type | Phosphorescent plastisol ink |
| Glow Color | Yellow-green |
| Daylight Appearance | Off-white / pale yellow-green |
| Available Sizes | Quart, Gallon, 5 Gallon |
| Printing Parameters | |
| Recommended Mesh | 86–110 mesh for maximum phosphorescent pigment deposit |
| Squeegee Durometer | 65–70 durometer — heavy deposit needed |
| White Underbase | REQUIRED on dark garments for effective glow |
| Flash Cure | Fully flash/cure white underbase before printing Nite Brite |
| Curing | |
| Cure Temperature | 320°F (160°C) |
| Cure Time | 60 seconds at full cure temperature |
| Glow Performance | |
| Glow Color | Yellow-green phosphorescent |
| Charging Source | Sunlight, white LED, UV lamp, standard indoor lighting |
| Charge Time | 10 seconds minimum; 30+ seconds for maximum brightness |
| Glow Duration | 30 minutes to several hours depending on charge time |
| Documents | |
| Safety Data Sheet | Inktek SDS (PDF) |
Technical Sheets / Safety Data Sheets / Documents
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my glow-in-the-dark print barely glowing?
The most common causes are: no white underbase on a dark garment (most likely), insufficient ink deposit (use 86–110 mesh for heavier printing), under-cure (check actual garment temperature), or insufficient charge time before testing in darkness. Test glow by charging under direct bright light for 30+ seconds and viewing in a completely dark room. If glow is still weak after all these checks, the ink may be under-mixed — stir thoroughly and retest.
Can I print Nite Brite directly on a dark garment without underbase?
We strongly advise against it. The dark fabric absorbs the phosphorescent glow emission, producing a dim or invisible result. For any dark garment, print and fully cure a white underbase first, then print Nite Brite on top. The white base acts as a reflector, dramatically increasing visible glow intensity.
Is Nite Brite the same as a UV-reactive ink?
No — they are different technologies. Nite Brite is phosphorescent: it stores energy from any light source and emits it slowly as visible light in darkness. UV-reactive (blacklight) inks glow only when actively illuminated by ultraviolet (black) light. Nite Brite does not require a black light to glow. If you need prints that react under a black light but are not visible in normal darkness, you need a separate UV-reactive fluorescent ink.
Can I change the glow color by adding pigment?
No — adding colored pigments will reduce or eliminate the glow effect because the opaque pigment absorbs the emitted phosphorescent light. The glow color is inherent to the phosphorescent chemistry and is always yellow-green. If you need a custom glow color, a specialty photoluminescent ink with that specific chemistry is required — standard pigment mixing will not work.
How long does the glow last after charging?
Glow duration depends on charge time and charge source. A quick 10-second indoor light exposure provides a noticeable but relatively brief glow (5–15 minutes). Direct sunlight for 30+ seconds provides the brightest and longest-lasting glow (30 minutes to several hours, fading gradually). The brightest glow is always immediately after charging and fades over time.
Still have questions?
(512) 454-0505 · [email protected] · Mon–Fri 9am–5pm CT
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