Discharge ink is a type of water-based screen printing ink used to print on dark 100% cotton garments. Instead of laying ink on top of the fabric like plastisol does, discharge ink removes (or “discharges”) the shirt's dye, essentially bleaching the fabric back to its natural color and replacing it with pigment.
Key Features of Discharge Ink:
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🧪 Chemically reactive – uses an activator (usually zinc-formaldehyde sulfoxylate) to strip out the dye.
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🎨 Soft-hand feel – the print feels like it's part of the shirt, not sitting on top.
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🖤 Works best on dark 100% cotton – doesn’t work well on synthetic blends or garments with reactive dye blockers.
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💨 Low opacity, but can be pigmented – pigment discharge ink adds color while still removing the original dye.
Pros: & Cons
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Super soft prints
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Great for vintage or worn-in looks
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Breathable, no heavy ink buildup
- Not all garments react the same to discharge inks. Testing is a must.
Cons:
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Strong smell during production
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Limited fabric compatibility
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Requires precise curing and ventilation
Discharge ink is a go-to for high-end fashion brands and vintage-style shirts where feel and detail matter most.