FAQ
- How long until my item ships?
- What is Discharge Ink?
Discharge is a water based ink formula that uses a catalyst to remove dye from select areas of garments to allow a print of a different color in its place. Discharge inks allow bright colors to be printed on dark fabrics without the need for an additional, base ink layer. Discharge ink never cracks and can allow beautiful bright colored prints on dark garments with an incredible soft hand feel. Not big shiny plastic shields.
- Whats the deal with Water-based ink?
In screen printing there are two main types of inks used, Water-based and Plastisol.
Plastisol is made with plastic (polyvinyl chloride, better known as PVC) suspended in harsh solvent. This type of ink sits on top of the shirt; it doesn't soak in.
Water-based ink uses dyes and pigments suspended in water as the solvent making for a much more environmentally sound ink. Water-based ink permeates the fibers leaving a very soft to the touch print. Water-based inks are more costly than plastisol and take more time and process to cure. Which is why more mass produced printing is not printed this way. We find it worth it for the soft luxurious prints it produces.
- What are DTF, DTG, and Transfers, and why don't you use them?
DTF = Direct to Film. The image is printed from a inkjet type printer onto a transfer film, to be heat pressed onto a garment. DTF produces bright, multicolored, high detailed prints that look great in photos and from a distance but leave a shinier, thicker, less desirable feel than we wish to produce.
DTG = Direct to garment. The image is once again printed from an inkjet type printer but this time directly to the garment. DTG produces a less shiny and slightly softer feel than DTF, but leaves its longevity of the print lacking the quality we desire.
Transfers - There are several other types of transfers other than DTF. DTF being the premium in transfers but all have that heat pressed/iron on look and feel to them at varying levels.
The graphic T-shirt market is filled with heat pressed transfers, DTG, or print on demand plastisol prints from giant, mass production printers. At Portalfilter, our outlook is to produce a highest quality prints for softness, looks, and longevity.
- Where do you get your art?
All of our designs are created by us, unless noted as a Featured Artist.
- What the FAQ is a Portalfilter?
Portalfilter is a play on words by a couple of goofs with extensive experience as Specialty Coffee Professionals. One of which is a bonafide Super Taster, with magical barista skills that makes them a true Ace of Cups.
The portafilter, is the handle sticking out of an espresso machine, containing the basket that holds the grounds.
A Porta(L)filter is when that coffee experience leads you to other dimensions. This is why many of our designs are based around Coffee-Counter Culture.