What is an underbase and do I have to have one?
An underbase is a layer of white ink that is applied under the final ink colors. It is used on fabrics of mid-tone to dark colors. Although screen-printing ink has greater opacity than inks used to print on paper, it is still not capable of completely covering the underlying color of darker fabrics. This can make a normally bright color look dull. The underbase creates a white surface under the ink so that the ink color retains its intensity. When white is the final color, a ‘double-hit’ of white achieves the same look as an underbase. We can print without the underbase if the client specifically requests it, as for the purpose of achieving a worn or washed-out effect, but otherwise we strongly advocate using it.
