Block Printing
Block Printing
While these inks dry to the touch within 12-24 hours, we would recommend waiting a full week prior to washing or getting the printed project wet to ensure the ink remains permanent. Pre-washing your fabric prior to printing is also recommended.
Speedball has four main types of block printing inks: Water-Soluble, Fabric, Professional Relief, and Oil-Based inks. Water-Soluble inks are designed for printing on paper for a range of experience levels. Fabric inks are designed for printing on fabric and require no heat set. Professional Relief inks have a single pigment formulation designed for use on paper. Oil-Based inks have a traditional oil-based formulation and require solvent or vegetable oil for cleanup.
Speedball block printing inks are good for 2 years post manufacture, however when properly stored and cared for they can last much longer.
We do not recommend adding water to modify the inks, we offer a selection of ink modifiers that can be added to change the ink to suit your project needs.
Yes! Our inks can mix if you want to make new colors, however we recommend staying within the same line. For example, we would not recommend mixing water-soluble inks with fabric inks as it may alter the properties of the ink.
Our Water-Soluble, Fabric, and Professional Relief inks can be easily cleaned up with soap and water. Speedball Oil-Based inks require solvent or vegetable oil for proper clean up.
The term “water-soluble” is used to describe substances that dissolve in water. The term “water-based” implies that water is among the ingredients in the inks' formulation.

fabric block printing inks
With a revolutionary development in fabric block printing by creating an ink that does not need a heatset to be washfast, Speedball wanted packaging that represented the endless printing possibilities. Seeking to feature artwork on the bottle, Speedball worked with artist Susana McDonnell and her unique geometric print style to elevate the fabric block printing tubes to the next level. Susana had been a long time participant in Speedball's Demo Artist Program, as well as lending a hand to testing new products helping shape development of new ink colors. Through each step of the process, Speedball works with artists to ensure a quality product that suits the needs of artists around the world.