Chromaline Chromalime Pure Photopolymer Emulsion – Non-Film-Sticking Plastisol Ink Screen Printing Emulsion

🔍 Encountering exposure, washout, or on-press issues? Our guide covers the most common problems and solutions.

Emulsion Troubleshooting Guide →

Why does my inkjet film stick to my screen, and how does ChromaLime fix it?

Film sticking is caused by moisture and residual tackiness in the emulsion surface reacting with the inkjet coating on your film positive — especially in high humidity. ChromaLime’s non-film-sticking formula was specifically engineered to prevent this adhesion. Your film positive releases cleanly after exposure every time, preserving your positives for multiple uses and eliminating a major source of screen room waste and frustration.

Is ChromaLime the same as ChromaBlue but in a different color?

No — ChromaLime is a distinct formulation. Both are SBQ photopolymers for plastisol printing, but ChromaLime was refined specifically to resist film sticking and humidity-induced tackiness, and its lime green color provides optimal translucency for easier registration. ChromaBlue has higher solids (50% vs 40%) and lower viscosity (4600 CPS vs 9000 CPS). Choose ChromaBlue for maximum stencil build. Choose ChromaLime if film sticking, humidity, or registration speed are pain points.

Do I need to add a diazo sensitizer to ChromaLime?

No. ChromaLime is a pure photopolymer emulsion that comes pre-sensitized and ready to use straight from the container. No diazo to mix, no waiting period, and no sensitized shelf-life countdown. Stir before coating and keep the lid tightly closed when not in use.

Is ChromaLime compatible with LED exposure units?

Yes — ChromaLime is specifically optimized for UV LED exposure systems in the 350–420nm range. It is also fully compatible with UV fluorescent, metal halide, and mercury vapor units. Real-world users report LED exposure times as short as 6 seconds. Always run a step-exposure test to dial in your specific setup before committing to a production time.

How does ChromaLime help with on-press registration?

ChromaLime’s lime green color provides optimal translucency — you can see through the stencil when aligning screens on press. Darker emulsions like blue or violet are more opaque, making multi-color registration harder and slower. ChromaLime’s see-through quality speeds up each setup, which means more setups per day and less time adjusting on press.

My shop is very humid — will ChromaLime work better than what I’m using?

Almost certainly yes, if your current emulsion goes tacky in high humidity. ChromaLime was specifically formulated to remain non-tacky in high-humidity conditions, keeping coated screens stable so they dry properly and don’t develop the surface tack that causes film to adhere. It’s the emulsion of choice for shops in Florida, Texas, and other hot, humid climates.

Which size of ChromaLime should I order?

The Quart is ideal for beginners or trying ChromaLime for the first time (~20–25 screens). The Gallon is the most popular for production shops (~80–100 screens). The 3.5 Gallon is for high-volume shops burning screens daily (~280–350 screens) at the lowest cost per screen. All estimates are based on standard 1+1 coating; actual yield varies with mesh count and frame size.

How do I reclaim ChromaLime screens?

Apply Chroma/Strip™ to both sides of the screen. Scrub with a stiff nylon brush until the stencil begins to dissolve, then remove with a pressure washer. ChromaLime is widely praised for dissolving cleanly at reclaim — unlike some competing emulsions, it doesn’t come off in chunks that clog drains. For ghost images, follow up with Chroma/Haze™ before recoating.

Can ChromaLime freeze during shipping?

ChromaLime is NOT freeze/thaw stable — frozen emulsion is permanently damaged. River City Supply ships from San Antonio, Texas, one of the warmest major US cities, which means we can ship emulsions more days during winter than northern or midwestern distributors. We’ll communicate any cold-weather holds at the time of your order.

I’m having emulsion issues — where can I get help?

River City Supply maintains a dedicated emulsion troubleshooting guide covering pinholes, film sticking, exposure issues, washout problems, and stencil breakdown. You can also call our team at (512) 454-0505 — we’re glad to help diagnose and resolve screen room issues.

View Troubleshooting Guide →