Inktek Crystalina Fine Flake Plastisol Ink – Subtle Sparkle for High-End Screen Printing

Inktek

INKTEK CRYSTALINA FINE
INKTEK CRYSTALINA FINE

Inktek Crystalina Fine Flake is a premium plastisol ink containing ultra-fine metallic flake particles in a clear transparent base — delivering a refined, multi-directional sparkle effect that elevates garments without the chunky glitter aesthetic of standard glitter inks. Where glitter inks attract attention through bold visible particles, Crystalina catches light subtly across the entire print — the difference between costume jewelry and fine jewelry.

Ultra-Fine Metallic Flake

Subtle Sparkle Effect

Use Solo or Mix with Color

160–230 Mesh Recommended

Cure at 320°F

Fashion & Premium Apparel

Same-Day Shipping Before 3:30 PM CTFree shipping on orders $200+  |  (512) 454-0505

Price range: $44.99 through $139.99

SKU: Printers Choice SE996 Crystalina Fine Flake Plastisol Ink Categories: , Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Description

Inktek Crystalina Fine Flake Plastisol – Subtle Metallic Sparkle for Premium Screen Printing

Inktek Crystalina Fine Flake is a premium plastisol ink containing ultra-fine metallic flake particles in a clear transparent base — delivering a refined, multi-directional sparkle effect that elevates garments without the chunky glitter aesthetic of standard glitter inks. Where glitter inks attract attention through bold visible particles, Crystalina catches light subtly across the entire print — the difference between costume jewelry and fine jewelry.

Available in Quart and Gallon. Use as a standalone ink or blend with Inktek LB colors for custom colored sparkle. Compatible with 160+ mesh for fine flake distribution.

Is This the Right Product for Your Job?

Use This When You Need To…
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Printing on women’s fashion or boutique apparel where subtle sparkle fits the brand

✓

Customer wants metallic shimmer without bold chunky glitter

✓

Need custom colored sparkle (gold, rose gold, colored shimmer)

✓

Printing on premium light-colored garments

Not the Right Fit If You Are…
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Need bold, chunky, highly visible glitter effect (use standard glitter ink)

✗

Printing on dark garments without a light underbase

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Standard spot color work with no special effects

Key Features

Pairs Best With
Tint Crystalina with LB colors at 20–35% to create custom gold, rose gold, or colored shimmer
Use a white underbase on dark garments before overprinting Crystalina for visible sparkle

Achieving Refined Metallic Sparkle on Fashion Garments & Premium Apparel

Women’s Fashion & Boutique Apparel
The primary market for fine flake sparkle. Print Crystalina as a standalone element or layered over brand colors for a polished, retail-quality sparkle effect. The fine flake character photographs beautifully on social media — important for boutique brands depending on visual content to sell products.
Custom Colored Sparkle Inks
Mix Crystalina with Inktek LB colors to build a custom colored sparkle palette: gold sparkle (mix with LB Yellow/Gold), rose gold sparkle (mix with LB Blush/Peach), colored shimmer for brand-specific metallic accents. Fine flake retains its sparkle character even when tinted with pigment.
Sparkle Overprint Layer
Print your standard Inktek LB design in flat spot colors. Flash cure. Then overprint selected design elements with Crystalina Fine Flake as a semi-transparent sparkle overlay. Result: a multi-layer print with premium sparkle that adds retail shelf value without requiring a separate specialty ink line.

See It in Action

Mix Ratio Calculator

Enter your ink weight, then select your target ratio to see exactly how much Inktek Crystalina Fine Flake to add.

Select a ratio above to calculate.

Complete Inktek Plastisol Additives — Find the Right Product for Your Job

River City Supply stocks the full Inktek SE additive line. Use the guide below to choose the right product for your specific application.

Process Clear

Soft-hand extender & transparent base
Best for: 4-color process, halftone, fashion soft-hand

Curable Reducer

Pure viscosity reducer with de-tacking agents
Best for: Auto presses, thick inks, wet-on-wet printing

Puff Additive

Creates raised 3D textured prints
Best for: Logos, varsity lettering, fashion texture

Gray Super Blocker

Dye migration barrier underbase for polyester
Best for: Polyester, 50/50 blends, poly-cotton

Stretch & Low Cure

Flexibility additive & low-temp cure
Best for: Athletic wear, spandex, tri-blends

Fashion Base

High-clarity soft-hand color mixing base
Best for: Fashion printing, custom color mixing

Gentle Soft Base

Ultra-soft low-viscosity base
Best for: Premium cotton, ringspun, lightweight tees

CCI Nylon Bonding

Low-temp cure bonding additive for nylon
Best for: Nylon bags, jackets, caps, synthetics

Printable Adhesive

Screen-printable adhesive for foil & flock
Best for: Foil transfer, flock application

Crystalina Fine Flake

Fine metallic flake sparkle plastisol
Best for: Fashion garments, subtle shimmer effects

How to Wash Test Plastisol Prints

Every time you change your ink formula, mix ratio, dryer settings, or substrate — run a wash test before releasing production. This is the only definitive check for cure integrity and wash durability.

Step 1 — Cure a Test Print
Print and cure a test garment at your production dryer settings. Let cool completely before washing.
Step 2 — Wash Hot
Machine wash on the hottest setting with standard detergent. Hot water is the stress test — if it holds here, it holds everywhere.
Step 3 — Repeat 3–5 Cycles
Run 3–5 full wash-and-dry cycles. Under-cured prints typically fail within the first 3 washes. Properly cured prints show no change.
Step 4 — Inspect
Look for: cracking, peeling, delamination, color fade, or ink loss. A properly cured print shows none of these. Also do a stretch test — pull the print firmly and check for cracking.
If prints fail the wash test: First check dryer temperature with a donut probe or temp tape on the actual garment surface (not air temp). If temp is correct and prints still fail, reduce belt speed slightly to increase dwell time. Retest before running production.
Not a Substitute for Chunky Glitter
Crystalina is calibrated for subtle, refined sparkle — not bold, aggressive glitter effect. If the design requires highly visible, chunky metallic particles, use a standard glitter ink.
Mix Thoroughly Before Each Use
Fine metallic flake particles settle in the container over time. Stir thoroughly from the bottom before each use and re-mix if the run pauses for more than 15 minutes.
Questions about this product?
Call us at (512) 454-0505 or email [email protected] — Mon–Fri 9am–5pm CT
River City Supply · Authorized Inktek Distributor Since 2008

Technical Specifications

Technical Specifications

Product Information
Product NameInktek Crystalina Fine Flake Plastisol Ink
BrandInktek
TypeFine metallic flake sparkle plastisol ink
AppearanceClear plastisol with fine silver metallic flake suspension
Available SizesQuart, Gallon
Mixing Guidelines
Standalone UseUse directly from container for silver metallic sparkle
Light Color TintMix 20% LB color into Crystalina
Custom Colored SparkleMix 25–35% LB color for deeper tinted sparkle
Before Each UseStir thoroughly from bottom to re-suspend settled flake
Printing Parameters
Recommended Mesh160–230 mesh for fine flake distribution
Coarser Mesh110–160 mesh for heavier deposit / more visible sparkle
Squeegee Durometer70–75 durometer
Curing
Cure Temperature320°F (160°C)
Cure ImpactFlake particles are heat-stable through standard cure
Compatibility
Compatible InksInktek LB standard colors for tinting
Best SubstratesWhite and light cotton and fashion garments
Dark GarmentsUse white underbase first — transparent base will not cover dark fabric
Documents
Safety Data SheetInktek SDS (PDF)

Technical Sheets / Safety Data Sheets / Documents

Printers Choice SE996 Safety Data Sheet

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Crystalina Fine Flake and a standard glitter ink?
Glitter inks use large, coarse metallic particles (typically 0.04″–0.08″ size) creating a bold, chunky sparkle. They require 86–110 mesh and produce a very obvious glitter effect. Crystalina uses ultra-fine metallic flake creating a full-surface, multi-directional shimmer — subtle and refined rather than bold. Fine flake passes through 160+ mesh, allowing more detailed artwork. The choice depends on aesthetic: bold glitter vs. refined sparkle.
Can I mix Crystalina with color inks to create gold or rose gold sparkle?
Yes — mix 20–35% Inktek LB pigmented color into Crystalina. For gold sparkle, add LB Yellow or Gold. For rose gold, blend LB Coral or Peach shades. For blue shimmer, add LB Royal Blue at 15–20%. Keep pigment percentage low enough to preserve the transparent character — you want colored sparkle, not opaque colored ink with slight shimmer.
Does Crystalina work on dark garments?
Not without an underbase. The clear plastisol base is transparent and will not cover dark fabric. On dark garments, print a white or light-colored underbase first, flash cure, then print Crystalina over it. The sparkle reads properly over a light underbase.
How do I prevent flake particles from settling?
Mix the ink thoroughly with a stir stick before each use, scooping from the bottom. An ink mixer for 2–3 minutes produces the most uniform flake distribution. Re-mix if the print run pauses for more than 15 minutes. Unmixed Crystalina will produce inconsistent sparkle density across the run.
What mesh count should I use?
For controlled fine sparkle with good design detail, use 160–200 mesh. For a heavier, more pronounced sparkle with more visible individual flake facets, use 110–160 mesh. For maximum fine-detail work, 230 mesh can be used but produces lighter sparkle density. Test on your design before committing to a mesh count.
Still have questions?
(512) 454-0505  ·  [email protected]  ·  Mon–Fri 9am–5pm CT

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