Inktek Curable Reducer – Enhance the Flow & Softness of Your Plastisol Inks

Inktek

INTKEK CURABLE REDUCER
INTKEK CURABLE REDUCER

Inktek Curable Reducer is a pure curable viscosity reducer designed to thin heavy plastisol inks for better screen penetration and improved press performance. Unlike soft-hand extenders, Curable Reducer includes de-tacking agents that specifically reduce ink adhesion to the underside of screens during wet-on-wet multi-color printing — keeping your prints clean and your press running without interruption.

Pure Viscosity Reducer

De-Tacking Agents

Wet-On-Wet Ready

Cures at 320°F

Mix 5–15% Max

Auto & Manual Presses

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

Price range: $29.99 through $299.99

SKU: Printers Choice SE050 Curable Reducer Plastisol Ink Categories: , Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Description

Inktek Curable Reducer – Plastisol Ink Viscosity Reducer & De-Tacking Agent

Inktek Curable Reducer is a pure curable viscosity reducer designed to thin heavy plastisol inks for better screen penetration and improved press performance. Unlike soft-hand extenders, Curable Reducer includes de-tacking agents that specifically reduce ink adhesion to the underside of screens during wet-on-wet multi-color printing — keeping your prints clean and your press running without interruption.

Available in Quart, Gallon, and 5-Gallon. Compatible with Inktek LB, LBX, and most general-purpose plastisol inks.

Is This the Right Product for Your Job?

Use This When You Need To…
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Ink is too thick or stiff to print cleanly

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Running wet-on-wet multi-color jobs on an auto press

✓

Ink is sticking to the bottom of screens between colors

✓

Printing fine halftone detail through high mesh counts

✓

Need better squeegee flow without softening hand feel

Not the Right Fit If You Are…
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Looking for a softer hand feel on fashion garments (use Process Clear or Fashion Base)

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Printing on dark garments where opacity is critical

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Working with high-opacity underbase whites

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Want to create transparent or tonal print effects

Key Features

Pairs Best With
Use at 5–8% on polyester jobs without compromising bleed resistance
Use Process Clear instead when soft-hand is the primary goal

Solving Thick Ink, Screen Buildup & Flow Problems on Press

Thick Ink on Automatic Presses
On automatic presses running at production speed, heavy plastisol inks can drag, skip, and cause uneven deposits — especially in hot shop conditions. Add 5–10% Curable Reducer to restore printable viscosity without sacrificing opacity or cure integrity.
Wet-On-Wet Multi-Color Printing
The de-tacking agents reduce the amount of previously printed ink that clings to subsequent screens. Add 5–10% to each color in a wet-on-wet run to keep screens clean and maintain sharp registration throughout the run.
High Mesh Fine Detail & Halftone Work
When printing through 230–305 mesh, stiff ink will not pass cleanly. A 5–8% addition improves flow at high mesh without the opacity reduction of a soft-hand extender — keeping halftone dots sharp and detail crisp.

See It in Action

Mix Ratio Calculator

Enter your ink weight, then select your target ratio to see exactly how much Inktek Curable Reducer 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.
Opacity Warning
Curable Reducer reduces ink opacity proportionally. Keep additions to 15% maximum. Do not use with high-opacity dark garment inks or underbase whites.
Do Not Exceed Ratios
Beyond 20%, over-plasticized inks may struggle to fully cure. Always run a wash test when working at the high end of the ratio range.
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 Curable Reducer – Plastisol Viscosity Reducer & De-Tacking Agent
BrandInktek (Printers Choice)
TypeCurable plastisol viscosity reducer with de-tacking agents
Available SizesQuart, Gallon, 5 Gallon
Mixing Guidelines
General Viscosity Reduction5–10% by weight
Wet-On-Wet / De-Tacking5–10% per color in multi-color runs
Fine Detail / High Mesh5–8% by weight
Maximum Recommended15% — wash test if exceeding
Printing Parameters
Recommended Mesh110–305 mesh
Squeegee Durometer70–75 durometer
Press TypeManual and automatic
Wet-on-WetYes — de-tacking agents specifically designed for this
Curing
Cure Temperature320°F (160°C)
Cure ImpactNone at 5–15% — fully curable formulation
Documents
Safety Data SheetInktek SDS (PDF)

Technical Sheets / Safety Data Sheets / Documents

Printers Choice SE Safety Data Sheet

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Curable Reducer and Process Clear?
Both reduce viscosity, but they are optimized for different outcomes. Curable Reducer is a pure viscosity reducer — its main advantage is de-tacking agents that reduce screen buildup during wet-on-wet printing. It provides minimal soft-hand benefit. Process Clear is a soft-hand extender first and viscosity reducer second — it penetrates deeper into fabric and produces a noticeably softer feel, but lacks the same de-tacking performance. Wet-on-wet auto press? Use Curable Reducer. Soft fashion hand feel? Use Process Clear.
How much Curable Reducer should I add?
Start at 5% by weight and increase as needed. For wet-on-wet auto press work, 5–10% is typically sufficient. For particularly stiff inks on manual presses, up to 15% may be appropriate. Do not exceed 20% — over-plasticized inks may not achieve proper cure. Always run a wash test at the high end of the range.
Will Curable Reducer affect my cure temperature?
No — at recommended ratios up to 15%, Curable Reducer is a fully curable formulation that fuses at 320°F, the same as your standard Inktek plastisols. This distinguishes it from old-style plasticizer reducers. Always do a wash test before full production when modifying any ink.
Can I use Curable Reducer with LBX low-bleed inks on polyester?
Use with caution. At low percentages (5–8%), it is generally acceptable for viscosity management without significantly affecting bleed performance. Do not add more than 10% to LBX inks on polyester or poly-blend fabrics. When bleed resistance is the priority, keep LBX inks as close to unmodified as possible.
Does Curable Reducer reduce opacity?
Yes — adding any transparent additive reduces opacity. At 5–10%, the reduction is typically minor for most colors. Do not use with high-opacity dark garment inks or underbase whites. Best suited for light garment printing where press performance is the primary goal.
What mesh count works best with Curable Reducer?
The benefit is most pronounced at high mesh counts where stiff inks struggle to penetrate cleanly. For standard spot color on 110–160 mesh, the addition is primarily for de-tacking and flow. For halftone and fine detail on 200–305 mesh, 5–8% helps ink penetrate without dragging.
Still have questions?
(512) 454-0505  ·  [email protected]  ·  Mon–Fri 9am–5pm CT

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