110 MESH COUNT
The 110 mesh count is will lay down a fairly thick layer of ink. This mesh is great for block text letters and larger spot color designs. It’s also a recommended mesh for an underbase because you will only have to do one pass, which speeds up production.
158 MESH COUNT
158 mesh (previously 156) is great for general purpose textile printing with basic to semi-fine detail. They will hold a little finer detail than 110 mesh and also work well with thinner inks.
196 MESH COUNT
196 mesh (previously 200) are great for printing more detailed prints that need a thinner layer of ink to be laid down than a 158. They work well with thinner inks and helps to keep the inks from flooding onto the garment. Printers that want a softer-hand feel with plastisol ink can use this mesh count to achieve that feel, but it may reduce the ink's opacity.
230 MESH COUNT
The 230 mesh screens are great for printing thinner inks like discharge or water-based. A 230 mesh can hold halftones well while letting more ink through than a 305 mesh could.
305 MESH COUNT
305 mesh is used for jobs with the highest level of detail, and fine halftone four color and simulated process prints. Fine halftone dots need very high mesh counts in order to hold and expose properly. Otherwise, as stated before, the halftones and lines will simply fall through the mesh, leaving you with a less than desirable image to work with. Check out this blog to learn more about mesh counts and their uses.
