What mesh is suitable for me?

To achieve a high-quality screen print, one of the things you should pay attention to is the mesh count you use on your screens.

What exactly is the mesh count?

It is the number of threads that cross each other per inch or centimeter on the screen. For example, if you have a 190 mesh that means there are 190 threads crossing per inch, 190 threads per inch is equivalent to 90 threads per centimeter.

The more threads that cross each other per inch or centimeter, the finer the holes in the screen and the higher the mesh count. More threads mean more definition in the print.

What should we consider when choosing a type of mesh?

There are two things we must consider when choosing the mesh size: the printing detail we want to achieve or the design requires and the thickness of the ink we are going to use.

First, we will talk about the printing details. When you have a design with a lot of detail, you need a mesh with more threads, which is tighter. If you use a mesh with fewer threads, more open, the lines or dots of the image would fall through the holes and you would not be able to print all the details.

Secondly, the denser the ink you are using, the lower the number of meshes you should use. A denser ink can be pushed through a lower mesh much more easily than a higher mesh. The fewer threads there are means the mesh holes are larger and more ink will pass through.
For example, to print with Acramina water-based ink we can work with meshes of 77 threads per centimeter or even 90 threads per centimeter, but with Laca water-based inks we cannot use meshes higher than 62 threads because the ink is denser and cannot pass well through the holes of such a fine mesh.

Guidance guide

43 threads per centimeter / 110T
The 43-thread mesh allows you to deposit a fairly thick layer of ink. This mesh works well for text letters and designs with thick dots. It also helps us better cover the fabric if we have to print a large stain.
You can use water-based acramine inks, lacquer, and also plastisol inks.

61 threads per centimeter / 156T
You also get a thick layer of ink, but it allows you to have a more detailed print than the 43-thread mesh. It is also ideal for low-viscosity ink because the mesh does not allow too much ink to pass through the screen.
You can use water-based acramine inks, lacquer, and also plastisol inks. 

90 threads / 230T
Now we start to open up to other types of designs. With this mesh, we will get many details and can only use it with low-density inks.
You can use water-based acramine inks. Paper and PVC inks, also plastisol inks. 

120 threads / 305T
This mesh is one of the ones that will give us the highest definition, and we can also do some four-color process work using special CMYK inks.
You can use paper and PVC inks, also plastisol inks. Depending on the design, you can also use acramine inks.

Threads per centimeter / Threads per inch

43T = 110 
54T = 135 
64T = 160 
77T = 190 
90T = 230 
110T = 280 
120T = 305 
140T = 355 
150T = 380 
165T = 420