How to Create a Suede Effect with Silicone Screen Printing?
Silicone screen printing can produce many different textile surface effects, including matte, glossy, raised, anti-sublimation and soft textured finishes.
When the design requires a fine, soft and suede-like surface, a dedicated suede effect silicone ink can be used instead of a conventional smooth silicone finish.
The suede texture is created by the formulation and printing structure rather than by applying a separate fabric material over the print.
For available heat-curing and self-drying systems, see Suede Effect Silicone Ink For Textile Screen Printing.
What Is Suede Effect Silicone Printing?
Suede effect silicone printing is a textile screen-printing method designed to produce a soft surface with a fine textured appearance and comfortable hand feel.
Instead of creating a completely smooth glossy surface, the printed silicone develops a more tactile suede-style finish.
This effect can be used for:
- Brand logos
- Lettering
- Decorative graphics
- Fashion patterns
- Raised silicone designs
- Sportswear graphics
- Garment accessories
The final appearance depends on the suede silicone formulation, color, print thickness, screen setup and production process.
Typical Suede Silicone Printing Structure
A basic printing structure may be:
Fabric → Base Silicone → Suede Effect Silicone → Drying / Curing
For colored designs:
Fabric → Base Silicone → Colored Suede Silicone → Drying / Curing
For dimensional designs:
Fabric → Base Silicone → Build-Up Silicone Layers → Suede Effect Silicone → Final Cure
The suede silicone can therefore be used either as the main visible print or as the surface layer of a more complex silicone design.
Heat-Curing Suede Effect Silicone
XG-866ART is designed for heat-curing textile screen-printing production.
A typical formulation can include:
XG-866ART + XG-866B-2 + Color Pigment + XG-128AH Thinner
The listed mixing system uses XG-866B-2 at approximately 2–3%.
XG-128AH thinner can normally be adjusted around 10% according to the required printing viscosity and production conditions.
Available pigments include:
XG-102 White, XG-501 Black, XG-302 Red, XG-203 Yellow and XG-408 Blue.
Custom colors can also be developed according to the required design.
Self-Drying Suede Effect Silicone
XG-20ART is designed for self-drying production.
Its listed mixing ratio is 10:1.
Compatible additive systems include XG-MB-1, ZB-1, KB-1 and TMB-1, typically around 10% according to the selected drying system.
For a detailed comparison of the two production methods, read Heat-Curing vs Self-Drying Suede Silicone Ink for Textile Screen Printing.
How Many Layers Should Be Printed?
A normal starting process is one or two suede silicone printing layers.
Two layers are commonly used where stronger surface coverage or a more visible suede texture is required.
However, the correct number of passes depends on:
- Artwork
- Screen mesh
- Stencil thickness
- Silicone viscosity
- Required texture
- Print thickness
- Fabric structure
- Final hand feel
Additional layers can be evaluated when more thickness or surface texture is needed.
For more detail, see How Many Printing Layers Are Needed for Suede Effect Silicone Ink?
Combining Suede with Other Silicone Effects
Suede silicone does not have to be used alone.
It can be combined with other silicone systems to create contrasting surfaces.
Possible combinations include:
- Suede + Glossy
- Suede + Matte
- Suede + Anti-Sublimation
- Suede + Raised Silicone
- Suede + Conductive Silicone
For design structures and material combinations, read How to Combine Suede Effect Silicone with Matte, Glossy and Anti-Sublimation Printing.
Where Can the Suede Effect Be Used?
The suede finish can be evaluated for garments, T-shirts, trousers, sportswear, socks, elastic tape, webbing and textile accessories.
For general garment applications, see Suede Effect Silicone Printing for Garment Logos, Patterns and Textile Graphics.
For performance clothing, see Suede Effect Silicone Printing for Sportswear and Activewear.
Test the Complete Printing Structure
The final surface should be evaluated on the actual textile rather than only by examining the silicone material itself.
Before bulk production, check:
- Fabric compatibility
- Adhesion
- Color
- Surface texture
- Printing thickness
- Number of layers
- Flexibility
- Drying or curing
- Finished hand feel
The optimum process should be confirmed by sample testing using the actual fabric, artwork and production equipment.