3D, high density and gel prints with silicone
With 3D, high density and gel prints you build up a silicone print that stands clearly above the textile. Sharp edges, a rubbery or glassy gel effect and a print that stretches with the fabric and survives the washing machine. Ideal for logos, numbers on sportswear, labels and brand details.
Not sure what you need?Ask a specialist →
Filters
Sort Most relevant
No products found.
Try using fewer filters, or clear all filters.
⚠️ Temporarily an information page
The products on this page are not yet active in our webshop. They are available on request through Silicones and More. Send us your application, the textile and the quantity you need, and we will prepare a quote or arrange a sample.
What is a 3D or high density print?
A standard silicone print is a thin, flat layer. For a 3D or high density print you use a paste with good flow and body and print through a thick stencil, often in several layers. After curing in the oven you get a raised, crisp print with straight edges.
A gel print is a variant using a transparent, high gloss paste. Printed over a colour or a sublimation print it creates a glassy, droplet like effect.
- ✓High density: sharp, tall edges, often opaque white or coloured.
- ✓Gel: transparent and glossy, often as a top layer.
- ✓Soft 3D: lower hardness for a soft, slightly tacky hand feel.
Suitable silicones
| Brand | Product | Properties according to manufacturer | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHT | ALPATEC 3060 LSR A/B | 50:50, for raised three dimensional prints, very good flow | On request |
| CHT | ALPATEC 30191 A/B | 50:50, transparent and highly elastic, for 3D prints and coatings | On request |
| CHT | ALPATEC 30194 A/B | 50:50, Shore A 40, high gloss gel effects | On request |
| CHT | ALPATEC 30203 A/B TZ 10H | 50:50, low hardness, slightly tacky | On request |
| CHT | ALPAPRINT OPAQUE NG + ALPAPRINT CAT | Opaque paste, no shrinkage during fixation, suitable for 3D prints on dark textiles, with 1 to 3 % catalyst | On request |
| Nanotech | SILME 5700 BASE + SILME-6160 CATALYST | Addition cure print base, viscosity 65,000 to 85,000 mPa·s, elongation 400 to 600 %, 100:3. Suitable for building up in several layers, test the height in your own process | On request |
| Nanotech | SILME-4040 A/B | 1:1, viscosity 90,000 to 110,000 mPa·s, elongation 400 to 500 %, developed for embossed prints. Interesting for very tall, moulded logos | On request |
| Nanotech | CSILMENT colour pastes | Colour pastes for SILME, colours 5 to 15 %, white approx. 10 % | On request |
How to make a 3D print
- →Choose a coarse mesh and a thick emulsion or capillary film so plenty of material reaches the textile.
- →Optionally print a thin adhesion layer first and flash briefly.
- →Build up the 3D layer in one or more strokes and flash between layers.
- →Finish with a full cure in the oven or drying tunnel according to the TDS.
- →For a gel effect, print a transparent paste such as ALPATEC 30194 as the final layer.
Tips for the best results
- ✓Keep layer thickness, squeegee pressure and oven temperature constant, otherwise the height varies from print to print.
- ✓Colour the paste before adding the catalyst and only mix what you can print within the pot life.
- ✓On sublimated polyester, use a blocking underlayer against dye migration.
- ✓Keep tin, sulphur and amines away, for example plastisol residues on screens or squeegees.
- ✓Judge adhesion, stretch and wash resistance only after a full cure.
Frequently asked questions
How tall can a 3D silicone print be?
That depends on the paste, the stencil thickness and the number of layers. With a thick stencil and a paste such as ALPATEC 3060 LSR you reach clearly tangible heights. For even taller, moulded logos, look at embossing or a logo from a mould.
What is the difference between high density and puff?
High density stays solid and crisp with sharp edges. Puff expands through a foaming additive into a soft, rounded print with a less sharp edge.
Can I print a gel print over a sublimation print?
Yes, that is a popular combination. Use a transparent paste and test in advance that the disperse dye does not migrate through the silicone.
Related categories
Request 3D or gel silicones
Send us a photo or design of the effect you want and tell us which textile you print on. Email info@siliconesandmore.com.
Product information is based on the manufacturers' technical data sheets, brochures and websites (as of September 2026). Values are typical values and not a specification. Always consult the current TDS and test on your own textile and process. ALPATEC, ALPAPRINT and ALPATRANS are trademarks of CHT, SILME and CSILMENT are trademarks of Nano Tech Chemical Brothers.