Consumables · Stencil making
Emulsions & Capillary Films
KIWO and Ulano photo-emulsions and capillary films for sharp detail, durable stencils and easy reclaiming. Whether you print garments, graphics or industrial parts, this page helps you choose by ink type and application — not guesswork.
Choosing the right emulsion
The best emulsion depends on your ink, your detail and your workflow — not on which is "strongest". These four questions narrow it down fast, and the filter below lets you jump straight to what fits.
Match it to your ink
Plastisol, water-based, discharge, solvent or UV each stress a stencil differently. Filter by your ink type first — water-based and discharge inks in particular need a water-resistant emulsion or a hardener.
Match it to your detail
Fine halftones and high line counts want a high-resolution graphics emulsion; bold spot-colour garment work is better served by a fast, high-solids textile emulsion.
Consider exposure speed
Pure SBQ (photopolymer) emulsions expose fastest and are ready-to-use. Dual-cure and diazo types trade a little speed for toughness and edge definition. Match to your light source.
Emulsion vs capillary film
Liquid emulsion is coated on and is the flexible everyday choice. Capillary film gives a very even, repeatable thickness with less labour — ideal for high-build and specialty effects.
Emulsions
A comprehensive range of KIWO and Ulano photo-emulsions for textile, graphic and industrial work. Filter by ink type or application to find your match.
Kiwocol Poly-Plus S
Fine-detail all-rounder
KIWO's most popular emulsion year after year, with outstanding copying properties for halftones and fine detail. Strong solvent and ink-wash resistance, durable in humid environments.
- Pre-sensitised SBQ for easy handling
- Good mesh bridging and exposure latitude
- Compatible with UV, solvent and plastisol inks
Kiwocol Poly-Plus SRX
Highest-resolution graphics emulsion
The industry's highest-quality emulsion for close-tolerance work such as halftone reproduction at 85 LPI and higher. The choice for any graphic ink system, including water-based.
- High viscosity for thick stencils
- Pre-sensitised SBQ simplifies workflow
- Excellent mesh bridging and edge resolution
Kiwocol Poly-Plus Z
High-solids, low-tack
A dual-cure, high-solids diazo-photopolymer emulsion (40% solids) offering high resolution, broad ink resistance and a low-tack, smooth coating for clean, versatile performance.
- 40% solids build stencils fast with fewer coats
- Excellent UV, solvent and plastisol resistance
- Anti-static additive minimises dust attraction
KIWO Polycol Thick-Coat
Thick stencils & coarse mesh
A very high-solids, fast-exposing red SBQ emulsion formulated for thick stencils and dip-free coating on coarse mesh counts. Plastisol, UV, water and solvent resistant.
- Coats coarse mesh in one application
- Good resolution and bridging for graphic and industrial work
- Fast exposure and easy reclaiming vs diazo types
KIWO Polycol Versa-Tex Plus
Versatile textile emulsion
A versatile high-solids, pre-sensitised red SBQ emulsion for all textile inks, including phthalate-free and PVC-free plastisols and co-solvent water-based and discharge inks.
- Dual-cure: fast exposure plus diazo toughness
- High solids improve stencil strength and detail
- Works with plastisol, water-based, UV and mild solvent inks
KIWO Polycol One Coat
One-coat garment emulsion
A fast-exposing, high-solids SBQ emulsion (44%) allowing single-coat application on both sides for efficient garment printing with plastisol, water-based or discharge inks.
- 44% solids for rapid one-side coating
- Extremely fast exposure speeds
- Blue tint helps monitor coating consistency
- Add Diazo D or hardener for aggressive inks
Ulano QXO Emulsion
Ready-to-use sportswear emulsion
A ready-to-use, fast-exposing SBQ direct emulsion for imprinted sportswear. Resistant to plastisols (including post-phthalate) and most wash-up solvents, with easy reclamation.
- Ready-to-use, fast-exposing formula
- Anti-halation lets you use lower-cost white mesh
- Non-tacky in humidity, excellent wet strength
Ulano Orange Emulsion
Ultra-fast anti-halation emulsion
A ready-to-use, ultra-fast exposing SBQ emulsion for high-volume textile and sportswear. Anti-halation masking colour reduces light scatter for sharper detail on white mesh.
- Ultra-fast exposure, even with low-intensity light
- Anti-halation for sharper detail on white mesh
- High solids for fast drying and crisp edges
- Resistant to plastisols, most solvents and some water-based inks
Kiwocol Poly-Plus SWR — Blue
Water-resistant, close-tolerance
Reproduces quality images with today's most popular ink systems — an excellent choice for close-tolerance printing. High solvent and moisture resistance for long runs on a wide variety of substrates.
- Anti-halated colour prevents light scatter on white mesh
- High solids improve robustness and detail
- Fast exposure, durable against plastisols and solvents
Kiwocol Poly-Plus SWR — Red
Water-resistant, close-tolerance
The red variant of Poly-Plus SWR — reproduces quality images with popular ink systems for close-tolerance printing, with high solvent and moisture resistance for long runs.
- Anti-halated colour prevents light scatter on white mesh
- High solids improve robustness and detail
- Fast exposure, durable against plastisols and solvents
Ulano 925WR-P Emulsion
Water-resistant textile diazo
A phthalate-free, water-resistant diazo emulsion (~41% solids) with excellent edge definition and exposure latitude. Fully water-resistant, very durable stencils for textile workflows.
- 41% solids for strong bridging and sharp detail
- Fully water-resistant and durable
- Phthalate-free and textile-ink-friendly
Ulano QTX Emulsion
Ultra-fast, high-solids for coarse mesh
A ready-to-use, ultra-fast exposing SBQ direct emulsion for imprinted sportswear. 46% high solids give superior coating, excellent bridging on coarse mesh and fast drying. Durable yet easy to reclaim.
- 44–46% solids for dense, durable stencils
- Ultra-fast exposure with low-energy UV
- Anti-halation for sharp edges
- Resistant to all plastisols and wash-up solvents
Ulano CDF/QT Film
High-build specialty film
The capillary-film version of QTX emulsion, in thicknesses from 100µ to 400µ for high-build stencils. Ideal for high-density, puff, lenticular and specialty effects on textiles, ceramics, glass and electronics. Applies with water or QTX emulsion.
- 100µ to 400µ for high-build stencils
- Extremely fast exposure — suits low-power light sources
- Laminate for custom thickness; reduces coating labour
Ulano EZ-50 Orange
Fast-exposing sportswear film
A fast-exposing, pure SBQ pre-sensitised capillary film for general sportswear, with excellent resolution thanks to a high-contrast orange colour that reduces halation — without expensive dyed mesh.
- Pure SBQ film for rapid exposure and long shelf life
- High-contrast orange minimises halation
- Suits mesh counts 33–77/cm (86–196/inch)
- Apply with plain water or with ORANGE emulsion
A note on capillary films
Capillary films (tagged "High-Build & Specialty" above) give an exceptionally even, repeatable stencil thickness with less coating labour — ideal for high-density, puff and specialty effects. They apply with plain water or over a compatible emulsion.
Not sure which emulsion or film to choose?
Tell us your inks, mesh and the detail you print, and we'll recommend an emulsion or capillary film — and a coating routine to get the most from it.
Emulsion questions, answered
The essentials on chemistry, ink compatibility and choosing between emulsion and film.
What's the difference between SBQ, diazo and dual-cure?
SBQ (pure photopolymer) emulsions come pre-sensitised, expose very fast and store well. Diazo emulsions are mixed with a sensitiser before use and give excellent resolution and water resistance but expose more slowly. Dual-cure combines both for a balance of speed, detail and durability.
Which emulsion should I use for water-based or discharge inks?
Choose a water-resistant emulsion such as Poly-Plus SWR or Ulano 925WR-P, or add a hardener like KIWO Hardener HP to a compatible emulsion. Water-based and discharge inks will break down a non-water-resistant stencil.
What does "anti-halation" mean and why does it matter?
Dyed emulsions (orange, red, blue) absorb stray light during exposure, stopping it scattering through the mesh and undercutting fine detail. This lets you use cheaper white mesh while still holding sharp lines.
Emulsion or capillary film — which is better?
Neither is universally better. Emulsion is versatile and economical for everyday work; capillary film gives very consistent thickness with less coating labour and shines for high-build, puff and specialty effects. Many shops use both.
How many coats do I need?
It depends on the emulsion solids, your mesh and the finish you want. High-solids one-coat emulsions can need just a single pass per side; others build over several. Our team can recommend a coating routine for your setup.
Do you supply the coating and exposure equipment too?
Yes — we support the whole stencil-making process, including coating troughs, exposure units and washout. See our screen coating and exposure equipment pages, or just ask.
Talk to a stencil specialist
From your first pot of emulsion to dialling in an automatic coating line, our team can match the right emulsion or capillary film to your inks, mesh and detail — backed by local supply and technical support across Australia and New Zealand.
Product descriptions, solids percentages and compatibilities are indicative and current as at the time of publishing — contact us for current pricing, availability and lead times. Always read the individual technical data sheet (TDS) before use. Emulsion performance varies with mesh, coating, exposure and ink, so pre-testing is recommended to confirm suitability for your workflow.
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