10 Mar Fabric Printing Methods – Which Printing Technology to Choose?
Fabric Printing Methods – Which Printing Technology to Choose?
Fabric printing is a delicate process that involves multiple types of processes that are suitable for different kinds of fabrics. Today we’ll help you understand the difference between different methods and why they work for intricate fabrics.
The Process of Printing vs. Dyeing Textiles
Dyeing involves covering the entire surface area with a single color. You can dye fabric at any time during the textile production process. Fabric printing Dubai adds colors, patterns, and designs to textiles by selectively coloring those parts that need it. This process is also known as “localized dyeing.” Dyeing and printing are critical steps to improve your fabric’s visual appeal.
Forms of Printed Illustration
The three printing methods for fabric are called direct, discharge, and resist.
- Direct Method of Expression
Direct printing has become the standard to enhance your fabric. You can directly dye white or colorful fabric based on its composition. The ink used for printing makes the area stand out against the light-colored background. The direct printing style is utilized in the use of block printing, screen printing, and roller printing.
- Method of discharge
The process of extract printing is synonymous with discharge printing when applied to textiles. The concept relies on the chemical breakdown of the original dye used for printing. You can utilize acids, alkalis, and different salts in addition to oxidizing and reducing agents as discharging agents.
Discharge printing requires a substrate with a ground that you can charge. Pre-stuffing dyed discharge fabric with 2-3 GPL Resist salt is advised. To achieve the best possible results, the quantity of discharging agent needed will vary depending on factors such as the type of dyes being used, the ground depth, and the fabric is printed on.
A white discharge is produced if no dye is added to the discharge print paste. Only through reduction is discharged possibly. Pigment dispersion over Reactive or Vat dye on the reactive ground allows for color discharge printing in textiles using sodium sulfoxylate formaldehyde, Pidicron NRT by Pidilite.
- Resist style
To prevent the dye from seeping into the RFD cloth, it is first printed with a paste called “resist.” After the fabric has been dyed, the resist paste is washed off, revealing the intended design.
Methods For Printing Textiles
- Block printing
Block printing is the oldest printing technique, but its application is limited to the embellishment of scarves and handkerchiefs. Color is equally applied to the wooden block with various designs, and the pattern is then pressed onto the fabric.
- Roller Printing
It is the most cost-effective and rapid printing method. This method is utilized whenever identical designs must be printed on large stretches of fabric. Each color’s engraved printing roller presses against the fabric and the central cylinder. To fix the color, the printed fabric moves from the main cylinder through a drying and steaming chamber.
- Screen printing
It resembles a photographic technique. The design is applied to the fabric by passing print paste through a silk or nylon screen. A single design’s screen is reused for a single color. Screen printing can be performed manually or automatically by machine.
- Heat Transfer Printing
Papers with printed designs are put on fabric, which is then run through a type of hot calendar, transferring the pattern from one to the other. This style of printing is very popular for polyester materials.
- Digital fabric printing
Digital printing is a modern technology characterized by advancements in printing machinery and ink. Digital printing is an expanding, non-contact technique that drops microscopic droplets at a precise spot on the substrate. Using specialized electrical signals, it transfers colored ink drops onto the fabric substrate to create an infinite number of color combinations. Inkjet is the most common technique utilized for digital printing on fabrics. It is a method in which ink is sprayed onto the substrate by nozzles. It is divided further as
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- CIJ- Continuous inkjet- In this process, a tiny amount of the continuous flow of ink droplets is directed onto the fabric following the image signal, while the remainder of the unprinted droplets are returned for reuse.
- DOD- Drop on Demand – These ink drops are only produced if the picture signal information requests them. This is classified further into thermal, piezo, and electrostatic inkjet.
Get in touch with Colart Advertising at any time if you’re thinking about getting your printing process done on your textile.