Types of Textile Printing is the topic we will explore in today’s article.
To create a garment with a beautiful design, vibrant and saturated colors, high image quality, and a lasting print, attention must be paid to the factors that influence achieving the best final results. It is important to note that these factors are interconnected and none of them should be neglected.
Factors for Creating a Garment with Quality Design:
- Type of printing and machine
- Inks
- File resolution
- Fabric on which the printing is done
The machines and techniques for textile printing are varied, but generally, they can be categorized into Direct Printing (DTG) and Transfer Printing (DTF). Embroidery is also a very popular method, but it uses a different technique from printing and will be described separately.
1. Direct Printing
This is a type of printing where the process of printing digital images is done directly onto the desired garment or accessory. This means your JPG image is sent to the machine and it starts printing. Everything happens within the machine. Let’s briefly explain the process inside it:
This is a inkjet printing process where the ink is directed through nozzles as a controlled series of drops. These drops land on the fabric’s surface, starting the line-by-line printing until the entire image appears. The machine requires inks for printing, usually containing the primary colors: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (so-called CMYK inks) + white ink. The machine then converts them into the necessary colors.
Resolution of the print is usually measured in dots per inch (dpi). The higher the resolution of your file, the better quality your print will be.
A unique feature of direct printing is that it can only be done on natural fabrics like cotton.
After the image is printed on the chosen garment or accessory, it moves to the final stage called fixation. This stage ensures that the ink adheres well to the fabric. A heat press at 180°C for 35 seconds is used for fixation.
Advantages of Direct Printing:
⦁ Allows textile designers to work directly from computer to fabric without the need for paper design
⦁ Prints with very high resolution
⦁ Prints consist of many colors
⦁ The print is very soft to the touch, breathable, and does not change the feel of the fabric
Disadvantages of Direct Printing:
⦁ Can only print on cotton garments and accessories
2. Transfer Printing (Sublimation)
Now, let’s move on to the second method of textile printing. This is the so-called transfer printing, which is also digital printing. It differs from direct printing in that it requires a process of “transferring” the image from special paper to the garment.
This means that initially, a printer (sublimation printer) is needed to print the image onto transfer paper. Then a heat-transfer machine (calender) is needed to transfer the inks from the paper into the fabric’s pores.
The transfer process ensures that the dye penetrates the fabric rather than just sitting on the surface. This gives the fabric good quality and durability without affecting its breathability.
The inks used are the primary CMYK, just like in direct printing. However, there is no white ink because it is only printed on white fabric.
This brings us to another difference from direct printing. Direct printing is only done on natural fabrics, while transfer printing (sublimation) is used solely on synthetic fabrics. The most commonly used synthetic fabrics are polyester and polyamide.
Advantages of Transfer Printing:
⦁ The inks penetrate the fabric’s pores, ensuring long-lasting prints
⦁ Prints are bright and saturated with high-resolution quality
⦁ Printing can cover the entire fabric surface
⦁ Printing can be wide-format, with a width of up to 1.60 cm and unlimited length, making it a great option for creating flags, banners, or bedding sets.
⦁ Clothing patterns can be printed with the chosen design and then sewn into the final product (e.g., printed and sewn sports kits)
Disadvantages of Transfer Printing:
⦁ For the best quality sublimation printing, the fabric must be 100% polyester or contain at least 60-70% polyester.
⦁ The fabric used for printing must be white. Black or dark-colored fabrics cannot be sublimated.
3. The Most Modern Printing Method
currently uses the transfer printing method (via transfer). The improvement is:
⦁ it can print on any fabric (cotton, polyester, leather, etc.)
⦁ it can also print on any color garment (black, red, etc.)
This method is called DTF Printing.
Prints are very durable, elastic, and do not crack. DTF printing achieves the brightest and most saturated colors compared to all other methods. Additionally, the print becomes extremely detailed.
To achieve these advantages with the above-described transfer printing (sublimation), some changes were made to the technique. The image is printed on film (PET film) using a DTF printer. Then the film is powdered with a special powdered adhesive, which is gelled with heat. Our image is now printed, and we have two options: either transfer it with a heat press onto the garment or use it at a later stage. This image can be stored until we decide to use it.
When we decide to transfer the image onto a garment, we place the garment and the film on a heat press for 15 seconds at 170°C. The DTF adhesive melts with the colors directly onto the fabric, and our garment is ready.
The aim of the article was purely informative, to simply explain the types of textile printing and the stages they go through. We listed a few advantages and disadvantages for each method.
With us, you can find Direct Printing, Transfer Printing through Sublimation, as well as Transfer DTF Printing! Besides the available items on the Hooligans1312 website, you also have the option for personalization (flags; banners; clothing patterns with design; bedding sets; clothes or accessories). We would be happy to work with you and help you realize your project. If you have any questions or want to contact us: phone +359 88 7878 553 on Viber or WhatsApp.