Digital Textile Printing Technology

1. Digital Textile Printing Technology The market for digital textile printing is rapidly emerging, particularly in the clothing and home textile sectors. Major printing companies are therefore very interested in the textile sector, promoting the development of high- performance machinery, printing heads, inks and media. The development of digital textile printing has deeply affected the design, creation, understanding and use of textiles. The development of inkjet printing machines for textiles alone has now reached a speed and efficiency level that easily meets the needs of the textile market. Single- pass printers offer highly competitive prices and speeds for rotary screen printing. Digital printing also has less environmental impact than the rotary screen, and due to job changes on the fly, there is a high uptime than changing the screen. In this age of digital technology, the demand for better technology and faster turnaround cycles in terms of quantity production, mass customization and cost- effectiveness for the textile, apparel and printing industries is increasing. The roots of textile printing can be seen in ancient crafts, and since then it has evolved over centuries.

3. However, textile printing is a technologically complex process. Therefore, only a few specialized industries have become able to produce properly printed fabrics with the help of technologies like rotary screen printing.  Over the past decade, the technology of digital printing textile has largely changed. Most of the firms today have adopted the digital printing on paper, thus reducing the sampling time to a few hours. These technological advanacementmay explore new avenues for different areas in textile printing applications such as, sampling, strike-offs, mass-customization etc.  Digital Textile Printing Technology Digital textile printing technologies  are generally defined as a set of technolgoies, used to transfer an image in digital form onto the target surface (or substrate). There are mainly two methods of digital printing textile technolgies- • Indirect inkjet heat-transfer printing- For indirect inkjet heat-transfer printing, a special transfer paper with a layer of plastic is used to print an image, which then transferred to fabric applying heat to the transfer paper.  • Direct inkjet printing- In direct inkjet printing, through application of high temperature, colour fixation is done to the target surface. 

4. Why Digital Textile Printing? With the ever changing market scenario, choices and needs of customers are also changing. They are seeking textile printing products with a large variety of colors and patterns. Since, conventional printing methods cannot fulfil the new generation demands, there is an increasing demand for new ways that will satisfy the needs without any push in cost and waste. There comes the growing demand for digital textile printing. Inkjet printing technology, for example, is now utilized for fabric printing, as it fulfill the requirements of the new textile industry.  With the help of new technology, even artists and designer, who don’t have specialized skills in textile printing can easily produce fabrics.  Benefits of Digital Textile Printing • Digital technology simplifies the production line for textile printing. • Use of rotary screens is no more needed essentially, as patterns can be reproduced directly on the target substrate. • For sampling or low volume prints, digital textile printing is a better option.  • Design and modification of patterns have become easier now.  • Digital printing is cost-effective and requires less time

5. Key Points • Digital technology simplifies the production line for textile printing. • Use of rotary screens is no more needed essentially, as patterns can be reproduced directly on the target substrate. • For sampling or low volume prints, digital textile printing is a better option.  • Design and modification of patterns have become easier now.  • Digital printing is cost-effective and requires less time. Published by Brainware University