| Historical review in textile printing | | | | colors combination or color control without lack of |
| Textile printing is a method by which fabrics are printed | | | | standards |
| in various colors, arts and designs. It is a very old art | | | | Types of digital fabric printing technologies |
| developed and created on fabrics in Egypt during 5000 | | | | There are various types of digital printing technology |
| B.C. Fabrics also found printed in Greek during 4th | | | | available in market like thermal DOD Ink jet |
| century. B.C, also it is noted that printing blocks were | | | | Piezoelectric DOD ink jet, airbrush/valve jet, |
| sourced from India in 5th century. B.C. During that time, | | | | electrostatic (sublimation & resin), thermal transfer, |
| France acknowledged as popular center of this type | | | | electro photography (Laser, LED), photographic |
| of cloth production and printing. Japan was popular for | | | | development, continuous ink jet (CIJ) etc. |
| adding stencil work in wood by making blocks and | | | | DOD Ink jet fabric printing method: DOD Ink jet printing |
| further by pasting dies and prints it in fabrics. | | | | method bring a drop of ink or dyes only when needed |
| In the Mid-15th Century, with the invention of printing | | | | for printing that is why it is called drops on demand ( |
| press by John Gutenberg there was a drastic change | | | | DOD ), i.e. it works on the principal "only when and |
| seen in printing technology and textile printing. After | | | | where required in the design" . This system works as |
| practicing by William Caxton in England, there was a | | | | environment friendly, because of its "no paste, no |
| remarkable widespread seen in relief printing | | | | waste "method, and the complete color reaches to the |
| technology in 1476. In sixteen and seventeen century | | | | fabric. |
| with the export of spices, India became major provider | | | | Piezoelectric DOD ink jet fabric printing method: It uses |
| of printing fabrics and products, like calico, pajama, | | | | electrostatic forces for arrangement and spraying of |
| gingham, dungaree, chintz and khaki according to the | | | | micro drops of inks or dyes in fabric printing. Here high |
| requirement of European countries. Then by the | | | | voltages are applied to piezoelectric crystals for |
| efforts by Grant, Thomas Bell and many printers, with | | | | producing directional current. The advantage of using |
| the invention of wood block (1760), copper block (1770) | | | | this methods are it formulation directional ink, where |
| and copper roller (1797) printing technology in the | | | | inks not heated , hence less expensive, printing heads |
| eighteenth century, especially the trend of cotton | | | | works at its cycles per second and provides high |
| printing spread, still it can be seen at the Toile de Jouy | | | | resolution by applying small drop size of inks or dyes. |
| Museum. | | | | Electrostatic Sublimation Transfer Printing : Sublimation |
| The history of fabric printing in Dartford goes away | | | | is a method whereby a solid dyes turns exactly into a |
| with Augustus Applegath's acceptance of a silk printing | | | | gas without passing through a liquid state, can be |
| works in the town and it sustained until 1865 when | | | | transferred to a fabric (e.g. polyester) and re-solidify as |
| James Keymer established a new fabric printing | | | | a solid color again. Dye sublimation is a two-step |
| works on the banks of the River Darent. In 1907 | | | | process that needs additional equipment to the |
| Samuel Simon was used a fabric printing system in | | | | electrostatic printers for dye-sub. Also it requires a |
| which the designs were shaped from stencils through | | | | special paper for heating at the heat press; |
| screen printing machines. In 1940's first photographic | | | | electrostatic printer. It is also called sublimation transfer |
| stencil was built up by Colin Sharp. After development | | | | printing. These inks or dyes can be printed onto paper |
| of computers, the printing process and its | | | | from either a silkscreen process or from printers |
| developments geared up in their colors. | | | | attached with ribbons with the sublimation inks. These |
| Development in last two decades | | | | papers then can transmit images onto fabrics. |
| With the improvement in the printing technology, color | | | | Direct ink jet transfer method: The direct ink jet |
| inkjet printers played an important role in digital fabrics | | | | transfer method is direct transfer, or printing directly |
| for the consumer market in the late 1980s. That time | | | | onto fabric with an inkjet printer. This process |
| Canon and Hewlett-Packard became leaders in the | | | | expensive and the fabrics require to be coated in |
| printing technology. Canon's Bubble Jet printers were | | | | order to effectively allow the inks or dyes. |
| received so acceptance in the market. Again latest | | | | Continuous ink jet fabric printing method: The ink is |
| technology geared up in their improvement with the | | | | constantly pushed out of the ink channel by a pump by |
| existence of a large format color inkjet printer - the Iris | | | | a nozzle attached with a PZT material and it |
| printer in the 1990s, but that technology was not | | | | generates an "ink-jet". Using an electrical power on the |
| considered as ideal tool for the fabrics due to light | | | | PZT material, the nozzle shakes, breaches the ink jet |
| sensitive color problem, rather it was accepted for | | | | into droplets of ink and used for printing fabrics. |
| paper printing. | | | | Continuous ink jet fabric printing method also available |
| Earlier, direct printing method used for fabric with the | | | | with its binary hertz operation and multi-deflection |
| computer and the printing is made with the computer | | | | system. |
| inks; it was the time where fabric was printed using | | | | Software application in digital fabric printing: For digital |
| only black images or text because of the availability of | | | | fabric printing Color management Systems (CMS, |
| only laser printers and ribbon printers and there were | | | | Calibration), Raster Image Processor (RIP), printer |
| no color printers. In 1999 Bubble Jet Set printing | | | | driver software, design lay out software (CAD), etc |
| technology developed, which permits fabric to be | | | | are widely used. |
| treated, amalgamated to freezer paper with an iron | | | | Development in printing equipment |
| and then operate through an ink jet printer. | | | | At present Ichinose ImageProofer, Stork Amethyst, |
| The meaning of Digital fabric/Textile Printing | | | | Dupont Artistri2020, Mimaki TX2-1600, Encad, NovaJet |
| The digital fabrics printing technology is existed since | | | | 880, Zimmer Chromotex, ColorSpan, FabriJet, Aprion |
| last decade, it emerged after 1994. It is a skill that prints | | | | Magic, Leggett and Platt Virtuetc, Imaje-Osiris, Reggiani |
| the designs on fabric, immediately from your computer, | | | | DReAM, Robustelli Mona Lisa, Leggett & Platt |
| without extra efforts just like printing and designing a | | | | UV-dye, Mimaki TX2 & TX 3 etc latest printers or |
| paper. Digital textile printing is a flexible tool and a key | | | | equipment with their developed brand name or version |
| acceptable to the vision of mass customization. It | | | | are widely using for getting effective results. |
| permits the user to evade the screen making process, | | | | Latest digital inks: Today most fabric printers or |
| offering the chance for quick changes to color or | | | | manufacturers uses reactive & acids in various |
| design elements prior to printing. | | | | colors, dispersed inks, finishing inks for light, color, |
| Advantages of digital fabric printing over traditional | | | | pigments etc. Ink specialist such as Ciba Specialty |
| printing technology | | | | Chemicals, DuPont, Dystar ( BASF), CHT, Lyson, |
| Generally, textile printing has been operated through | | | | Brookline, ECS and Kimberly Clark have developed |
| transferring media, such as screens and rollers. Each | | | | digital form of conventional dyes such as reactive, acid, |
| transferring media is designed and allocated for a | | | | disperse and pigment. These inks permit printers to |
| specific color. A block printing and engraved copper | | | | make prints on their specific type of fabrics. |
| printing are operating through these methods. A | | | | According to Ray Work of DuPont, the worldwide |
| number of woodblocks that are designed in block | | | | market for textile chemicals is at $22 billion, of which |
| printing give a number of colors in design. Advantage | | | | around 36% is dyes and pigments. Finishing and |
| of using this type of method is that you can have | | | | coatings includes 38%. A foremost improved, |
| three dimensional effects due to its color separation | | | | according to Work, is that now almost every type of |
| and layers, and still today rotary screen printing method | | | | fabric can be digitally printed by ink jet, be grateful to |
| is used in designing of traditional floral patterns and toile | | | | progress in inks |
| designs. Mechanical or traditional fabric printing | | | | For DuPont Artistri 2020 Printer DuPont Artistri 700 |
| methods some times manipulate in both way, by | | | | Series Ink is (acid dye ink chemistry) used for Nylon, |
| design aesthetics and styles, while in the field of printed | | | | Nylon/Lycra, Silk, Wool. For Polyester, Nylon, Nylon |
| textile design with the latest digital fabric printing | | | | Lycra processing disperse dye ink is used, for Cotton, |
| technology it enhanced the style and meaning of | | | | Polyester, Cotton/Poly Blends, Viscose/Rayon Linen, |
| printed textile design. It is a fact that the new latest | | | | Nylon*, Nylon/Lycra, Silk, Wool pigmented ink chemistry |
| methods of digital printing on fabrics have exposed | | | | available. DuPont Solar Brite Ink is used especially for |
| new horizons to the designers and manufacturers. | | | | active wear, swimwear, intimate apparel, flags and |
| Digital printing methods have facilitated manufactures | | | | accessories. |
| to make a digital sampling and have advantages of | | | | Digital textile printing technology in present market |
| change in designs before engraving. By adopting digital | | | | For digital textile printing technology, there are three |
| printing techniques you can re-adjust conventional | | | | types of demands exists in market, which are |
| printing design and can able to give new looks in | | | | sampling, strike-off, and mass customization. |
| design. | | | | Sampling: The sampling demand involves printing on |
| Today, many customers are demanding fabrics to be | | | | paper and fabrics with an intimate concentration and |
| printed with various color combinations, styles, designs, | | | | compliance to the usual screen printing which is used |
| traditional designs and looks, but to co-up with these | | | | for manufacturing. |
| customization demands there has been a limitation to | | | | Strike-off: Strike-off is a product of sample for a single, |
| attend the entire mass market with traditional printing | | | | salable item for markets such as luxury, entertainment, |
| technology. Digital printing profits over conventional | | | | or special events. |
| printing it provide noteworthy benefits like quick | | | | Mass customization: Mass customization is the third |
| turn-around, efficient set-up and speed, economical and | | | | main products area and it creates an immense deal of |
| great flexibility, takes less time, alteration possible etc. | | | | concentration by mass customers. |
| And in today's customer oriented market the printing | | | | The future markets: Besides the above existed |
| technology is not limited to wearing wears; but it | | | | segment, the digital fabric printing technology will be |
| bounds to its limits and reaches to the requirements of | | | | booming with their batch production printing and low |
| trade show graphics, picture of huge fabric posters of | | | | volume demand fabric printing. |
| television and movie stars, advertising purposes, flags | | | | Its industry size is calculated: 300,000 Retailer "Doors" |
| and banners and many mores. | | | | and 20,000+ Manufacturer "Doors", |
| Unlike any traditional textile printing technology, the main | | | | 400 Companies Manufacture 80% of all apparel, |
| benefit of digital fabric printing is in its process color | | | | Apparel & Related Volume is $180B, |
| application with its latest printers, software applications. | | | | All Others' Goods represent $36B. |
| Photographic and tonal graphics shaped millions of | | | | Textile Printing Trends |
| colors with Photoshop and can be printed on fabric | | | | The world wide trends: Decline in US print production, |
| according to the color combination requirement. Wider | | | | there seems growth of Asian print production and |
| color scope and finer printing quality are available with | | | | decreasing production run lengths, demand for greater |
| the latest development of inks, color management | | | | design variety, demand for shorter production cycles |
| software. In the traditional process colors of CMYK, | | | | and demand for reduced inventory risk. |
| you can have various color combination with addition | | | | Cotton is the most frequently printed material (48% of |
| of extra preset colors like orange, blue, green, and also | | | | printing production), followed by cotton/polyester blends |
| there is availability of various type of software with | | | | (19%), polyester (15%), and viscose (13%). From a |
| these complex color combination. These preset colors | | | | worldwide viewpoint, other material (e.g. polyamide, |
| reduce importance of screens or rollers for printing, | | | | polyacrylic, wool and silk) involve with a little part. |
| and there is no need of repeat the size and other | | | | Prospecting Market |
| combination with no limit with color combinations in | | | | There are a range of new textile industry products |
| designs. | | | | you can print with digital printing, which covers wall |
| From digital textile printing technology you can have | | | | covering, Info-banners, car covers, artworks, and flags |
| latest innovative and creative deigns like concepts of | | | | and including museums, galleries, and exhibitors for multi |
| shadow, shimmering, vibration, reflection, moire, optical, | | | | disciplinary products, used in printing of education |
| translucent, netting, blurring, layering, superimposing, etc., | | | | system or related products and there are many |
| instead of making special efforts with traditional | | | | prospects for both direct and transfer digital printing e.g. |
| methods of printing. Today, the printing technology | | | | for printing mouse pads ( new fabric surfaces and |
| developed so tremendously and became so | | | | base materials), apparel prototyping for spot color, |
| eco-friendly, user-friendly that, even designers can | | | | linking prototyping to production, and digitally-generated |
| make its products without taking help from textile | | | | screens etc. |
| designers. | | | | Digital textile production has been increasing at about |
| Digital Printing Advantages | | | | 13% worldwide. The worldwide volume of |
| . Design achieved with greater flexibility, without the | | | | digitally-printed textiles has been reaching about 44 |
| limitation of on repeat size, colors, engineered designs | | | | million square meters by 2005. Duo to the high quality |
| and gets outstanding depiction of continuous tone | | | | performance, in short time the availability of products, |
| (photographic) images | | | | multidiscipline design, eco-friendly , cost- effective , etc |
| . The digital printing equipment not requires much | | | | advantages in digital textile printing technology, there |
| infrastructure and it is comparatively available in less | | | | exits a new market opportunities for this technology |
| cost | | | | and it will be applicable to, backgrounds printing, scenes |
| . Drastically trim down time to market the products | | | | for theaters, film studios, photographers, music and |
| . It also decrease the use of water, dyes & | | | | sports events, road shows, parades, high profile |
| solutions hence acts as an environmentally friendly tool | | | | catering, presidential campaigns, promotion organizers, |
| . It decreases industrial waste and print loss, provides | | | | advertising agencies, universities, churches, parties, for |
| centralize manufacturing facility | | | | hanging signs, displays systems, packing, for sampling, |
| . Mass customization requirements easily available in | | | | for prototyping and new designs sampling, short run |
| short time | | | | production, for interior designers to make curtains, |
| . Availability of fast greater speed of operation, high | | | | upholstery, table cloth, bed ware etc. |
| resolution / drop Size & configuration with spot | | | | |