Digital textile printing is described as an ink jet-based method of printing color to fabric. Especially, digital textile printing is called when identifying either printing smaller designs onto clothing (t-shirts, dresses, promotional clothing, abbreviated as DTG, which stands for Direct to Garment) and printing larger designs into large textile format rolls. The latter is a growing trend in visual communication, where advertising and corporate branding are printed onto polyester media. For example: flags, banners, signs, retail charts.
The types of printing can be divided into:
- Print Live
- Print Debit
- Reject Print
- Print Pigment
- Reactive Print
- Acid printing
- print dispersion
- Special Print
Digital textile printing began in the late 1980s as a possible replacement for analog screen printing. With the development of dye-sublimation printers in the early 1990s, it became possible to print with low-energy sublimation inks dissolving direct ink directly into textile media, as opposed to dye-sublimation ink printing on transfer paper and, in a separate process using heat press, transfer to fabric.
In digital textile printing for visual communication, a division must be created in:
- low dye-sub volume printers (eg ATPColor, Roland, D-Gen, Mimaki, Mutoh)
- wide-format wide-format printers (eg Atexco, ATPColor, Roland, Durst, Hollanders Printing Systems, Vutek)
- high-volume industry printers (eg Atexco, Reggiani, MS, Osiris, Storks, Konica-Minolta, Zimmer)
Video Digital textile printing
Persyaratan produksi
The 'textile market' consists of many different applications and requirements. The use of the intended fabric is the most important starting point for identifying exactly what is needed to produce a specific end product. The 'textile' product can vary from natural yarn to clothing, to synthetic fibers to flags and banners. 'Textile products' may be wall-mounted banners, stand-alone pop-up banners, beach flags, country flags or corporate flags. It can be a carpet, back-lit frame, curtain, room divider, building wrap, bed cover, garment and more.
The dominant textile media used in visual communication is polyester based fabrics. In the US, nylon is often used for flags. In northern Europe, polyspun materials have become the choice of fabrics for traditional flag printing. In the market today, woven or knitted polyester is a de facto standard. This differs from coated vinyl or dominant pvc media used in the sign and display industry. The production process must conform to the requirements for this type of ink: high energy sublimation (also known as direct dispersion), sublimation of low energy (dye-sub), acid, reactive and pigment. In turn, this type of ink chemistry must meet the requirements for the media (such as polyester, nylon, cotton, silk). Based on a combination of media and ink, the choice comes for infrared fixation, sublimation hot press or steam. The fabric structure also needs attention, for example whether it is woven, not woven or knitted.
Polyester fabrics are printed mostly with sub-dye or direct ink spread, although UV and solvent inks (including HP latex formulations) can also be used. The great benefit of sublimation inks is the fact that the dye will bond with the fibers during sublimation or fixation. The color is 'inside' the media and is not inside the layer and above the media, as is the curable UV formulation. Even latex inks on porous textiles may suffer from crocking or 'falling out' problems. Sublimation of low energy inks is easier to print, but has fading color weakness faster; its UV resistance, or light fastness, is less resistant than equivalent to using high-energy direct disperse inks. The sub-dye may also experience a 'halo' effect that produces less sharp images. Direct dispersion inks are 'stronger' inks than dye sub-types, and these are essential for outdoor use, such as for fences, flags and banners: artwork will last longer.
Another benefit of water-based sublimation ink is the absence of harmful components such as those found in UV-curable, solvents and, even, in latex inks. When properly executed, direct printing to the media with disperse ink can be achieved on an uncoated fabric and offers maximum mold; this is important in applications viewed from both sides, such as by flag printing. Thus, the product can be sold at a higher margin, with the label 'green' and with a higher quality. Other media and ink combinations do not allow this.
The biggest advantage of direct to media is drastic waste reduction. This method does not need to print on transfer paper first before calendering (or hot-pressing) to the media. Waste is an economic and ecological factor in print production. Print speed does not have much effect if most are disposed of as waste due to media discrepancies, ink, maintenance or lack of knowledge.
The quality of the final product of the mold must be in accordance with the needs of the application. Durability, fastness and hand are important. Post-processing is something to think about: whether the printed material is easily braided, applied or handled. Should it be washed or whether it needs to be finished (eg fireproof, waterproof). A washed textile no longer has a coating or ink residue and therefore, will have a better taste. In addition, it will be less prone to blemishes and will last longer. However, digital textile printing fabrics will fade with repeated leaching, so it should be labeled as just dry cleaning, and the best way is to wash by hand with cold water or use a soft cycle machine and use a mild detergent.
An alternative that does not require expensive equipment and dyes is Inkjet Fabric Printing that uses standard inkjet printers (eg HP, Epson, Canon, Lexmark) and paper-backed paper sheets. Inkjet cloth sheets are currently available in cotton, bamboo and silk in Amazon and other websites. The removable paper support makes the fabric stiff enough to pass through your inkjet printer. After the ink is dry (1 hour to overnight for thick ink folds), simply remove the paper stopper, follow the instructions for water dipped to set the ink, leave the cloth dry, and you are ready to sew.
Maps Digital textile printing
Economy
As well as material issues and application issues, the economy comes into play. Where the traditional textile printing industry is accustomed to mass production on a long-term basis, most digital inkjet businesses produce short-term non-textile products. This approach to digital textile printing is very different, and so is the expectation. Where markers are accustomed to a single process system, traditional textile printing is already familiar with several production steps. In the economic balance behind production needs, it is important to understand the entire flow of production. An example lies in the choice of fixation equipment and the subsequent implications of energy and resource costs; for example, the ship needs water and energy, and the calendar needs to heat up and use a lot of energy plus a large amount of paper.
In addition, the impact on business with legislation and demand from customers related to environmentally friendly products, is increasingly a factor.
Growth
In 2015, the industry is worth around US $ 7.5 billion globally. The worldwide digital textile printing market for garment, home and industrial applications is experiencing strong growth of approximately 34% CAGR through 2019.
References
External links
- Digital Textile Printing is a boon to improve printing standards
- Digital Textile Printers - new wave in Industry
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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