Special Type of Printing on Fabric and Garments | Modern Printing Technologies

Posted by Firoz Kabir on Saturday, January 17, 2015 0

Printing on fabric is another technique of coloring textile materials with the help of printing paste by applying different types of printing methods according to the specific design. Printing is also called as specific area dyeing. Print fabrics become more stiff and gets sufficient strength as well.

We know about different types of printing which are going on from hundreds years and conventionally these common type of printings are using till now. But now we will introduce about some of the new printing techniques, they have not been used by industry as large scale but has been started with industrial use as well.

Some special type of printing:

• High Density Printing
• Ink Jet Printing
• Digital Printing
• Flock Printing
• Puff printing
• Foil Printing
• Discharge printing
• Pigment Printing
• Glitter Printing
• Suede Ink Printing
• Sticker Print

High Density printing:

High Density printing is the process of printing a specially formulated ink through a very thick stencil to achieve a raised, glossy smooth print with very sharp edges. Unlike Puff inks, which have a flat, rounded and somewhat dull appearance, High Density prints result in bright, glossy distinct colors. The result is an appliqué effect similar the "welding" or radio wave embossing. High Density printing is done using basically standard textile screen printing procedures and equipment, with some variations. High density printing is done through a process of adding layers of ink on top of one another to create depth with innovative, 3D graphics.

Flock Printing:

This process involves printing of glue on the fabric first, applying the fiber flock on the gel printed by keeping the fabric on special table , Flocking is the process of depositing many small fiber particles (called flock) onto a surface. It can also refer to the texture produced by the process, or to any material used primarily for its flocked surface.

Flocking is the application of fine particles to adhesive coated surfaces. Nowadays, this is usually done by the application of a high-voltage electric field. In a Flocking Machine the "flock" is given a negative charge whilst the substrate is earthed. Flock material flies vertically onto the substrate attaching to previously applies glue. A number of different substrates can be Flocked including; textiles, fabric, woven fabric, paper, PVC, sponge, toys, automotive plastic.

Foil Print:

This printing method is based on the use of metallic foil paper of aluminum or copper one.

 Foil printing is done conventionally using UV formulated transparent inks. Transparent inks are used to allow the reflective quality of the foil and the embossing effect to be appreciated. Any color or number of colors can be specified. The embossing process imparts the three dimensional or "illusion of movement" effect and is carried out from plates made to interact with the printed image. The plates are designed after careful study of the printed image in order to capture the natural reflective phenomena of the real object. It is this that creates the almost holographic appearance of the printed image. Further treatment of the surrounding background area can enhance the three dimensional effect or create the "Illusion of Movement".

A thin sheet of metal. One of the three types of sword used in fencing (also sabre and epee) Dramatic foil: a character that emphasizes another character's qualities by acting as a counterpoint to them.

 

Puff printing:

An additive to Plastisol inks which raises the print off the garment, creating a 3D feel. In this method when the paste is printed and dries it look like normal printing garments but once it is cured the prints gets raised from the surface of fabric.

Puff inks are created by mixing a specially formulated base in with the ink. The base-ink mix expands (“puffs”) as the print is cured through the heat tunnel, leaving a 3D texture. Puff inks are also available in a wide range of colours.

Suede and Puff inks contain an additive that causes the ink to swell as it cures for a high-density effect. Puff inks are often used in Children's fashion but can be creatively used to create areas on the garment that imitate embroidery stitches for a multimedia look.

Digital Printing:

 Digital printing is a simple and low-cost printing method for photographs and similar designs with many colors. This method can only be used on white and very light-colored t-shirts. This print is also not meant to last for a long time. Washing will cause the colors to fade over time. Digital printing would require a bitmap image for the print. A color laser printer prints the image onto a transfer foil which is then heat-pressed onto the shirt.

Glitter Print:

Metallic flakes are suspended in the ink base to create this sparkle effect. Usually available in gold or silver but can be mixed to make most colours.