Printing

Printing can be described as localised dyeing in different patterns on a substrate.

There are several basic approaches to print colour on a fabric. Click on each item below for more information:

Direct printing

Applying the printing paste directly to the fabric surface with desired pattern.

Direct printing on fabric (YouTube, 3:40)

Discharge printing

Overprinting a plain dyed fabric with a discharge paste which changes or destroys the colour in the designed areas

Discharge printing (YouTube, 2:07)

Printing with discharge print paste
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Resist printing

Printing with a resist paste and passing the fabric through a subsequent dyeing process (the printed area is not coloured).

Resist printing (YouTube, 1:38)

Resist print
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Transfer printing

Literally moving a design from one surface to another. Printing the design on to a special type of paper and transferring the pattern to the fabric with the help of a heated calendar.

Heat transfer printing
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Heat transfer printing
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Transfer printing
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Flock printing

Flock printing or flocking is a printing process in which glue is printed on the fabric and then the fibre flock is applied on the adhesive-coated surface.

Flock printing (YouTube, 2:31)

Flock printing
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Pigment printing

Pigments are colour that are insoluble and do no penetrate into the fibres. Embedding the pigment colour with a film-forming binder.

Pigment printing
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Warp printing

Printing the pattern onto the warp sheet before weaving.

Warp printing
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Roller printing

The oldest mechanised method of continuous printing. Printing the fabric with engraved metal roller with the printing design. One roller per colour in printing design

Roller printing (YouTube, 5:07)

Hand printing

The oldest method of printing. Applying the printing paste by means of a wooden block or by a stencil.

Block printing (YouTube, 5:29)

Screen printing

The most important printing method. Forming the design on a screen by blocking off those parts of the screen where no printing is to happen. Coating the screen with light-sensitive polymer and then selectively exposing through a stencil. Washing away the unexposed area (Exposed areas are made insoluble.)

Flat screen printing

• Holding the fabric firm and flat on a conveyor blanket.
• Supplying printing paste to the screens and forcing through the patterned areas by a squeegee roller or blade.

Flat bed screen printing (YouTube, 2:12)

Rotary screen printing

• Continuous production.
• Pumping the printing paste from the reservoirs to the inside of the cylindrical screens.

Rotary screen printing (YouTube, 4:56)

Flat screen printing
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Rotary screen printing
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