Opinions of Wednesday, 22 March 2023
Columnist: JoyceWarren
Roll-to-roll digital textile printing is a revolutionary technology that has benefited the whole textile industry. This technique enables fabric designs to be printed quickly and efficiently, providing designers and manufacturers with the ability to create intricate and vivid designs. Compared with DTG (direct-to-garment) printers, which are mainly used on cotton fabric and dye sublimation printers commonly for fabrics with a high percentage of polyesters, roll-to-roll digital textile printers are suitable for a wide range of fabrics.
In this article, we will explore the types of fabrics roll-to-roll digital textile printers can print on and the products that can be created with them.
Applicable types of fabrics
Roll-to-roll digital textile printers can print on a variety of fabrics, including natural and synthetic fibers. The type of fabric used depends on the desired end product, and customer requirements. The printer used determines the width of the fabric that can be printed. Here are some of the most common types of fabrics that are fitted for roll-to-roll digital printers:
Cotton
Cotton is one of the most popular fabrics used in the textile industry. It is a soft, breathable fabric. With roll-to-roll digital printers, it can be made into T-shirts, dresses, and other apparel items. Moreover, home décor items such as curtains, pillowcases, and tablecloths are also available.
Silk
Silk is a luxurious fabric that has been used for thousands of years to create elegant clothing and home décor items. Roll-to-roll digital textile printers can print intricate designs on silk, creating stunning patterns that are perfect for dresses, scarves, and other high-end apparel items.
Polyester
Polyester is a synthetic fabric that is durable, lightweight, and easy to care for. It is often used in the production of sportswear, swimwear, and other performance apparel items. Roll-to-roll digital textile printers can print vibrant designs on polyester, making it ideal for creating eye-catching, high-performance clothing.
Wool
Wool is a natural fiber that is often used to create warm, cozy clothing items such as sweaters, scarves, and blankets. Roll-to-roll digital textile printers can print designs on wool, creating unique patterns and designs that are perfect for winter wear.
Linen
Linen is a natural fabric that is made from the fibers of the flax plant. It is lightweight, breathable, and ideal for creating summer clothing items such as dresses and blouses. Roll-to-roll digital textile printers can print designs on linen, creating beautiful patterns and designs that are perfect for warm weather.
Others
Some blended fabrics can also be used for roll-to-roll digital printers, such as a mixed fabric consisting of 70% cotton and 30% polyester.
What can these fabrics be made into?
Here are just a few examples of the products that can be created using these fabrics:
Fashion clothing
Roll-to-roll digital textile printing is a good method to create unique, eye-catching designs on a wide assortment of apparel items, including T-shirts, dresses, skirts, and jackets.
Home décor items
Digital textile printers also open more possibilities to the home décor market since their creativity in color and design can refresh a vast variety of home décor items, including curtains, pillowcases, and tablecloths.
Accessories
Digital textile printing can also be used to create a range of accessories, including scarves, bags, and hats. These accessories can be made from a variety of fabrics, including silk, cotton, and wool.
Roll-to-roll digital textile printers print on a diverse range of textiles using different types of inks. Ink type plays a vital role in the quality of the print. So one thing you should remember is the match between the ink type and the printed fabric.
There are various types of ink available for roll-to-roll digital textile printers, and each ink has unique properties that make it suitable for specific fabrics. The common ink types used here are acid inks, reactive inks, disperse inks, and pigment inks. As for the match between inks and fabrics, click here for more detailed information about it.
Conclusion
Roll-to-roll digital textile printers have offered unprecedented versatility in printing on a wide range of fabrics. This has opened up a world of possibilities for designers and manufacturers, who can now create custom textiles for a variety of applications. From apparel to home decor to industrial uses, the possibilities are endless. As technology continues to advance, we can expect even more exciting applications for roll-to-roll digital textile printers in the future.