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Know your options for digital printing. What to consider before investing! PART 1
If one spends some time in all related industry forums reading or chats, you see that there are many "threads" out there asking the same questions: "What is the difference between direct to garment printing and / Cut … which one is best for my business … What about the DS … What kind of paper should I use to make transfers with my ink jet printer … How I can print photos on T-shirts …. what about printing on dark garments? The confusion and the questions go on and on, and sometimes it seems that responses are only coming from someone who loves you sell a piece of equipment!
Cheer up, this article will not try to sell anything. Its aim is only to help you become better informed about their options when it comes to digital printing. One thing everyone agrees on is that digital printing is ideal for short clothes period decorations (although I know of companies that use it to print jobs that run in the hundreds) and opened new markets and new revenue opportunities for many companies.
First, let's define the technologies available today that are considered digital. In no particular order are: sublimation, or direct to garment inkjet to garment, inkjet transfers, CLC (color laser copier transfers), and printing / cutting. They all have their advantages and limitations.
With the DS, everyone knows it will not work on dark garments and is designed primarily for use in polyester or polyester blend garments. Application on cotton is possible with some pre-treatment. There has been progress in developing systems that allow greater sublimation flexibility, but technology has a reputation for being difficult to perfect. It remains an excellent method for customizing such durable goods as mugs, mouse pads, coasters and more.
There have been a lot of emotion more directly to the printing of clothing and many people have invested in this system based inkjet that prints directly on textiles. Some limitations of the technology include direct cost clothing for not all printed correctly or easily on dark garments (for homework), the need for pre-treatment and sometimes dark clothes with light colors to make them brighter, lack opacity and brightness, the length of time required to complete a garment, especially dark clothing and the level of skills required to operate the equipment. Some clothing directly to printers are designed to print on tile, wood, golf balls, mouse mats, but not all of them. Direct printers clothing best results on cotton, but can be used in silks, blends, and some other tissues, but can not really be used in polyester without treatment. However, all that is said, remains one of the methods most popular digital printing market.
Inkjet and CLC transfers are known as the cheaper, entry level, anyone-can-do-that technology in the field of garment decoration digital. There dozens of different roles available that can be works of art from your computer desktop to a shirt in a matter of minutes. Once again, are limited by the substrates which documents apply, and it is still difficult to find a document that makes a great print job in dark colors. There is also issue of ghosting, unless a particular use hand-cut to trim the excess paper or paper used in combination with a cutter that done automatically.
By taking that kind of thinking to the next level, a list of clothing digital decorating methods to be considered not complete without print / cut technology. Although little known as a specialist technology for personalization average, this technology has had years of proven performance in the clothing manufacturing sector, you probably found print / cut in the cost of applications for brand performance, shoes, bags Nylon and more without even realizing it. Print / cut technology is probably the best fair of all digital technologies available today. It gives you all the advantages of digital methods mentioned above, virtually none of the disadvantages.
One of the biggest reasons for excitement print / cut technology is its versatility, not only can print on a wide variety of garments with print / cut, can also be used Print everything from the helmet stickers and clings to the window of the vehicle wraps and banners. Print / cut technology incorporates technology originally designed for use in the sign industry, a large format, eco-solvent printer that prints instantly and automatically contour cut full color, photo-realistic logos, designs and names in any amount "on demand." These images are printed on specially developed media that can be digital heat applied to any fabric, any color.
With a print / cut system, there is virtually no limit to the work be able to do. In the textile world – literally anything that can fit under a heat press can be decorated, caps and nylon bags and wear performance swimwear. Even works on leather. No need to pre-treat the garment, no limitations on the type of fabric that can be printed and there are even media expertise available, as the sheet metal and effects let you create colorful fashion not possible with any digital printing method. The recent development and availability of new digital media is what is driving this previously unknown method of garment decoration in the center of attention.
Better yet, the technology has been proven for many years in the sign industry as durable and easy to operate. It's just a matter of using the media digital communication right for the job at hand. Its biggest limitation would be the cost of the equipment, but more and more business owners willing to invest something that can be used as an alternative to screen printing and embroidery, printing / cutting is becoming a popular choice, especially with the introduction more media designed specifically for use with the printing / cutting system.
- It is probably only a matter of time before investing in any type of digital garment decoration, if you have not already. If you are a screen printer, embroiderer or plan to specialize exclusively in digital printing, a method is available that meets your needs. And if you are still unsure about making a great investment, go online and participate in a forum for industry users chat. Benefit from the experience of current users of the technology that interests you and weigh all the facts. I'm not promising still are confused, but at least you will not feel alone!
About the Author
About this Article: This is one of a series of occasional articles issued to help those active in the garment decoration and embellishment industry by Target Transfers. Target is a major UK supplier of Equipment, materials, custom transfers, garments and accessories to the imprinted wear market, and a member of GroupeSTAHL, the world’s leading suppliers of Identity for Textiles. Please visit Target’s website for more details at www.TargetTransfers.com. See also articles by Martin Borley and Robin Bull.
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