Why choose textile printing?

Printing is an essential process for creating custom tees dfw and personalized and attractive other textile products for consumers. Fabric manufacturing professionals invest and have every interest in betting on textile editing through techniques that can vary depending on the cost, the quality of the production and the desired result. In order to convey a professional quality brand image, the various printing techniques require impeccable production and must meet implementation standards.

Discover the manufacturing secrets of textile printing and their different advantages through a presentation of the different printing techniques!

Table of Contents

TEXTILE EMBROIDERY

Textile embroidery is an ancestral technique. New technologies have allowed the renewal of this art, with in particular the appearance of computer-assisted embroidery machines. This allows the production of visuals on fabrics with extreme precision.

Textile embroidery is the ideal method on thick garments such as sweatshirts, down jackets or even hats.

The typical realization for textile embroidery

Step 1: Importing the logo

On Illustrator, it is possible to rework the logo and change the fonts.

Step 2: Choosing the thickness of the embroidery

This step allows you to choose the number of stitches and the thickness of the embroidery for the final creation.

Step 3: Embroidery

The machines can rotate up to 270° to maximize sewing options. It is also possible to apply up to 15 colors at once.

The time required to complete textile embroidery depends on the complexity of the final design. A simple logo will be easier to achieve than a convoluted image.

TEXTILE PRINTING

Screen printing is also an ancestral technique. Its use is done through many media . Its success is such that it is the most commercially used textile printing method. With a very low cost, it nevertheless benefits from an optimal rendering. The final visuals have the specificity of having the appearance of fine paint.

Textile screen printing is perfect for large scale prints. Choosing screen printing in particular makes it possible to lower the manufacturing cost per unit of the textile.

The typical realization for textile screen printing

Step 1: Digital preparation

On Illustrator, prepare the various necessary files as well as the patterns to be screen printed.

Step 2: Printing and eduction of the film

This film allows the insulation of the frame dedicated to printing. The film must then be coated with ink.

Step 3: Drying

The time required for the drying of a screen print is 5 minutes.

Step 4: Wedging and depositing ink for printing

Once the screen is wedged on the machine, it is necessary to deposit a second time the ink dedicated to printing.

Step 5: Topping and drying.

It is then necessary to pass in the manner of a stencil the ink so that the impression is made. The fabric must then be left to dry for 2 minutes at 140° on an infrared tunnel.

The preparation time for textile screen printing requires about ten minutes.

DIRECT DIGITAL PRINT

Direct digital printing is a technique that consists of printing a visual directly on the textile . This type of printing makes it possible to integrate the ink into the textile, thus guaranteeing a clear adhesion on the fabric.

Direct digital printing is optimal on garments with very colorful visuals. On white garments, direct digital printing has a low cost while with colored garments the cost is higher.

The typical realization for direct digital printing

Step 1: Importing the logo

On Illustrator, you have to choose a vector image.

Step 2: Preparing the work area

The print area should be pre-treated to ensure a smooth, glossy print.

Step 3: Applying the ink.

The printing plate is configured to spray cm by cm fluid, bright colors with beautiful gradations.

Step 4: Drying.

The drying time of the fabric is 6 minutes in the drying tunnel.

Direct digital printing offers the advantage of having no preparation time for a print medium.

FLOCKING

Flocking is a relatively fast technique and offers strong resistance to washing. However, it is necessary to pay attention to the stage of the dryer which could make the flocked impression disappear. The flocking offers a velvet effect to the touch through a relief effect.

Flocking is very widespread on clothing such as polo shirts, sweatshirts or even shirts. It should be noted that flocking is one of the only alternatives for windproof clothing. It brings a velvet effect to the touch on clothes.

The typical realization for flocking

Step 1: Printing the image

You must first choose an image that will be the subject of the flocking and vectorize it on Illustrator. Once the vectorization is done, it is necessary to prepare the printing. Please note that the image must be reversed before printing so that it appears on the correct side on the fabric.

Step 2: Weeding

For a flocked print, weeding may vary depending on the number of elements in the image. It is then necessary to favor simple patterns in order to save time during this stage.

Step 3: Pressing

The flocking will be done for 15 seconds in an oven heated to 150 degrees. However, before operating the press machine on the fabric, a parchment type paper must be added between the flocked part and the press to protect the flocking.

The flocking production time depends on the complexity of the desired image. For example, flocking a number on a jersey takes 5 minutes while flocking a complex image such as flowers on a shirt can take up to 20 minutes.

FLEX PRINT

For a refined and resistant production, flex printing is the solution to choose. This type of printing offers many advantages, including the ability to cover a large surface and the possibility of accessing a range of vivid and varied colors. In addition, flex printing offers a velvet-like or leather-like finish.

Flex printing is done in the same way as flocking. However, the final rendering differs with a smoothing of the patterns which makes a touch close to plastic.

The typical realization of flex printing

Step 1: Printing the image

With illustrator, just vectorize the image.

Step 2: Weeding

This step consists in removing the superfluous parts of an iron-on vinyl in order to personalize the appearance.

Step 3: Transfer

The application is done on a parchment type paper. For better adhesion of the iron-on vinyl, do not hesitate to expel the air using the masking process.

Step 4: Set up the transfer press

Between 130 to 150 degrees, the vinyl adheres to the fabric and quickly.

Step 5: Apply flex to the machine

Once adhesion is made, the membrane must be removed and the vinyl hot peeled off.

Flex printing is the technique that allows you to enhance your textiles in the best and fastest way. Either 5 to 15 seconds depending on the material selected. It has the advantage of being usable on any type of support (polyester, cotton, leather, etc.).

DIGITAL PRINTING BY SUBLIMATION

Digital sublimation printing is the ideal technique if the material you are using is polyester. Indeed it allows a flawless adhesion on your ink unlike other types of fabrics.

For maximum optimization of your digital sublimation printing, choose a white polyester fabric. Colored fabrics are more complicated to work with digital sublimation printing.