{"id":2268,"date":"2019-06-03T09:11:46","date_gmt":"2019-06-03T07:11:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ctnbeeblog.idve.pl\/fabric-printing-methods-which-printing-technology-to-choose\/"},"modified":"2026-07-16T15:02:10","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T13:02:10","slug":"fabric-printing-methods-which-printing-technology-to-choose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ctnbee.com\/blog\/en\/fabric-printing-methods-which-printing-technology-to-choose\/","title":{"rendered":"Fabric printing methods \u2013 which printing technology to choose?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Fabric printing<\/strong> depends mainly on the type of fabric, the purpose of the project, and the order size. In this article, we compare the main fabric printing methods and show which one makes the most sense in a specific use case. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key takeaways<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • there\u00a0is\u00a0no single \u201cbest\u201d\u00a0fabric\u00a0printing\u00a0technology; the\u00a0right\u00a0choice\u00a0depends\u00a0on the\u00a0material<\/strong>\u00a0and the\u00a0goal\u00a0of the\u00a0project;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • if\u00a0you\u00a0print\u00a0on\u00a0finished\u00a0clothing\u00a0or\u00a0bags<\/strong>,\u00a0you\u00a0will\u00a0usually\u00a0consider\u00a0DTG\u00a0or\u00a0screen\u00a0printing<\/strong>;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • if\u00a0you\u00a0need\u00a0printed\u00a0fabric\u00a0by the\u00a0metre<\/strong>,\u00a0roll-to-roll<\/strong>\u00a0printing\u00a0is\u00a0usually\u00a0the\u00a0right\u00a0direction;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • pigment vs\u00a0reactive<\/strong>\u00a0printing\u00a0is\u00a0usually\u00a0a\u00a0question\u00a0of\u00a0natural\u00a0fibres,\u00a0expected\u00a0colour\u00a0saturation,\u00a0hand\u00a0feel, and\u00a0budget<\/strong>;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • sublimation\u00a0vs pigment<\/strong> printing is, in practice,\u00a0mainly a\u00a0choice between polyester and cotton<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n
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    \"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    Types of printing \u2013 where to start choosing a technology?<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The most common mistake is looking for the \u201cbest printing technology\u201d instead of asking a simpler question. What exactly do I want to print, and on what material?<\/strong> That matters, because the same design may need one method on cotton, another on polyester, and yet another on silk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Before choosing a method, answer these 6 questions: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Are you printing on a finished product or on fabric by the roll? <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      1. What fibre are you printing on: cotton, polyester, silk, viscose, wool? <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        1. Do you need one sample, a short run, or a larger production? <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
            \n
          1. Is the design simple and limited in colour, or does it include photos, fine details, and tonal transitions? <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
              \n
            1. Do you care more about speed and flexibility, or maximum saturation and a specific hand feel? <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                \n
              1. Is this a test, a prototype, or regular production? <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                Quick comparison of fabric printing methods<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                Printing technology<\/strong> <\/td>When it makes sense<\/strong> <\/td><\/tr>
                Screen printing<\/strong> <\/td>Best for simple designs, a limited number of colours, and larger runs. <\/td><\/tr>
                DTG<\/strong> <\/td>Worth considering when you print directly on finished garments or accessories. <\/td><\/tr>
                Roll-to-roll<\/strong> <\/td>The right choice when you need printed fabric by the metre and want to sew from it later. <\/td><\/tr>
                Pigment printing<\/strong> <\/td>A common choice for cotton and other natural fibres, especially when order flexibility and sampling matter. <\/td><\/tr>
                Sublimation printing<\/strong> <\/td>Best for polyester and blends with a high polyester content. <\/td><\/tr>
                Reactive \/ acid printing<\/strong> <\/td>Used when the dye needs to chemically bond with a specific fibre, such as cotton, silk, or wool. <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
                \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

                The basic division of fabric printing technologies is the distinction between analogue printing<\/strong> and digital printing<\/strong>. In this article, we explain how the main methods work, what makes them different, and where each of them fits best.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Analogue printing – screen printing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                Screen printing<\/b><\/span> is an analogue method of fabric printing. Screen printing involves pressing the paint through a printing screen (made of a steel frame and a nylon mesh) and thus making a print. This operation can be performed manually (the paint is then squeezed manually through the screen) or with a machine (the paint is automatically pressed by the machine through the screen).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                How does screen printing work?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                Preparing the screen in screen printing<\/b> resembles preparation of a template, where individual parts of the grid are covered, and a specific shape is obtained on the fabric. By means of screen printing, one colour is printed at a time as each colour is a separate layer. For this reason, screen printing is not particularly recommended for multicolour prints. In such cases, digital printing will work much better. Method can be used both with material beams (in such instance a rotational screen is used) or on ready-made clothing items (T-shirts, bags, accessories).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Screen printing – what to print?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                Screen\u00a0printing\u00a0comes\u00a0with\u00a0clear\u00a0limitations. Mostly\u00a0because\u00a0of the\u00a0way\u00a0colours\u00a0are\u00a0applied.\u00a0Each\u00a0colour\u00a0is\u00a0added\u00a0separately, with\u00a0its\u00a0own\u00a0screen\u00a0and\u00a0print\u00a0pass.\u00a0Smooth\u00a0tonal\u00a0transitions\u00a0are\u00a0difficult, and\u00a0sometimes\u00a0impossible, to\u00a0achieve.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                That\u00a0is\u00a0why\u00a0screen\u00a0printing\u00a0works\u00a0best\u00a0for:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  \n
                • simple\u00a0graphic\u00a0shapes;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • geometric\u00a0motifs;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • designs\u00a0with a small\u00a0number\u00a0of\u00a0colours;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • projects\u00a0printed\u00a0in\u00a0larger\u00a0quantities;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • light\u00a0prints\u00a0on\u00a0dark\u00a0fabrics, for\u00a0example\u00a0white\u00a0motifs\u00a0on\u00a0black\u00a0fabric.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                  It\u00a0is\u00a0much less\u00a0suitable\u00a0for:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    \n
                  • photographs;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • detailed\u00a0illustrations;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • subtle\u00a0shading;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • smooth\u00a0gradients;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • very\u00a0complex\u00a0multicolour\u00a0artwork.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                    Types of screen printing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                      \n
                    • Flat screen printing – most often used for printing on ready-made objects (t-shirts, bags)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    • Rotary screen printing – used for printing on entire rolls of fabric. As far as this fabric printing method is concerned, the initial cost is high, because the preparation of cylinders significantly raises the price<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    • Hand-screen printing – introduced to the studio by Andy Warhol, it has been quickly accepted by the independent artists who often screen print manually in their workshops using homemade constructions. You can read more about the hand-screen printing here.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                      How does printing with rotary screen printing arise?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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