{"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":"2026-03-24T14:54:59","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T13:54:59","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

Do you print on fabrics? Or maybe you plan on trying? Choosing one from the available fabric printing methods can be tricky but is a key issue if the effect is to please the eye and be durable.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Table of contents<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Types of printing – choose the right method<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2.  Analogue printing – screen printing<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Screen printing – what to print?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Digital printing<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. DTG printing (direct to garment)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Roll-to-roll – printing fabric in bolts<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Fabric printing using pigment inks<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Dye-sublimation printing<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Digital printing using reactive dyes<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. Which method of fabric printing should you choose?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  11. Colour reproduction in textile printing<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Types of printing – choose the right method<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Fabric printing seems to be surrounded by many \u00e2\u0080\u009cmyths and legends\u00e2\u0080\u009d. Our clients often have problems with <\/span>understanding and choosing the right method of fabric printing<\/b><\/span>, which has a colossal effect on the final result of their work. Whether your project turns out exactly as you planned depends on the choice of the right printing method, medium and type of dye. Since we have not found a comprehensive and substantive summary of types of printing anywhere on the Internet, we decided to collect everything in one place. We really hope that we will make your choice much easier!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Division into <\/span>analogue and digital fabric printing methods<\/b><\/span> is the basic way of categorisation of the printing methods. Below, we will try to explain different methods and their characteristic features. <\/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

    Preparing the screen in screen printing<\/b><\/span> 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. Screen printing 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 printing imposes very many limitations linked to what you want to print – this is mainly due to the way the colours are applied. In screen printing, <\/span>each colour is applied individually<\/b><\/span> on a separate screen during a single machine cycle. In the case of screen printing, it is very difficult (and sometimes even impossible) to perform smooth tonal transitions in print (smooth\/seamless transition from one colour to the other). It’s difficult to achieve, for example, a two-colour gradient. <\/span>Screen printing works best when printing relatively simple (e.g., geometric) shapes with a small number of colours.<\/b><\/span> What is more, it is basically impossible to print pictures using the screen printing method as shading, tonal transitions and accurate reproduction of details are not its strongest point. In turn, it allows for overprinting coloured (colourful) fabrics – screen printing can be used to print, for example, white patterns on black fabric.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Types of screen printing:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    • 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?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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