Different Techniques in Printing Textile Fabrics

1. Textile/Fabric Printing Techniques

2. Introduction Textile printing is the process of applying colour to fabric in definite patterns or designs. It is process related to dyeing but one or more colours are applied to it in certain parts only, and in sharply defined patterns. There are many textiles wholesalers in Tirupur who prints using various categories of textile printing techniques

3. This refers to the fabric printing in which dye is applied to fabric which is passed through design engraved rollers in the printing machine. This is how most of the printed fabric is made – the rolls of fabric you buy to make clothes. The advantage of this printing is that the same high quality print is made throughout the whole lot the same way. A separate roller is used for different colours. The fabric after it is printed is passed through processes of drying and steaming to set the dye. You can print as much as 120000 yards of fabric in a day in a single machine and that too any intricate pattern you have in mind with precision and perfection. Engraved Roller printing

4. Screen printing is a hand method of direct fabric printing in which screens / mesh/ films are used to transfer patterns on to the fabric. It involves the use of a porous mesh screen which is stretched over a frame. In screen printing, a stencil of the design is made out of porous nylon fabric. The areas which does not have prints are covered and then the screens are placed on the fabric and a wooden squeegee is used to work the colour through the porous screen on to the fabric There are two types of screen printing – flat bed screen printing and rotary screen printing. Flat bed screen printing is expensive . Screen printing

5. This printing involves use of stencils cut in the shape of the designs. The stencils are made of metal wood paper or plastic. The dye / colour is applied on the spaces cut inside the stencil. This is a very easy method of printing on fabric which can be done even by a kid. But the disadvantage is that it is labour intensive and takes a long time to print. It is mostly used for single use purposes. Stencil printing

6. This is the method of creating prints with a block of wood, copper or other material bearing a design. Metal or wooden blocks are carved in the design and dye is applied on the carved design. This is then pressed and applied on the face of the fabric. Checkout the post on diy block printing for more details as well Ideas to make fabric stamps on your own and the best paint to use for fabric stamping and block printing. Block printing

7. As the name suggests controlled spraying using specialized sprayers is used to transfer dye on to the fabric. A spray gun is used to force the colour on to the fabric through screens. Spray printing

8. Today, even though there are many textile manufacturers in Tirupur who knows well about the art of making colours for textile printing, only a few has both chemical knowledge and extensive technical experience, for their ingredients to be in proper proportion to each other. Hence it is important to choose the right manufacturers. Conclusion