What Are The Common Printing Processes?

Printing is a fundamental aspect of communication and production, critical in many industries from publishing to packaging. There are several common printing processes, each suitable for specific applications and materials. Understanding these processes can help you choose the right method for production and improve production efficiency. At the same time, if you need to wholesale some textile auxiliaries, this knowledge is also helpful to you.

Digital printing

Digital inkjet printing uses the principle of a printer to spray dye directly onto the surface of the fabric, and then completes the printing process after color fixation. Generally, dyes are directly printed by inkjet printing. Disperse dyes can also combine inkjet printing with thermal transfer. First inkjet printing transfer paper, and then complete the printing through thermal transfer, which can improve production efficiency and save baking and washing. water process.

Transfer printing

Transfer printing is mostly used on polyester fabrics. It is a printing method that uses high temperature (around 200°C) to heat the dye to sublimate into a gas phase and condense on the polyester surface, and then penetrate into the amorphous area of the fiber macromolecules, and is fixed inside the fiber after cooling.

The transfer printing method can accurately reproduce patterns, and the process is simple, which is convenient for mechanized production. In particular, the post-printing process is simpler than traditional printing and dyeing, and the printing feel is the same as traditional printing and dyeing.

Rotary screen printing and flat screen printing

Rotary screen printing is a printing method that uses a scraper or a magnetic rod to print the color paste in the rotary screen onto the fabric under pressure.

The main advantage of rotary screen printing is its high speed; the disadvantage is that the flower return can only be within the circumference of the screen.

The output of flat screen printing is low, but it is easy to make plates, has a long flower return, many colors, can print fine patterns without color transfer, has a large amount of printing paste, and has a three-dimensional effect.

Pigment printing

Since the paint is a non-water-soluble coloring substance and has no affinity for fibers, its coloring must be achieved by coating the film-forming polymer compound (adhesive) and adhering to the fibers.

Pigment printing can be used for the processing of any fiber textiles, and is more superior in printing blended and interwoven fabrics. The process is simple, the color spectrum is wide, and the flower shape outline is clear, but the hand feel is not good and the rubbing fastness is not high.

Burnt flowers

Burnout printing refers to printing chemical substances that can destroy fiber tissue at the pattern. As a result, holes are created where the chemicals come into contact with the fabric. The edges of the holes in burnout prints always suffer from premature wear, so the fabric has poor durability.

Discharge printing

Discharge printing is also called white discharge or color discharge. Use a dye that is not resistant to discharge agents to dye the background color. After drying, use a color dye printing paste that contains a discharge agent or a discharge-resistant agent at the same time. During post-processing, the ground color dye at the printing location is destroyed and fades. White patterns on the color ground (called white-out printing) or colored patterns formed by dyeing with floral dyes (called color-out printing). Also known as white Pulling or color pulling.

Discharge printed fabrics are expensive to produce and the reducing agents required must be used with great care and precise control.

Glue printing

The dye is firmly attached to the fabric through the medium of gel. The glue printing process overcomes the limitations of water slurry printing. Its characteristic is that it is suitable for printing of various color depths and materials. The biggest advantage of glue printing technology is its wide application, beautiful colors and high degree of reduction.

The disadvantage is that it feels hard, and it is not suitable to use this printing method for large solid colors.

Batik, tie dye

Batik is an ancient traditional textile printing and dyeing craft of ethnic minorities in my country. Batik uses a wax knife dipped in molten wax to draw flowers on cloth and then dip-dyes with indigo. After dyeing and removing the wax, the cloth surface will show various patterns of white flowers on a blue background or blue flowers on a white background. At the same time, it is used as a dye resist during dip-dying. The wax naturally cracks, giving the cloth surface a special "ice pattern" that is particularly attractive.

Tie-dyeing refers to the process of printing and dyeing patterns on fabrics using the dip-dying technique of tying into knots (or sewing). Since the dye cannot penetrate the tight areas, various patterns are formed after the stitches are removed. Usually it also refers to the printing and dyeing handicrafts called Zha Valer, Jiao Valer, Clamp Valer and Dye Valer in ancient times.

Watermark

It has a soft hand feel, the color paste penetrates into the fabric fibers, and the firmness is higher than offset printing. The disadvantage is that dark fabrics cannot be printed with light colors, and printing middle colors on mid-tone fabrics can easily cause color contrast. For example, red fabrics printed with blue are prone to unwanted purple and so on. Color changes are likely to occur when printing multi-color water slurry.