Who doesn’t like to wear clothes with distinct patterns and vibrant colors? While you might be busy looking for the most impressive colors and patterns in clothes, textile companies in India are busy printing these designs onto the fabric using different printing techniques and their unique creativity. Since the textile industry has evolved so much over the years, so have textile printing techniques. From traditional to digital, let’s explore some of the most popular printing techniques that help textile designers to produce high-quality printed fabrics.
Types of Printing Techniques
Screen Printing
Screen printing is the most common and popularly used technique by fabric manufacturers in India to print a design or pattern on a piece of fabric. In a screen printing method, the print paste is passed through a nylon mesh with a metal frame screen placed on the fabric to leave a design on it. Every color is applied individually using a particular screen in this process.
There are generally three kinds of screen printing methods used in the textile industry: flatbed printing, rotary printing, and hand screen printing. This technique can be used to print almost any kind of fabric including plastic and pacers. Also, the print using this technique is much more durable and consistent.
Roller Printing
The most widely used printing technique that’s also quite effective and efficient is the roller printing method. Most fabric companies in India use this machine printing method wherein printing rollers are engraved with the desired design that is transferred onto the fabric.
The fabric is pressed against the cylindrical metal rollers, each for a different color, and then passed through a drying and steaming chamber. Roller printing is mostly suitable for large batches of fabrics with the same design.
Block Printing
An ancient technique that is found even today to print designs on fabrics is the block printing method. It is another common type of printing technique that is being used traditionally in the textile industry. Wooden blocks with raised beautiful designs are used to transfer the print paint onto the fabric.
These blocks are pressed onto the fabric by applying pressure just like in the case of a stamp to leave the printed design on the cloth. This technique requires lots of patience and detailing while printing the design.
Heat Transfer Printing
In the heat transfer printing technique, the design or pattern is printed onto the fabric by making use of transfer paper and heat, and pressure. Heat transfer printing is a two-step process. The transfer paper is used to create and print a design first and then this paper is pressed upon the fabric using pressure and heat is applied for transferring the print onto the textile fabric.
This kind of printing technique is commonly used by cotton suppliers and manufacturers for printing custom designs like logos and images onto clothes.
Digital Printing
The most advanced printing method that has revolutionized the textile and printing industry is the digital printing technique. In digital printing, computers, and machines are used to print patterns and designs directly on the fabric using inks. There’s minimal human hard work involved since the printing process is carried out by inkjet printers and machines that deposit microscopic droplets of ink on the fabric.
There are more than a few advantages of digital printing that make it the most suitable printing technique in today’s scenario. For example, there is no limitation to the numbers and combination of colors, there’s no requirement for additional printing materials, it helps in saving costs and time, and it is an extremely flexible and easy method.
Conclusion
These were some of the top textile printing techniques that are widely used in the textile industry to create extraordinary and exquisite patterns and designs on fabrics. Printing techniques have sure come a long way in the past decades enabling designers and manufacturers to explore various new styles and designs using their creativity.
However, if you’re looking for textile companies in India who can provide you with the finest cotton fabric online, India as well as internationally, you can easily reach out to Damodar Menon International, the best in business!
Also, if you are looking for an online textile portal that connects textile printing enthusiasts worldwide, TEXchange Global offers a comprehensive solution for top textile companies in India and facilitates easy online buying and selling of various printing types for textiles.
