There are so many innovations in textile printing methods since block printing to rotary screen printing machine, and dry heat transfer printing. The global market of textile printing is smaller and more dependent on fashion. Market of textile printing involves rotary screen printing (about 58%), followed by flat-bed printing (about 28%)1, and remaining by transfer, hand screen printing but there is not any statistics for digital printing. So we need to understand why digital printing? And which is better? It is necessary to competing conventional textile screen printing technologies, which are based upon analogue technology.
Screen Printing:
Screen printing is an old age process and involves creating a screen and uses it as a stencil to apply layers of ink on the printing surface. Different screen is needed for each colour that is used in the design, one at a time, combined to achieve the final look. Screen printing is the best option for designs that require a high level of vibrancy, when printing on dark ground, or specially product. Screen printing is usually used to larger orders. The dye colour in screen printing is applied thicker than digital printing which results in brighter colour even on darker shade. It is easier and more cost efficient to use screen printing to mass produce than it is digital printing. On the view of fashion, season is changing on regular basis; fashion is the important factor for market domination. As a result of this, retailers are trying to go for minimum stocks and give repeat order; printing companies have had to develop competitive strategies for survival.
Engraved roller printing suffers from a fabric-width limitation, because above a width of 1200 mm the rollers bend under their own weight. Flat-bed printing generally operates at lower speeds which affect the production, and the screen size can be up to nine meters width for some specialist fabric end-uses2. The major problem with all of the screen printing methods is that these machines relay upon the production of a design on a screen, or roller. Conventional screen printing of shorts runs is uneconomic because of high downtime, high wastage of fabric and print paste, high engraving costs and high labour costs3.
Digital Printing:
Digital printing is an invention that involves artwork being process by a computer, and then printed directly on to the surface of fabric. Digital printing is not a heat transfer, as the ink is directly adhered to the fabric. Digital printing is an easier process than screen printing. A customer can get a multiple colour design without having to have a screen made for each colour. Digital printing does not use screen allows for a photographic print, with much more details than traditional screen printing. This provides significant saving in both time and money. Digital printing is often used for design with a lot of detail, colour and high resolution. As the ink is apply thinner, Digital printing is best used on lighter coloured ground, to allow the design to shine through4. The fact the design is processed and printed digitally allows for a quantity one, since there are no screens or physical set up. Table-I5 shows Comparison between conventional screen printing and digital printing.
Original Article Source: Screen Printing Vs Digital Printing
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