Home Uncategorized LEARNING ABOUT THE SUITABILITY OF DIFFERENT FABRICS FOR SCREEN PRINTING

LEARNING ABOUT THE SUITABILITY OF DIFFERENT FABRICS FOR SCREEN PRINTING

by Drwebhost

 

Screen printing has become a popular choice for people interested in creating an impressive design on a specific piece of fabric. From hoodies to t-shirts and tote bags to backpacks, this method of printing can be used to add a new life and style to any simple looking fabric. Screen printing is based on squeezing ink directly onto the target fabric through mesh screens to reproduce the design exactly as it was compiled. It is an extremely simple and fast process and is suitable for creating designs of varying sizes and complexities for t-shirt printing as well as use on various other products.

Reasons That Make Screen Printing A Preferred Choice

Despite being a relatively new method of reproducing different designs and images on a piece of fabric, screen printing has already gained much preference over other traditional methods of printing. The key reasons that are responsible for this trend are discussed in brief as follows.

Cost Of The Process

Screen printing is an extremely cost-effective way for reproducing a design on a given fabric. This is because in this case, the cost depends on the quantity of the design, the number of locations, and the colors to be printed in each location. Hence, printing smaller designs with minimal color variations may cost only a fraction of the amount required for traditional printing methods.

Clarity Of Design

When it comes to the clarity of design, screen printing is definitely the best choice as it helps in reproducing the design onto the fabric in the exact same form and style. This is achieved without any breakage in the continuity of the design and the smooth integration of colors. Consequently, the end product has great clarity of design and its appeal is also enhanced.

Level Of Detail

Most traditional printing methods lack the flexibility to present the minutest details of the design effectively. However, with screen printing, this problem can be easily overcome as printers can reproduce the different levels of details with utmost precision. From presenting large and bold color areas perfectly, it proves equally effective in reproducing small and tiny details of the design flawlessly.

Versatility Of Use

Contrary to the popular belief, this method of printing is suitable not only for printing custom t-shirts and hoodies but for printing on a wide range of other products. Screen printing can be used to reproduce designs on any product that can lie flat and has a smooth surface. These include different types of fabrics, glass, binders, ceramics, workout gear, flags, and much more.

Suitability Of Different Fabrics For Screen Printing

Despite its versatility of use, screen printing is largely used to custom print t-shirts online. However, not every type of fabric is equally suitable for this method of printing. Being aware of how different fabrics behave when subjected to screen printing can help the users make the right choice.

Cotton Fabrics

Cotton and cotton blends are the most popular choice for most printers and customers as they are soft and permeable. These fabrics absorb the liquid ink better which results in bolder and brighter print enhancing the overall look and appeal of the designs. However, it is important to cure the cotton fabrics once the design has been imprinted on them to get the desired results.

Silk Fabrics

Silk is a natural fiber that absorbs the printing ink effectively and evenly although the amount of ink absorbed is lesser due to the fabric being thinner.  This creates a subtler design while screen printing on silk as compared to other natural fibers. It is important to prewash the fabric and use table adhesive to keep it firmly in place as silk is extremely slippery and tends to move around or slightly shrink during the printing process.

Wool Fabrics

Wool and wool blends offer the best absorbent surface for screen printing as they are made from a thicker fabric. This ensures the creation of more vibrant prints that tend to stay intact for a longer time. This information can prove beneficial while printing on chunkier and textured woolen fabrics.

Acrylic And Polyester Fabrics

Man-made fabrics such as acrylic and polyester tend to be less porous and permeable than natural fibers. Hence the printing ink does not get absorbed so much by these fabrics which poses a challenge for efficient design reproduction and can be overcome by the use of specific products.

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