There are four common printing processes on the market: screen printing, direct printing, heat transfer and embroidery.
You can choose the most suitable printing according to the expression style of the fabric and pattern.
Screen printing
In clothing printing, screen printing is the most common printing process in the market, among which T-shirts are the most, and 90% of T-shirts are screen printing. Screen printing can achieve more effects and display methods according to different fabric materials.
Screen printing is to print text or images on the substrate through the mesh of the mesh.
In the printing paste, adding different chemical reagents such as reflective particles, luminous particles, expansion reagents and other components can show different effects. The most common printings include water slurry, mucilage, thermosetting ink, thick plate, bronzing and silver stamping, discharge dyeing, flocking, silica gel, foam printing, dripping paste, etc.
water paste printing
The printing method of water slurry printing is similar to dyeing, the difference is that a specific part of the fabric is dyed. Water slurry printing is the most common and can be printed on light-colored fabrics. Low cost, high color fastness, cotton is the best, suitable for printing various large-area patterns. However, water slurry printing cannot be printed on dark fabrics, and the applied fabrics are limited.
T-shirts are best printed with water slurry, and the printed parts can maintain good air permeability and washability in summer.
Glue printing
Mucilage printing is to print the color paste on the cloth, relying on the cross-linking adhesive in the color paste to stick the color paste to the cloth.
Mucilage is widely used for printing on leather, artificial leather, blended fabrics, and can also be printed on clothing of any color. The color reduction of the glue is high.
The process of mucilage is complicated and the cost is also high. If inferior raw materials are used, it is easy to crack and fall off in the later stage; the glue printing part has poor air permeability and is not suitable for large-scale printing.
Silicone printing
Printing silicone is suitable for manual screen printing, rotary screen printing and ribbon machine printing. It is a special liquid silicone that can be firmly adhered to the surface of textiles through screen printing.
Silicone has rich hand feeling, good wear resistance and good adhesion, and is often used for printing logos.
foam printing
The principle of foam printing: Add high-expansion chemical reagents to the glue, and then expand under high temperature to achieve "relief" printing effect.
Foam printing is also a process that has been widely used in various fashion brands in recent years, which can greatly enhance the texture of patterns and improve the feel of fabrics.
Hot Stamping Hot Silver Printing
According to the desired effect, different ratios of gold and silver raw materials are used to present a metallic print. Hot stamping and hot silver are often used for printing logos.
flocking printing
Flocking printing is also a popular special printing form in recent years. Its principle is to screen-print the desired pattern; flocking printing has a strong three-dimensional effect and is suitable for printing logos and simple patterns.
reflective printing
The principle of reflective printing is to add 3M reflective glass beads to the paste. After molding, a reflective layer is formed. The reflective layer reflects the light through the transparent beads to the vicinity of the light source, thus producing very bright reflected light.
Reflective elements commonly used in fashion brands
There is also a heat transfer 3M reflective film process that can also reflect the effect; the pattern is made by laser engraving, and then fixed on the fabric by heat transfer.
Reflective printing used to be commonly used in special work clothes and night riding clothes. Reflective printing is soft, fine texture, strong anti-oxidation ability, and maintains good color fastness at the same time.
Reflective prints work best on dark fabrics.
thick plate printing
This process is derived from the basis of mucilage, through multiple printing techniques to achieve a distinct effect of high and low levels, and print out a pattern that feels concave and convex to the touch.
Compared with silica gel, this process can be used in all colors, and the pattern is more delicate and layered. If the texture of the glue is high-quality, it can make a texture similar to a badge.
Thick plate printing is widely used, especially 3D thick plate printing, which has certain restrictions on fineness, and requires the pattern to be as thick as possible, and the cost is higher than other printing processes.
