The Nigerian Mvies

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Wednesday 5 June 2013

What To Know About Custom Fabric Printing

By Lora Jones


The term textile printing is used more often to describe the process of adding color to material in a certain design or pattern. When this process is done correctly, color is bonded to the fiber in a way that it will not wear off with friction or washing. Clothing makers and designers are just some of the professionals who do custom fabric printing in their line of work.

The practice is much like dying. However, a primary differences between the techniques is that dying involves changing the color of the fabric as a whole. With print jobs, one or many colors are applied in a particular pattern or design chosen by the creator.

There are a variety of materials and tools used during this practice. The most common tools utilized: wooden blocks, rollers, engraved plates, silkscreens and stencils. Colorants that are employed during this process include dyes that have been thickened to prevent color from spreading beyond the design or pattern limits. Traditional techniques for this practice can be categorized in four main styles: direct, use of mordant, resist dying and discharge.

A direct print refers to that in which colorants include thickeners, mordants and dyes or substances necessary for adding color to cloth are used to print the desired pattern. Mordant may also be used to print the desired pattern before the cloth has been dyed. After this process, the color will only attach to the area where mordant was printed.

Resist dying may also be used. This involves using wax or some other substance to print of fabric that will be dyed later. The areas that have wax will not hold the dye. This leaves uncolored patterns on a colored background. The discharge technique involves application of a bleaching product that is printed on previously dyed material. This is done to remove all, or a portion of, the color. Discharge and resist techniques were more common during the nineteenth century, while the direct technique is more used today.

The different methods of printing include, but are not limited to: hand block; perrotine; engraved copperplate; roller, machine or cylinder; stencil; screen; and digital textile. Although the majority of custom prints are done through one of the above processes, there are other combinations employed. The method that is used is decided upon by the artist and often relative to the result that is desired.

Preparation must go into the colors and fabric before manipulating the fabric. Cloth might need to be brushed so that loose naps, dust and flocks is removed. Sometimes the surface needs to be smoothed and cleaned through the process of shearing. A material may need be straightened or stretched by special equipment. The preparation will be based on the type of print method and material used. Color development often requires some technical experience and working knowledge of different chemicals.

Custom fabric printing, or textile making, is common for those who enjoy doing crafts and making clothes and other such goods. The process can be done in an assortment of ways and includes specific knowledge and processes to be done correctly. This process is distinct from dying in that it involves application of color in particular patterns or designs and not changing fabric to one solid color.




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1 comment:

KETAN PATEL said...

i know custom fabric printing but thanks for your get other information..

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