Print designs

In the context of multi-decoration design, a portion may need to be output to a printing process for inclusion on the article. This component may be referred to as ‘print’ or ‘graphics’. The most commonly used commercial printing processes are:

Direct-to-garment

Direct-to-garment printing is handled like most other printing from a PC: The print image is sent to the DTG printer through the MS Windows® print manager via a print driver. The image generally has a transparent background for DTG printing. DTG printing requires heat fixing to make the garment washable.

Sublimation

Sublimation printing is similar to DTG printing but the process uses solid inks which give a more even gradation of color compared to the liquid inks used in DTG printing. With sublimation printing, inks are printed onto a release paper and then transferred to fabric or other surface.

Sublimation means a change from a solid to gaseous state and back to a solid without becoming liquid. Thus dye particles migrate from the paper as a gas, to bond with a polymer – fabric or other material – and become solid again. The transfer is effected using high heat (205°C) and pressure, thus guaranteeing that the image penetrates and becomes an integral part of the substrate.

Screen printing

Screen printing is a more complex process than DTG, requiring the creation of a screen for each ‘spot color’ making up the design. Spot or ‘direct’ colors can be identified as a special ink or Pantone or other. There may be multiple screens for each one, depending on how the design is layered.

Heat-transfer printing

A fourth process, which is less likely to be used in the garment industry, employs heat transfer paper. Graphics are printed and then heat-fixed to a substrate using an iron or heat-press. Printers that support heat transfer media generally provide an automatic mirror function as the image must be mirrored in order to be heat-transferred to the substrate. Heat-transfer is the preferred process for point-of-merchandising substrates or media such as mugs, pens, etc.

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