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This space has been created as a way to share, support and inspire those interested in Textiles and Digital Printing here at ECA, as well as across the wider University of Edinburgh.
As we come to the end of year, we also come to the end of the semester. It’s been a joy to have students back in the workshops. It’s been great to see so many students making the most of being back on campus, exploring new processes as much as possible. We’ve had students from across a range of subjects from Graphic design to Landscape Architecture, learning about digital printing and CAD Embroidery.
New Equipment: Over the summer, before the start of the semester, the Textile Digital Print facility acquired a new digital printer; Mimaki TX300. With this new machine students can now digitally print onto a wider range of fabrics, and most recently wallpaper; an exciting new addition!
New fabric options: The facility also added a selection of new materials for printing such as a range of organic and recycled fabrics. This is part of the facility’s, as well as the wider university’s, on-going commitment to becoming more environmentally sustainable. The facility has also added to it’s range, the option of printing onto alternative surfaces, such as Aluminium panels. Specially coated for print, these panels welcome a new type of material surface for printing at ECA.
Most importantly this past semester has seen our students create a range of new and engaging work. We can’t wait to see all our student’s again in 2022, and their amazing work!
Visual of the facility’s new Mimaki TX300 Digital Printer
Example of printing onto specially coated Aluminium panels using Sublimation printing.Photo of 3rd Year Textile student’s wallpaper project during Semester 1 (2021.)
When it comes to printing onto fabric, there are lots of available options, from traditional methods such as Block and Screen Printing to modern techniques like Digital and Sublimation Printing. Each technique has it’s own unique aesthetic and characteristics, as well as pros and cons.
What method you choice to use will largely depend on fabric choice. In some cases you can combine techniques, to create interesting and dynamic textiles.
Here we will cover the main types of printing digitally:
Transfer Printing
This technique allows you to digitally print onto fabric, from home. Imagery is printed onto specialist paper, called Transfer paper, through either inkjet or laser print household printers. Once a design is printed onto the transfer paper, it is transferred onto fabric with a steam iron.
Transfer paper can be purchased online and in shops making it easily accessible. This printing method will leave a shiny film/surface to your fabric, and is not classed as a permanent method of printing, as it can crack, peel and fade with time.
Pros
Accessible printing method
No specialist equipment needed
Great for sampling/small runs
Easy to print and transfer
Cons
Leaves a shiny film/texture to the fabric
Single use transfers
Limited life span; peels, cracks and fades with time/washes
Limited print quality and resolution as well as colour range
Dye Sublimation
Sublimation printing is a sophisticated alternative to transfer printing. A multi-step process, this printing process is suitable for synthetic based fabrics.
Designs are first digitally printed onto thermal transfer paper called Dye Sublimation paper. This paper is then used to print onto fabric through the use of heat and pressure, permanently bonding the inks on paper to the fibres of the fabric. This step is usual done by using an industrial heat press. Once you’re fabric has been printed, it is set and ready to use. As this process uses dyes, the fabric retains it’s original characteristics.
Pros:
Digitally prints are permanent, colourfast & washable
Dye-based inks allow for a wider colour range and colour brightness
Soft handle and feel to fabric, with original fabric characteristics retained
No post-treatment required
Minimal ink and no water wastage
Cons:
Not for use on natural fabrics
Specialist equipment and dyes required
Reactive Printing
Reactive or digitally printing as we call it, is for digitally printing onto natural based fabrics.
This process uses Reactive dyes, which are suitable for printing onto both cellouse (plant) and protein (animal) based fibres. These dyes require fabric to be treated with a specific pre-treatment before printing. Pre-treated or coated fabric, is rolled and loaded onto a digital printer for printing. Imagery is printed when ink passes through the machine’s printer head, in a similar way to an inkjet printer. Once printed, ink is fixed to the fabric through a Steamer. This moist heat causes the inks to react and bond with the fabric. To complete the process, fabric is washed to remove the pre-treatment coating and any excess dye. Once washed, fabric is ready to use.
Pros:
Digitally prints are permanent, colourfast & washable
Dye-based inks allow for a wider colour range and colour brightness
Soft handle and feel to fabric, with original fabric characteristics retained
Inks penetrate fabrics’ extremely well
Minimal ink wastage
Cons
Not for use on synthetic fabrics, natural and pre-coated only
Fabric requires pre-and post-treatment
Specialist equipment and dyes required
Pigment Printing
Pigment printing allows you to print onto most fabric types, including natural and synthetic, making it a popular and versatile printing technique. Designs are printed onto fabric and are set to the fabric using a dry heat, usually through a heated roller or Heat Press machine.
Pros
Print onto a wide range of fabrics in a variety of weights
No fabric pre-treatment necessary
No water or specialized fixation, steaming or washing process required.
Cons
Pigments sit on top of a fabric’s surface rather then being embedded into the fibres.
Pigment binder leaves a coating on top of the fabric
Colour range not as wide as with dye-based inks
As you can see there is a wide range of digitally printing options available, some more accessible than others with their own unique pros and cons. Currently within ECA we offer Reactive and Sublimation digital printing. Whilst we don’t offer digital pigment or transfer printing, we can offer support and guidance with these techniques for anyone interested. Remember you can always get in touch by emailing textiles@ed.ac.uk to speak to one of our textile techniques.
Welcome to the first blog post for the Textile Digital Printing department here at Edinburgh College of Art, part of the University of Edinburgh.
This space has been created as a way to share, support and inspire those interested in Textiles and Digital Printing here at ECA, as well as across the wider University of Edinburgh.
Posts will include resource updates as well as insights into materials and processes used or related to digitally printing. This will include topics such as digitally printing onto textiles, using both Reactive and Sublimation printing, CAD (Computer Aided Design) Embroidery, other relatable processes/topics, as well as associated environmental issues. Additionally, this space will be used to share the work of others, including students(both current and alumni) as well as artists and designers, working with textiles and digital techniques/technologies.
Through this space, I hope to help, support and encourage those interested in exploring the wonders of textiles and new technologies.
