12 May 2017

Introduction to Basic Printing Techniques

There are different types of printing techniques available for different materials and purposes. Some of these would be:

Direct to Garment (DTG)
A T-shirt printing method that prints a full colour image directly onto the T-shirt with a modified industrial inkjet printer. The ink is printed directly onto the fabric resulting in a soft feel printed image with multiple colours.

Advantages of DTG printing:

• Soft hand feel
• Long lasting prints
• Able to print full colour gradient image and photographs
• No cracking or fading

Hot Stamping
Using a stamping block, a roll of foil, heat, and a lot of pressure, this printing method stamps an imprint onto the materials’ surface, at the same time transferring a layer of foil into the indentation.

Advantages of Hot Stamping:

• Can be used on different types of material because it is flexible
• Can be operated manually without much complex interventions needed
• Sharp outlines
• Embossed print
• High contrast

Silkscreen / Screen printing
Offers a wide range of brightly coloured inks and often used for printing T-shirts, posters, and other promotional items. Mesh is used to transfer ink onto a substrate, except in areas that are made impermeable to the ink by a blocking stencil.

Advantages of Silkscreen / Screen printing:

• Long lasting
• Bulk orders are cheap
• Vivid colours, especially for outdoor use
• Can be used on a large variety of materials and objects

Heat Transfer
The process of applying heat-applied materials to a substrate with a heat press. The heat-applied materials contain a heat-sensitive adhesive on one side. When heat is applied by the heat press, the materials adhere to the substrate it is being applied to.

Advantages of Heat Transfer:

• Clean and environmentally safe
• Operators have greater control and flexibility
• Several colours can be used if they are not overlapped
• Cheap for small runs of printing
• Photographic material can be pressed

Engraving
Engraving is the most expensive as well as most time-consuming printing technique. The engraved image is first carved by hand or machine onto a metal plate. The engraved spaces are filled with ink and the paper pressed on top of the plate.

Advantages of Engraving:

• Can capture details nicely
• White ink is printed beautifully