What Are The Main Textile Printing Techniques? 6 Methods To Know

Incorporating printed fabrics into your fashion designs is one of the best ways to make your collections stand out.

 

Whether you opt for romantic florals or bold geometric shapes, printed textiles create a distinctive feel that make designs more appealing to your target audience. However, you’ll want to ensure you’re choosing the textile printing method that best aligns with your design vision.

 

There are many methods out there, and they all create different results in terms of appearance, quality, and longevity. If you’re wondering what the main textile printing techniques are, this guide is for you. We’ll be sharing overviews of 6 key methods and what they’re best suited to below.

What Is Textile Printing?

Textile printing is the process of transferring patterns onto fabrics. It’s a practice that has been done for centuries. Although new technologies have emerged, it remains an intricate process that requires a high level of precision and attention to detail.

 

The process is a collaboration between surface designers (those who design the patterns – this can be done by hand or digitally) and textile printers (those who perform the process of textile printing by working with inks, materials, and machinery).

 Now that you’re clear on what textile printing is, let’s explore 6 of the most common textile printing techniques.

Silk Screen Printing

Also known as screen printing, this technique is one of the oldest and most enduring forms of textile printing.

 

It involves creating a pattern with a stencil and a waterproof mesh backing: the mesh is used for pattern placement on the fabric, as the material blocks out designated spaces for the pattern. Next, ink is squeezed through and pulled across a screen so it can fill the designated space and transfer the desired pattern. Colours must be printed onto exact locations and applied in a specific order to achieve precise results. Silk screen printing is usually done manually, though machines are sometimes used to assist the process.

 Silk screen printing creates long-lasting, high-quality images with detailed lines and vivid colours. It’s a cost-effective choice for large production runs, but it can be quite labour-intensive as only one colour can be used per screen.

Devoré Printing

Drawing its name from the French word for “to devour”, devoré is also called burnout printing because of its unique method of carving out patterns.

 

Devoré printing involves chemically dissolving parts of a fabric to create a pattern. A special paste is applied to the surface of the fabric until it begins to “burn” away. This technique works best on cellulose fibres like cotton, silk, linen, and rayon, and is especially striking on rich textures like velvet. It creates a semi-transparent pattern on fabric, resulting in a unique texture that offers an eye-catching contrast. 

Heat Transfer

This textile printing method works by transferring images or patterns onto fabric with a heated thermal board.

 Ink is applied from a transfer paper onto fabric, then heat and pressure are applied until the pattern fuses onto the fabric. This usually only takes a few moments thanks to the high level of heat. Heat transfer is an effective textile printing method that can produce a wide range of colours and shapes within a pattern.

Dye Sublimation

Dye sublimation is an infusion-based textile printing process. It requires the use of specialty water-based inks that can deeply penetrate textile fibres.

First, patterns are printed onto dye sublimation paper, a specific type of thermal transfer paper. Next, heat and pressure are applied to change the dye’s state from solid to gas and bond the inks into the fibres of the fabric. As a result, the texture of the fabric doesn’t change, and the pattern becomes a permanent part of the fabric.

 This technique provides high-quality results and works well for intricate, multicoloured designs. However, it really only works on synthetic fibres, so it can be limiting.

Reactive Printing

This is a heat activated printing method that permanently bonds patterns to fabrics.

 First, fabrics are pre-coated to prepare for the process. Next, a special binding agent and printing additives are used to imprint dye onto fabric – the patterns are steamed against the fabric to create a chemical bonding reaction.

 Reactive printing provides permanent results in vibrant colours, and it works on both natural and synthetic fabrics.

Pigment Printing

In this technique, inks are directly applied to a fabric with a special adhesive until a pattern is created. It requires repeated applications, resulting in patterns with vibrant colours.

 Once the desired pattern has been achieved, the fabric is placed into a dry heating machine so the ink’s adhesives secure the colours onto the surface of the fabric. It’s a versatile technique that works on both natural and synthetic fibres.

What Textile Printing Techniques Does CocoBloom Use?

At our London textile print studio, our goal is creating the most unique and high-quality patterns for our clients. We use a variety of textile printing techniques to do so.

 

First, we start with hand-drawn or hand-painted patterns to create designs that are truly one-of-a-kind. None of our patterns are replicated, so each textile print has its own distinct features and intricacies.

 

Next, we use a combination of techniques, including screen and devoré printing, to achieve the most captivating end results: rich, layered, and striking.

 

Our bespoke textile prints have been featured in collections from the global fashion and interior design industry’s biggest names, including Anthropologie, Karen Millen, Reiss, and ME&EM. 

 

If you’re looking to make your next fashion or interior design collection stand out with one-of-a-kind patterns, book an appointment with us by contacting lisa@cocobloom.co.uk