WHAT IS DIGITAL PRINTING?
First, let’s look at conventional printing. Conventional screen printing requires the engraving of one screen per color in a design. So a design with 18 colors would require 18 screens. Additionally, 18 separate colors also need to be mixed and matched. With digital printing, there are no screens or colors to mix. Any image you can see on a computer can be reproduced on digital printing fabric in the same way as your desktop printer prints images on paper.
WHAT DIGITAL PRINTING FABRICS CAN BE PRINTED?
Unlike other digital printing operations, our digital printing solution is not limited in regards to any digital printing fabric content. We can print on cotton, polyester/cotton, rayon, silk, linen, nylon, wool, etc., as well as blends with a maximum width of 66”. There are however various reasons why any specific digital printing fabric may not perform well on our printer. Examples of things that can make a digital printing fabric unprintable include: water repellent finishes, softeners, hairy digital printing fabrics, extreme textures, sheer digital printing fabrics, warped selvages, long haired selvages, etc.
ARE THERE ANY DESIGN LIMITATIONS?
The more ink coverage a design has, the more likely the hand feel of a digital printing fabric may be affected. Designs with large solid flat backgrounds or other large flat areas, primarily in darker shades, may not print solidly. Some colors will print more pixelated than others.
WILL YOU PRINT ON MY DIGITAL PRINTING FABRIC?
No. Robert Kaufman Co. is unable to control the quality of a customer’s digital printing fabric and to control potential digital printing fabric losses due to the performance of that digital printing fabric on our printer. For this reason, we will not be accepting a customer’s digital printing fabric for use on the printer.
WHAT KIND OF INKS ARE USED?
Our digital print solution uses a patented pigment ink technology that is water based and absolutely free of heavy metals, formaldehyde and Alkylphenol Ethoxylates (APE), making them non-hazardous, non-toxic and 100% biodegradable. Our inks adhere to the strictest human health and environmental standards and contain no animal by-products and are completely vegan friendly, meeting both the Oeko-Tex 100 and Global Organic Textile (GOTS) standards.
IS THE DIGITAL PRINTING FABRIC WASHABLE AND COLOR FAST?
The printed inks are all washable and meet excellent color fast standards. The below results are, in general, readily achievable, however results may vary depending on the basecloth and how it was finished. We recommend: Machine wash cool or warm, delicate or gentle cycle, Tumble dry low, remove promptly. Best to iron the reverse side. Ultimately, it is buyer’s responsibility to order and test sample yardage to establish any performance standards that they require.
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