In fabric design, digital textile printing is the way of the future. With the freedom to use complex images, the vibrant color palette offered, and lower costs due to a reduced setup process and more minor print run requirements, digital textile printing is perfect for anyone seeking a quality custom item.

But how do you maximize this technology? When working with digital textile printing, it’s best to understand the technology to create bold, vibrant fabrics. Here’s a look at some of the best tips to get started.

Know the Strengths and Weaknesses of Digital Printing

Above all else, it’s important to understand the technology you’re using when planning your textile design. Digital printing is perfect for complex designs that require a greater level of detail than standard screen printing. It also utilizes a broader range of colors. Digital printing is perfect for trying to create something exact and distinct.

However, there are limitations to this technology you need to keep in mind. Screen printing offers much faster speeds and cheaper production for larger runs. . However, in today’s market this seems to be less and less frequent.

Patterns

One of the most effective uses of digital textile printing is patterned material. Traditional printing methods require simpler patterns, limiting the quality of complex designs you print. With digital printing, more complex designs are possible. Furthermore, the repeated nature of print runs makes custom pattern fabric ideal for this method.

One thing to plan for is the different types of patterns. There are four types of repeat layout options. Plan to know what works best for your needs.

• With square repeat, all elements line up in a horizontal and vertical grid
• Half drop staggers the pattern vertically
• Half brick is a horizontal staggered pattern
• Finally, mirrored patterns mirror the image for a more continuous pattern, perfect for abstract art

For designers of items like furniture and dresses, patterns are a pivotal part of the work. Experiment and find what works best for you.

Preparation of the Image

With digital, nothing matters as much as the image. The provided image is the only thing the printer has to work from, so it’s important to get it right. While there are only a few ways a printer can fix an image, the responsibility for the best image is on the provider for the best quality.

For digital textile design, TIF or tag image files are ideal. These large files hold the most detailed data. Lower-quality files such as jpegs or bitmaps are acceptable, but producer results are in line with the data provided. It’s also important to provide clean images without excess noise or dirt which appear in the final image.

While TIF files are best, vector files such as AI or EPS are also acceptable. However, these files may require you to follow extra steps to ensure perfection. For one, all fonts need conversion to outlines to reproduce well. Similarly, all images need to be embedded. Additional fonts and images can’t be included. With these steps, you’ll execute a successful textile design. Have fun playing with the different elements of the process to find what works best for you.

When it’s time to print, turn to Advanced Digital Textiles for your fabric printing needs. We not only print from an array of different files but will provide you with top-flight fabric to suit your needs. Contact us today to see how we can assist you.