ImagesMagUK_April_2021

www.images-magazine.com APRIL 2021 images 35 TIPS & TECHNIQUES Ringspun cotton vs open-ended cotton These two yarn types can play a significant role in your final print quality. It is widely accepted that ringspun cotton is softer and lasts longer. Fibres are twisted and thinned out, resulting in a soft, tight fabric. This high-quality product’s smooth surface allows for vivid, sharp prints. Ringspun cotton tees are recommended for fashion and ‘boutique’ printing. Open-ended cotton tends to be bulkier and not as soft, but is cheaper to manufacture and can lead to more affordable garments. It is very absorbent and we find that DTG inks have a tendency to sink through this type of fabric, which can produce a lower quality print. Combed vs carded cotton Another factor to consider is whether a fabric’s yarn is combed or carded. When yarn is ‘combed’, a tool aligns the fibres and removes the shorter ones, leaving only the longest and finest fibres. This gives the cotton a smoother feel, a softer touch, a higher sheen and a longer lifespan. Although combed cotton garments can be more expensive, we highly recommend them for DTG printing. Ringspun yarns can be either carded or combed. Carded cotton is skimmed only on the surface and so doesn’t eliminate the shorter threads, resulting in a less even surface. Open-ended yarns are carded. Linen Made from the flax plant, linen is well known for its high moisture absorption properties. With a rougher hand-feel than cotton, it wrinkles easily. It may not be the most popular choice for T-shirts, but linen is often used in the manufacture of shirts, trousers and jackets. Polyester Polyester is a synthetic fibre commonly used in dye sublimation printing. It tends to repel the water-based ink used in DTG printing, plus dye migration also can occur – this is when dye from the polyester fabric bleeds into the ink that is printed on the garment. For this reason, in order to print on polyester, you will need to pretreat the fabric with pretreatment that has been specifically designed for use with polyester prior to printing on it. In general, light-coloured polyester is better suited to DTG printing in contrast to dark-coloured polyester, where colours may disappear into the fabric. The DTG industry is, however, constantly working to improve current solutions and develop innovative ideas. At the moment, creative steps are being made to perfect the printing process on dark polyester, with DTG ink and printer manufacturers developing solutions to bring this application to life. Cotton blends Sitting between 100% cotton and 100% synthetics are cotton-blend fabrics, such as polycotton and tri-blend. The most common blend is polycotton – cotton plus polyester. This fabric is breathable, lightweight, strong and wrinkle-free thanks to the polyester. Not all blends can be DTG printed with success, however, as the amount of polyester will dictate the quality of the print. Generally, the higher the percentage of cotton in the mix, the better the print will be. Pretreat light polycotton blends with a polyester percentage of more than 40% to avoid bleeding. Whichever fabric you choose to help bring your creations to life, the key is always to experiment to find the best solution for you and your set-up! www.polyprintdtg.com