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Heat Transfer vs Screen vs Digital Printing
Source:ZS Machinery Time:2016-08-16 Click:881 Times
Three methods dominate textile printing today. They suit different jobs.
Heat transfer (sublimation)
Prints dye onto paper, then transfers it onto polyester fabric with heat and pressure. No water, no wash-off, excellent detail, and economical at any run length. The limitation is fabric – synthetic only.
Screen printing
Pushes paste through a screen directly onto the fabric. Cheapest per metre on very long runs, and works on almost any fabric. But every colour needs its own screen, setup takes time, and the process uses water and produces effluent.
Digital Printing vs Traditional Printing
Prints directly onto fabric or transfer paper with no screen at all. Best for samples, short runs and personalised work. Higher ink cost per metre, and slower than screen printing on long runs.
A practical factory often runs all three: digital for samples, transfer for polyester volume work, screen for long runs on cotton.
