TEXTILE PRINTING

(TRANSFER PRINTING)

Lecture# 16-21

Mujahid Mehdi Abro

Indus University Karachi.

Printing Methods
Block Printing
Transfer printing
Roller printing
Screen Printing
Flat Screen Printing
Rotary Screen Printing
Digital Printing

Printing:
Localized coloration is known as printing.

Transfer Printing:
It is a indirect method of printing in which dyes are transferred
from paper to a thermoplastic fabric under controlled conditions of
temperature, time and pressure. The image is first engraved on a
copper plate. Then pigment is applied on these plates. The image is
then transferred to a piece of paper, with a layer of glue applied .
This is then placed on the fabric and heat and pressure applied
which fixes the print onto fabric.

Process of Transfer Printing:

Steps of Transfer Printing:

Steps of Transfer Printing:

TRANSFER PRINTING

Types of transfer printing

These are some types of transfer printing that are being
used
Sublimation transfer
Melt transfer
Film release
Wet transfer

Sublimation transfer
This method depends upon on the use of volatile dye in

the printed design

When paper is heated the dye is preferentially absorbed

from the vapor phase by the textile material with which the
textile material is held in contact
This is commercially the most important of the transfer

printing method

Melt transfer
This method is used to transfer embroidery design to fabric.
The design is printed on paper using a waxy ink.
Hot iron is applied to its reverse face presses the paper

against the fabric.

The ink melts on to the fabric in contact with it
It is used in the so called hot split transfer paper extensively

used in garment decoration.

Film release
This method is similar to melt transfer with the difference

that design is held in the ink layer

That is transfer to fabric by using heat and pressure
Adhesion forces are developed which are stronger than

the film and the paper

This method is used for both continuous web and

garment panel units

Wet Transfer
Water soluble dye are incorporated into a printing ink
which is used to produce the design on the paper
The design is transferred to a moistened textile using

carefully regulated contact pressure

The dye transfers by diffusion through the aqueous

medium
This method has no significant use today

Sublimation Transfer printing process

In the production of sublimation transfer paper and prints
four factors must be considered
Selection of paper
Printing method
Dyes and inks
The mechanism of sublimation transfer

Selection of paper
Papers weight 35 to 115 g/m 2 have been used depending on

printing method
At the transfer stage the paper requires these characteristics
Good release of dye vapor from ink layer
Stability to heat
Low permeability to dye vapor
Good dimensional stability

Printing Method
These are some printing method which are used
Gravure printing
Rotary screen printing
Flat screen printing

Dyes and inks

The essential ingredient for a sublimation transfer ink is

of path the coloring matter

Which must be volatile at the transfer temperature that is

appropriate for the textile being printed

Molecules of dye must be small
Mostly dyes chosen from disperse dye class possessing

appropriate volatility

TRANSFER SOURCES
The two most common types of image transfers
produced are
1.

Computer transfers.

2.

Color Copier transfers.

Computer Transfers
Computer Transfers are transfers that can be created inhouse using a computer graphics package, which is
integrated with an ink-jet or electrostatic printer.

Color Copier transfers

Color copier transfers are produced using a special
color copier transfer paper. The image is copied onto the
special paper and then heat pressed on the material.

Melt and film release transfer

Both melt and film release transfer papers are produced
using inks to produce an image that softens or melts on
heating, and which transfer to the fabric carrying the
coloring matters. The colorants do not require to show any
substantively at the transfer stage, which is essentially
mechanical. Both methods involve bringing the transfer
paper and the fabric together with applied heat and
pressure to form a composite.

Melt transfer printing

A melt transfer printing is a process which prints on paper
(or some other material) by melting a coating of ribbon so
that it stays glued to the material on which the print is
applied. It contrasts with direct thermal printing where no
ribbon is present in the process. It was invented by SATO
corporation around the late 1940s.

Application
Barcodes labels (as labels printed with melt printing tend

not to last long), or for marking clothing labels (shirt size

etc)
Printing plastic labels for chemical containers (because

the cheaper types of plastic would melt in a laser printer)

Melt transfer printing

Transfer printing machines

Advantages and disadvantages

of Transfer Printing:
ADVANTAGES
1. Operation is simple
and no expensive
m/c is required.
2. No after treatment of
fabric required
3. Print on fabric is of
excellent quality

DISADVANTAGES
1. Process applicable
to synthetic fabric
like polyester .
2. Color range is
limited.
3. Cost of printed
paper high.
4. Not economical for
small orders.