Digital Printing

Large format digital wallpapers are printed on large format ink jet printers, the vibrancy of the inks allow for long term indoor and outdoor displays. Digital print productions allows for short turn around, with speed and precision allowing the prints to be cut any shape and size. There isn't much information online other than the obvious for digitally printing fabric, I think this is firstly because the production of it is not far away from a normal large format printer such as that what we use at college, I myself have seen my own work digitally printed and can witness that there isn't anything special or different about it, but I have also found contacting industry that digitally printing wallpaper is commonly used for proofing wallpaper designs before sending them off for print.

Printing digitally on fabric is very similar to the process of printing on paper, however the ink needs to be bonded to the fabric so the inks do not fade or wash away when being used or washed. Printing is very similar to the dying process however instead of the fabric being whole dyed only sections are and different colours are able to be used. The other difference in paper and fabric printing is the ink, there are 3 different types if ink which can be used:

Acid Inks for use on silks and nylons.

Reactive Inks for use on cellulose based fibres, cotton, linen and rayon.

Disperse Inks for use on polyester