Designing in 3D for Digital Printing onto Textiles

Summary

Once recognized only for sampling, ink jet printing onto textiles is rapidly developing into a viable method of printing for specialty and customized fabrics as well as for smaller run productions. Besides allowing for more flexibility in the printing process, ink jet printing onto fabric allows for fine line detail, near infinite number of colors, freedom from repeats and the ability to engineer a print design within a garment or furniture marker.
The fine line detail and increased number of colors produce a near photographic image on the textile substrate. But it is the freedom from repeat and print engineering ability that allows for the most improvement in print design. By engineering a print, a product developer is able to carry a pattern or image seamlessly across a dart, seam or closure by bringing the garment or furniture marker into a textile design software program. This allows for better product design in two ways. First, the textile pattern, created specifically for that particular product, is more appropriate to the end product and therefore a better marriage of shape and pattern design. Secondly, there is the ability to have a panoramic scene continuing across the product. You could have a scene from your child’s favorite movie carried across their bedding, for instance. This process permits the designer to better create for a three dimensional form. The textile design once created on a two dimensional surface, now is manipulated across the shape of the body or furniture piece so that it becomes a three dimensional design.

This paper was first published on the earlier Egytex website. The text above is the summary that was published there.