In the Spring of 1999, an individual investigating the viability of digital printing as a sampling tool and short run production would have been bewildered by the array of different technologies available. This "lack of direction" by the emerging digital printing community served to confuse those who were new and uneducated about the capabilities of competing technologies. The result was almost complete inactivity by those companies who attended ITMA for the express purpose of buying and installing a digital printer. Buyers were wary of purchasing a technology that might be obsolete by the end of the year. By the end of the 1999 there was considerable movement in the "direction" perceived by potential buyers to find a reasonable solution.
Companies attended ITMA expected to see the newest technologies and machines, and simultaneously find a relatively simple solution to match their expectations. The biggest drawback is and has been printing speeds. Almost three years ago the industry started with a 4 color thermal bubble-jet printer printing at 300DPI (dots per inch) capable of using reactive dyes with a reasonable width of fabric. ITMA presented several variations of the bubble-jet technology including multiple array bubble-jet machines however the machines that were "futuristic" were somewhat overlooked. These are the machines using Piezo head technology.
Piezo machines offered a distinct advantage. They can run all available dyes, have a longer head life and have a high resolution with less dither. The future will be with Piezo technology, if for no other reason, they have the capability to run the new pigment digital printing dyes that will be commercially available this year. Thermal bubble-jet printers cannot print textile pigment dyes with built-in binder systems due to the thermal nature of its drop formation. The heat involved reacts the internal binder causing the print heads to fail.
In the Spring of 1999, Mimaki introduced their Piezo textile printer. The machine could print 63" wide, had seven color capability, and could print at 720DPI. The higher resolution of Piezo printers and use of seven colors greatly reduces dither problems. In addition, 720DPI is capable of close to photo-realistic reproduction of photographs, and make the transfer printing process a reality for using this technology.
At ITMA, Sophis Systems NV displayed the Mimaki TX1600S running continuously with Ciba Direct Disperse Dyes (high energy) on polyester, Ciba Transfer Disperse Dyes (low energy) on transfer paper, Ciba Acid dyes on silk and wool, and Ciba Reactive dyes on cotton. For most visitors, this was the first time such a wide range of capability was seen.
As we move through the year 2000 we can anticipate the development of bigger, faster print engines capable of increasing print speeds. Sophis is testing a prototype multiple array Piezo machine in Italy capable of printing at 600DPI at a speed of 20 linear yards per hour. Digital Printing Systems has announced a multiple array Piezo machine, DPS75T that should be available by mid 2001 capable of printing 100 linear yards per hour at similar resolution. Further, Digital Printing Systems displayed at DRUPA in Germany, the DPS65, will be even faster than the DPS75T. They want to introduce this machine to textiles in late 2001.
The commercial availability of faster machines will redefine the way traditional textile producers run their business. The importance of understanding the process and building experience with the current technology should not be underestimated. Companies waiting for the big fast machines will find they are behind the curve.
The current capability of textile digital printing is creating new business opportunities for custom design printed fabric. If you feel that the current machines are too slow for production, consider high end custom fabrics that can be created without the constraints of tradition rotary screen production. Fabric designs and coloration printed digitally can be a one of a kind exclusive creation. The sky is the limit.
