It's an age of innovation and buyers nowadays are ready to add a touch of class to their homes and experiment with styles. New trends that are ruling soft furnishings are digital printing, laser cutting and other new techniques.
Digital Fabric Printing: Digital fabric printing is by far one of the most exciting developments in the textile industry. Not only does it open up endless opportunities for customisation, small run printing, prototyping and experimentation, but it also puts textile printing within the budget of your average illustrator. From small runs to big productions, all can be printed with ease while maintaining the demanding parameters of textiles.
Technology: This technology uses large format digital inkjet printers. Practically it is the same technique used by desk top inkjet printers to print paper.
Advantages:
- The digital printing technology, photographic and tonal graphics with multiple shades as well as colours can be printed on textiles.
- Unlike traditional printing techniques (like rotary and screen printing), there is no limitation on number of colours as with this printing technique any number of colours can be printed.
- There is no limitation on repeat size as in case of traditional printing methods.
- It offers faster processing speed where everything that is required in the print can be prepared on computer digitally.
- It allows users to print as little as possible. Therefore there is no minimum order quantity as such.
- High precision printing is possible, which is usually a drawback with other forms of printing.
- Overall cost of producing a sample is cheaper in comparison to other forms of printing.
Laser Cutting: Laser cutting has become a very popular form of production as part of the manufacturing process. This very accurate and successful method of cutting a variety of fabrics allows fine cut details to be achieved creating exquisite and stunning results. Unusual textiles and fabrics, which can be laser cut range from latex, rubber, leather, (hide and faux) to highly decorative synthetic fabrics. We also can cut cotton, silk, linen and polyester.
Advantages:
- Test samples and repeatability
- Laser beam seals edge, eliminating fraying.
- Synthetic laser cut fabric marks with minimal burn marks.
- Rolls can also be accommodated.
The writer is the director of Window Passions
