Each of the vendors we spoke to has their own unique formula for defining what inks will and won't work as well as their own methods for finishing and testing printed textiles for commercial use. Lee Newsom, a 10 year veteran of Colorspan and a partner in Jet Effects Inkjet Textiles feels that the time has come for the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists to establish testing standards for the emerging inkjet textile market. The Inkjet Fabric Marketplace Many of the printing equipment vendors have developed strategic partnerships with inkjet fabric suppliers with whom they have conducted a wealth of research on the chemistry mixes of fabric, coating, inks and washing. While end users will save a tremendous amount of time and money in working with these proven formulas, they should be aware that there are a growing number of new fabric options on the market. Their patented coating process has been applied to their stock line of sheeting, twill, rayon challis, silk, polyester crepe, cotton jersey, 1X1 rib, cotton lycra and interlock, which is put up in bolts of 10 or 25 yards.
All fabrics are available with or without paper backing.
DigiFab also offers custom coating for companies that prefer to use their own fabric or want to coat on fabrics DigiFab does not stock such as voile, velour, corduroy, and sheers. DigiFab Systems, their newly formed software division, offers software products and services to support the textile design process for companies developing prints for both rotary screen and digital printing. 3P claims their flame retardant textiles require no special textile inks. While 3P does not offer custom coating, they offer a licensing contract for which they will ship their coating to mills to allow them to do their own coating. We don't just offer solutions, we offer know-how.