One of the biggest potential growth markets in the wide-format market today is in the area of digital printing of textiles and fabrics. Several factors continue to drive the category, including a growing demand for shorter runs, a need for faster turnaround on projects, and a demand for more personalized production of textile products ranging from soft signage to apparel to home décor.
在当今的标识行业中,市场份额增长最快的要属织物打印领域，形成这一局势的因素有很多，其中包括对短期运行的需求不断增长、项目的周转时间变得更快、对更多个性化织物生产的需求，以及从软标牌到服装到家居装饰的应用需求。
Recent advances in equipment, including innovative transfer and direct-print sublimation printer technologies, plus vastly improved ink disbursement systems as well as a new host of colorful lightweight printable fabrics are helping to drive the entire category, providing shops with a host of new applications to offer customers.
那么，需求的不断增长必然会促进设备的跟新换代，包括创新的染色升华打印技术、大量改进的墨水系统，以及多彩轻便可打印的织物技术，这些技术的更新有助于推动整个织物类别的拓展，为标识商店提供大量新的应用程序，为客户提供更精美的成品。
Textile Trends
织物打印的发展趋势
“We are seeing a revival in digital textile printing beyond transfer sublimation printing and direct disperse sublimation printing,” reports Rob Almstrom, president at American Print Consultants, LLC and a distributor for INX products in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. “Prior to the economic recession of 2008, sublimation printing, as well as other forms of digital textile decoration, were on the rise. These technologies included natural fiber and nylon-based fabrics using acid- and reactive-dye inks.”
Rob Almstrom，美国LLC公司的总裁兼Chambersburg公司的产品负责人，他表示：“我们看到了织物打印有超出转印升华打印和直接分散升华打印的趋势。在2008年经济衰退之前，升华打印以及其他形式的数字打印发展的都很迅速，包括使用了酸性和活性油墨的天然纤维和尼龙织物。”
He points out that an impact of the so-called Great Recession was a substantial slowing of the growth of sublimation printing—along with everything else. Much of this was due to the significant investment in post-processing equipment necessary to finish these goods.
他指出，所谓大环境的衰退影响了织物打印的增长速度，对此，他们需要对产品所需的后处理设备进行重大投资。
“As the economy continues to recover, we are seeing immense growth in digital sublimation printing as well as a new demand for more fabric choices and products as the use of digitally prepared textiles expands into new markets and industries. We are also seeing remarkable gains in the development of larger and faster digital textile printing equipment to meet the demands of the current market growth.”
随着之后经济的复苏，数码升华打印业务发展的很迅速，同时也进一步扩大到了新的市场和其他行业。他们着重在打印设备方面也取得了显着的进步，以满足当前市场增长的需求。
Almstrom adds that on the printable textile manufacturing side, “Better coatings, more consistent manufacturing, and advancements in fiber manufacturing and blends have allowed for an increase in the quality of the final product. Yet, despite these advancements, the costs of these materials has, in many cases, decreased. Improvements in the chemistry and versatility of inks as well as the development of faster more versatile printing equipment, has aided in an overall increase of image quality and color gamut.”
Almstrom补充说：“在标识制作方面，产品的质量得以好的涂料，但是材料的成本在呈下降的趋势。此外，改进油墨的多功能性和设备的先进性，都有助于图像质量和色域的总体增长。”
Focus on Fabrics
专注于面料
Michael Compton, product marketing manager at Top Value Fabrics, Carmel, Indiana, says one of the big trends he sees is that shops are focused more on speed and quality than ever before. He says this includes their need to acquire high-speed production printers capable of producing large production runs for immediate turnaround of finished graphics.
位于印第安那州Top Value Fabrics公司的产品营销经理Michael Compton表示：“我看到了一个大趋势，标识制造商越来越注重生产的速度和产品的质量，包括能够大量生产和运行的高速打印机。
“Our print service providers (PSPs) continue to meet the demanding standards of their customers. For that reason we provide innovative textile print media with superior print receptive coatings for direct as well as heat transfer printing,” Compton adds.
Compton说 ：“我们的打印服务商不断在向客户提出的苛刻标准迈进，为此，我们创造出了很多新型面料，具有卓越的可接受性涂层，可直接进行热转印。”
The coatings, he says are especially critical with direct printing where ink needs to properly disperse on textile fibers while providing brilliant print color and detail. Coatings are particularly critical on backlit fabrics where rich, vibrant color is needed while eliminating hot spots and pinholes from LED lights used to illuminate graphics such as Top Value Fabrics Supernova fabric.”
他还表示：“涂料对直接打印尤为关键，油墨需要适当分散在织物上，同时提供出色的色彩和细节。另一方面，涂层在背光织物上尤其重要，因为需要实现丰富而鲜艳的色彩，它能消除织物上的热点和针孔。”
He adds that they pride themselves in supplying premium-coated fabrics for the majority of print and ink system combinations including direct dye-sublimation, heat transfer dye-sublimation, Latex and UV inks.
他补充说：“我们自豪地为大多数打印和油墨系统组合提供了优质的涂层织物，以及染色升华、热转印染色升华、乳胶和UV油墨技术。
Latex Printing Technology
乳胶打印技术
Tom Wittenberg, sign and display marketing manager at HP Inc., Alpharetta, Georgia, adds that Latex printing is very versatile and can print onto a wide variety of coated and uncoated materials including textiles. “New generations HP’s Latex inks have imparted greater scratch and abrasion resistance," Wittenberg says. "HP Latex Technology has advantages over dye-sublimation in that you don’t need to deal with transfer paper and heat presses, and latex can print on a range of fabrics beyond polyesters.”
位于格鲁吉亚阿尔法利塔HP公司的营销经理Tom Wittenberg补充说：“乳胶技术非常通用，可以在各种涂层和未涂层材料上进行打印，包括纺织品。惠普新一代的乳胶油墨具有更强的耐刮擦和耐磨性，它的胶乳技术也具有优于染色升华的优点，不需要处理转印纸和热压机，可以超出聚酯面料的范围进行打印。”
He says that turnaround time is quick because the ink is dry when the print comes out of the printer.
从打印机出来的墨水很快会变干燥，所以的周转的时间需要非常迅速。
Wittenberg reports that textile manufactures have figured out how to make slight modifications in their production processes to expand the usability of their materials across multiple platforms such as latex. “In previous years, dye sublimation printing was expensive and required a significant expertise to handle the multiple steps. While alternate printing technologies such as latex have some limitations in matching the quality of dye sub and the broader substrates, the quality is very close and the range of substrates that are available service 85 percent of the market. When you combine that with the ability to eliminate transfer and post-print steps, the reduced complexity in achieving desired colors using standard workflows, the result is an expanded textile market with more PSPs getting involved.”
Wittenberg说：“前几年，染料升华打印特别昂贵，因为它需要整合很多精力来处理每个步骤。虽然诸如胶乳打印技术在匹配染料和基材质量方面上存在一些局限，但材料的质量非常接近，占了市场份额的85％。”
Lily Hunter, product manager, Textiles and Consumables, Roland DGA, Irvine California, says one of the biggest ongoing trends impacting the interior décor/textile markets is customization/personalization. She reports a growing demand for customized items such personalized pillows, wallcoverings, lampshades and rugs that are decorated with attractive graphic designs. “Depending upon the type of product, several different printing technologies can be used to produce this kind of output, including dye sublimation, UV and eco-solvent. For example, dye sublimation printers and inks are being employed to create customized polyester-based products, such as pillows, curtains, rugs, and window coverings like blinds and shades. UV and eco-solvent printing technologies are also being used to produce some of the same type of customized interior décor items, as well as wallcoverings (using environmentally-friendly media like Roland’s WallFlair removable fabric) and fine art reproduction on canvas.”
位于爱尔兰加州罗兰，DGA公司的产品经理Lily Hunter表示：“室内装饰的最大趋势之一是定制个性化标识，定制化产品的需求在不断增长，如个性化枕头、墙纸、灯罩和地毯等，这些都需要有吸引力的图形设计。根据产品的类型，可以使用不同的打印技术输出，包括染料升华打印，UV打印等。染料升华打印被应用于制造定制的聚酯产品，像窗帘、地毯，以及遮光物的窗帘等物品。
Printing Challenges
打印技术的机遇与挑战
Almstrom says there are some central challenges in the use and application of fabrics for digital printing using both direct and transfer technologies. “Some of these challenges in the use and application of fabrics for digital printing, using both direct and transfer technologies, are producing consistent coatings and materials that perform well for direct and transfer applications. Textiles that can web and feed properly on digital equipment while resisting shrinking, scorching and discoloration during fixation, can also be challenging. Matching the chemical compatibility between the very wide array of inks and textiles on the markets is a daunting task, to say the least. The molecular weight of dyes and surface energies of the materials including ink, paper and textiles all play a huge factor in successful digital textile production.”
Almstrom表示：“数字织物打印的使用和应用存在一些重大挑战。为迎接直接或转移技术的数字织物打印的挑战，我们生产了一致的涂层和材料，可以在数字设备上正确地进行配合使用，同时抵抗固定期间的收缩、焦烧和变色。因此，为织物打印匹配相容性的油墨等化学物品也是一项艰巨的任务，涉及油墨、纸张和织物在内的染料分子量，这些对织物的生产都能起很大的作用。”
Compton reports that there are challenges in the use of fabrics for digital printing including determining which fabrics perform best for providing the end use client with outstanding, eye-catching finished graphics for their application.
Compton 说：“除此之外，织物打印存在的挑战还包括帮助客户提供适合的织物，只有找到最合适的才能制作出精美的图形。”
“There are options that are either coated for direct dye sublimation printing or uncoated for heat transfer printing, and both directions can yield premium image color, quality and sharpness. It is also important to understand how profiling various fabrics as well as properly setting heat press temperature and dwell time plays a critical role in establishing, creating and producing optimal finished graphics. Not all digital textiles are created equal. Print service providers should rely on trusted venders to consult with them on fabrics best suited for their desired print quality and application.”
除此之外，了解如何针对各种织物设置热压温度和停留时间也是相当重要的，这会在创建和生产成品图形上发挥关键作用，并非所有的织物都一样，打印服务商应与供应商保持良好的沟通，什么面料才是最适合他们的。
One Major Limitation
局限性
Hunter says that there’s really only one limitation when it comes to dye sublimation systems—you must use polyester fabrics. “That being said, if the bulk of your business involves decorating dark cotton T-shirts, you’ll be better served by heat transfer systems or screen printing methods than dye sublimation.
染色升华系统只有一个限制，那就是你必须使用聚酯织物。如果你的大部分业务涉及服装和装饰品，那么我建议你使用织物打印，它会比丝网印刷的效果好的多。
“When it comes to comparing direct-to-fabric printing versus dye-sublimation transfer printing, it’s important to note that each of these technologies has its pros and cons. If we’re talking about direct-to-garment (DTG) for direct printing, that’s only good on cotton products and mainly dark cotton products.”
如果你要比较织物印打印与染料升华打印之间的区别，你需要掌握这些技术中的优点和缺点。对于棉质材料的产品和深色棉质的产品来说，使用织物打印的方法是最好的。
Coastal Business Supplies
沿海供应商
T-shirts and apparel are two of the major soaring markets and one of the major suppliers of equipment in this area is Maryland Heights, Missouri-based Coastal Business Supplies. The company sells a wide variety of direct and transfer sublimation printing equipment from OKI, Mutoh, Sawgrass and Epson; as well as a range of materials and sublimation heat transfer papers for the garment decoration business.
服装是织物打印应用的主要市场，为这一领域提供主要设备的供应商之一是位于密苏里州的沿海供应商Maryland Heights，该公司提供打印设备，以及一系列用于服装装饰生产的材料和升华换热纸。
Jim Tenholder, sales manager, explains that improvements in fabrics and equipment have helped with durability customers are wanting and are now getting more vibrancy out of their graphics. “Over the past few years, there have been major enhancements in durability and also providing graphics that pop.”
销售经理Jim Tenholder解释：“面料和设备的改进实现了更多客户想要的图形。在过去的几年里，图形的耐用性和流行性得到了很大的提升。”
He also points out that the main challenges with DTG are that you are restricted to only using cotton fabrics. “You can print to polyester with transfer paper systems and you have a lot more flexibility for different types of textiles. However, if you are looking for more durability of the graphic, then DTG is the way to go.”
他还指出，在服装打印市场上，现在最主要的挑战是生产除棉织物以外更多类型的织物，在实现这一基础上，你可以使用转印纸系统打印到聚酯上，为不同类型的织物提供更多的灵活性。
He adds that the future of this business is all coming down to shops finding a machine that can handle a wide array of different fabrics that can produce vibrant graphics.
要做到这点，需要找到一个可以处理各种不同面料的设备，才能生产出充满活力的图形。
Developments a HP
HP Latex的发展
Wittenberg reports that HP is examining some new options for this market—testing products using ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards for durability. "When you combine the environmental aspect, the versatility and flexibility of the latex inks," he says, "the elimination of odor associated with UV inks, our ability to add an ink collector with our L365, L560 and L570 products, cookbooks that explain how to use the product—we are eliminating many of the fears that traditional PSP’s had with entering the textile market.”
Wittenberg报道说：“HP Latex正在使用ASTM（美国材料协会）制定的标准，对市场一些新的产品进行测试，例如，乳胶油墨的多功能性和灵活性。我们发现，针对消除UV油墨的气味，我们在L365、L560和L570产品中添加了墨水收集器，消除了传统PSP进入织物打印市场的许多担忧。”
He adds that HP Latex Technology can print direct to textiles, both natural and synthetic without the need for transfer papers—a big advantage over dye sub processing. “It also provides the versatility to allow you to print all of the other applications and media that HP Latex is capable of manufacturing,” he concludes.
他补充说：“HP Latex技术可以直接在织物面料上进行打印，无论是天然的还是合成的，都不需要转印纸，这是染料辅助处理的一大优势，此外，它还具备许多功能，能够在打印时连接其他的应用程序。”
Roland Customers Expanding Offerings
扩大产品线
Hunter points that they have quite a few customers in the U.S. and Latin America who are using Roland Texart printers and new Texart SBL3 dye-sublimation inks to expand their creative options and product offerings. “The introduction of our new Texart fluorescent sublimation inks has helped generate an increase in Roland’s Texart printer sales as well. Our standard 8-color ink option (CMYK, Lc, Lm, Or, Vi) has also allowed us to make great strides in the photography and art world,” she adds.
Hunter指出：“在美国和拉丁美洲，有不少客户正在使用Roland Texart打印机和新的Texart SBL3升华油墨来扩展他们的新产品。而我们新推出的Texart荧光升华油墨也帮助Texart打印机增加了销售额，此外，我们推出的标准8色墨水选项也让产品在艺术界取得了一席之地。”
New Products, New Capabilities
新产品，新功能
Almstrom explains that the development of faster, higher velocity drop producing printheads and advanced material handing capabilities, reducing loss due to head-strikes and other production artifact, are some of the improvements in printers that are addressing any production issues. “Better fiber blends, carefully matched chemistry and more advanced coating techniques are some of the improvements in the production of digital textile that are addressing production issues as well.”
Almstrom解释说：“为了减少由于打印配件造成的损失和一些生产问题，开发速度更快的打印头和处理功能更强的高级材料，以及精心配置的先进涂层技术都是很好的改进。”
He reports that on the ink and media side of the market INX International Ink Co. is focused on growing with the digital printing industry and staying at the forefront of innovation.
在墨水系统方面，INX国际油墨公司专注于数字打印行业的发展，他们的产品处于创新产品的前沿。
“Digital textile technology is no exception. Our team of chemists and skilled technicians are currently testing new, better performing and more economical solutions," he says.
他们的织物打印技术也不例外，熟练的技术团队正在测试新型产品，为客户提供更好更经济的解决方案。
Better Coatings, More Choices
更好的涂料，更多的选择
Top Value's Compton adds that there are considerable ongoing improvements in fabrics, print systems and inks that consistently improve the output of high quality finished graphics.
Top Value的Compton补充说：“织物、打印系统和墨水的持续改进，对于提高图形的质量和输出方面有相当大的影响。”
“In addition to our premium quality print receptive textiles for the growing dye-sublimation market, we have also developed a complete line of textiles in partnership with HP Latex and our partner mill, Aurich Textilien," he says. "This line features a uniquely formulated, proprietary coating to enhance performance and ink fastness properties when printed with HP Latex Inks.”
他说：“针对不断增长的织物打印市场，我们除了推出高品质的织物面料以为，还与HP Latex和Aurich Textilien合作，开发了配置织物面料的专有涂层，以提高HP Latex油墨打印时的性能。”
He points out that print system manufacturers—such as Mimaki, EFI, Durst and HP—continue to design and develop larger, high-speed, high-production printers equipped with industrial printheads and inks with high color density providing high-quality high-production that can keep up with the growing demand for long run, immediate-turnaround production.
他指出：“不仅仅是我们，打印制造商如Mimaki、EFI、Durst和HP为了不断增长的生产需求，都在持续地设计和开发新型打印头、颜色密度大的墨水，以及速度快产量高的打印机，力求创造最大化价值。”
"At Top Value Fabrics our new products—such as DigiCompetiton and our new line of Latex Performance coated products continue our efforts to enhance our line,” says Compton, adding that Top Value's recent acquisition of Pacific Coast Fabrics expands their product offerings and strengthens their West Coast distribution network for printable textiles.
Compton说：“对于高端面料，我们的新产品DigiCompetiton和新乳胶性能的涂层产品配合使用提升了整个生产线的效率，最近，一家太平洋海岸面料公司拓展了我们的产品，并加强了我们的产品在西海岸分销网络的投入。”
Fabric Printing Providing Flexibility in Georgia Shop
织物印花的灵活性
Compton points out that one of Top Value’s innovative end users is Meno Enterprises/Planet Tradeshow located in Ball Ground, Georgia. Jared Hager, project manager, states, “We print on many fabrics from Top Value Fabrics including their new DigiCompetion display fabric as well as Supernova backlit fabric. The fabrics are easy to work with due to their consistency from roll to roll and perfect white point. With Supernova, we are able to print and provide brilliant backlit displays for tradeshow booths as well as customer marketing campaigns. We print Supernova with our standard cyan, magenta, yellow & black dye-sublimation ink set and achieve rich, dark colors as well as extremely bright colors that give a fluorescent appearance with ../images that look three dimensional,” Hager concludes.
Compton指出：“在格鲁吉亚，属于顶尖创新的终端设备制造商之一的是Meno Enterprises / Planet Tradeshow，该公司的项目经理Jared Hager表示：“最近，我们推出了两款高端的面料,新的DigiCompetion显示面料以及Supernova背光面料，由于它们拥有卷对卷的一致性和完美性，使用起来非常灵活，在大型国际展会以及活动上，都展示了它们的特色。我们用标准的青色、品红色、黄色和黑色升华油墨来配合Supernova这种面料打印，可以形成丰富的深色和明亮的彩色，它的荧光外观与三维图像相似，获得了很多专业人士的关注。”
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