|
Our Team is
committed to making digital fabric printing a reality
for the individual with a home desk top printer, to
the service bureau with the latest in wide format digital
technology, to the clothing manufacturer who requires
mass customization and short run production.
Today’s products are
being sold for use in a wide range of applications including
textile sampling, soft signage, and garment production.
Color Textile’s Color Plus® Fabrics, incorporate our patent pending chemical process
that yields digitally printed fabric that outperforms
traditional silkscreen techniques while providing maximum
color accuracy, gamut and a high degree of wash fastness!
Q: How
is the product sold?
A: We sell chemically
treated goods in widths from 8.5" to 60". Small
quantities and bulk rolls may be purchased, with or
without paper backing. We recommend ‘paper backing’ as it facilitates loading the media
into your inkjet printer. Bulk goods are sold in
square yards rather than running yards and are full width
including salvage.
Q: What
makes this product different from all the other fabrics
available on the market?
A: With this product,
you can use Thermal or Piezo printers (see also next
question). The performance
is outstanding with dye or pigment inks. The image is
permanent on the final printed textile. It has maximum
color gamut and the "blackest black in the business".
There is no need for steaming or other post—processing!
This results in amazing quality of reproduction and
it has quickly become the standard product used by many
artists.
Q:
Will
the Color Plus® Fabrics work in my inkjet printer?
A: In general we have
tested a wide range of dye and pigmented inks from Canon,
ColorSpan. HP, Ilford, ENCAD, Epson, LexMark, and Lyson
inks and they all work with Color Plus® Fabrics! If there
is a specific Ink set not listed that you are using
please call. (Note: Solvent inks are not environmentally
friendly and we DO NOT support any solvent-based ink
systems)
Q: How
does this compare with traditionally dyed fabrics?
A: Everyone has purchased
a piece of brand name clothing from a well-known store;
only to have half the color wash out with the first
washing! Color Plus® Fabrics are all
natural fibers.
The level of wash fastness will depend on which fabric
you are using, the brand and age of your ink set, the
amount of ink lay down, the time from the first printing
to the first wash, the method of washing, the pH of
the soap used, the minerals in the local water supply,
the length of the soak, the temperature of the water,
the rpm’s of the agitation, and any other outside
factors beyond our control.
As a rule, these fabrics
will give the user the same life as a similar fabric
used in high-end garments. Treat the finished fabric
with the same care as your best garment, and give careful
instructions to the user if the garment is being sold
or is a gift.
Q: How
do I care for the fabrics?
A: Certain fabrics like
our Color Plus® Silk should be hand washed, some
may be machine-washed and ALL of the fabrics may be
dry-cleaned. Just like any store bought garment, hand
washing and dry-cleaning will extend the life of the
garment. Last, test the inks you are using so you know
your limits and how it reacts to light and water!
Q:
What are some of the uses of Color Plus® printed fabrics?
A: You can create a
custom design on Color Plus® white fabric and sew it into finished goods all in
one day! Our fabric has been used for everything from
signs, to flags, to dresses, to pillows and quilts.
Check our web site for creative ideas!
Q: Can
I do anything to make the dyes/pigments last longer?
A: We have found that
the best thing to do is rinse or spray the fabric with
plain water to wet out the fabric. This ensures that
all the dye molecules are attached and any excess are
rinsed away. This also insures that any excess chemical
is removed. The fabric coating acts like a magnet and
can attract dye that doesn’t belong.
Q: Will
it help to rinse in vinegar water or any other items
found in the store for fabric care?
A: No! Many of the printer
inks respond better to high pH levels rather then low
pH. Some of the items in the stores could break down
the inks or the finish on the fabric. Feel free to test
small images with your inks and let us know your results,
good or bad!
Q: Can
I put "Scotch Guard" on the printed image?
How about starch or sizing?
A: Yes, but first rinse
off the fabric for 30 seconds, blot the excess water
with a towel, and let dry. This 30-second rinse is also
recommended if you are going to wear the item!
Q: Should
I rinse it even if it is a dry clean only fabric?
A: Yes, a 30 second
rinse will remove all the extra dye and extra chemical.
Do not wring or twist the fabric to remove the excess
water. Gently squeeze and roll in a towel, pat the
towel to absorb the water, then lay flat to
dry.
Q: How
safe is the chemical in the fabric?
A: Very safe! There
are no toxic chemicals used in our patent pending chemical
pretreatment.
Q: How
light fast is the fabric?
A: That entirely depends
on the lightfast quality of the dyes you are using.
Q: Is
the fabric fire retardant?
A: Fire retardant qualities
are not an issue when making clothing, interior design
items. There are a few cases, such as children’s
sleep-ware, which mandate fire retardant treatments.
We recommend the user spay
a fire retardant onto the finished fabric. The chemical
can be purchased locally, or we can refer you
to a source.
Q: Can
Color Textiles treat and prepare a unique fabric just
for me?
A: Yes! Please contact
us for requirements.
Q: Is
Color Plus® fabric stored or handled any different from other
fabrics?
A: Our fabrics should
be stored with the rolls in a horizontal position. Small
threads should be clipped, not pulled. The fabric can
be touched without fear of fingerprints or fear of removing
the chemical. Make sure your hands are clean, free of
lotions and dry prior to touching the fabric. Small
stray threads can lie on the fabric. If you see one
on the fabric, pick it up before the fabric goes through
the printer. The fabric can be removed as soon as it
is finished, there is little to no dry time required!
Q: Is
there any special handling with regards to the paper
backing?
A: The paper can be
removed at any time after printing. The paper can be
discarded. If you are removing the paper from a large
printed area, lay the fabric face down on a clean surface.
Release the paper from a few inches of the fabric and
lay an empty tube over the loose paper. Roll the tube
to pull the paper up onto the tube. You will need to
put pressure over the fabric edge to maintain tension.
The important thing is to be careful not to pull the
fabric out of shape. If you do so, wet the fabric, as
the suggested rinse, and reshape the fabric, laying
it flat to dry
Q: I
pulled off all the paper backing and still have good fabric
area to print on. What do I do?
A: You can reattach
the paper with a standard hot household iron to the
back of the paper. Use the removed paper and make sure
the glossy side is against the back of the fabric. Trim
the paper to the fabric.
Q: Do
I have to wet the fabric if I’m making a sign?
A: NO! It’s not
necessary. If you want to ensure that there are no "loose"
dye molecules, or the fabric was pulled out of shape
when removing the paper, lay the fabric face up on a
clean surface. Using a clean spray bottle, mist the
fabric with plain water. Let the water soak into the
surface and reshape the fabric.
Q: I
don’t sew and don’t want to deal with making
a finished item.
A: No Problem! We at
Color Textiles have full workroom service available.
You can sell the job, print the job and send it to us.
We can have it made into everything from neckties to
lampshades! Contact us for a template and prices.
Creating, home furnishings,
clothing, soft signage, and countless other art or theatrical
craft projects are a breeze with Color Textiles’
Color Plus® Fabric. Remember you can use your
existing printers and develop incremental business opportunities
in markets you never even thought possible before!
|
