Chapter 4 - Fashion Prints on Fabric

Question 1

What is Textile Printing?

Answer 1

Textile Printing:
Most of the garments we wear are decorated with attractive fashion prints. Printing is done to make garments attractive and fashionable. Printing is a technique of reproducing text, images, design, pattern or motif using a master form. Textile Printing is the process of applying colored patterns & designs to decorate surface of fabric.

Question 2

List the steps needed to complete the process of Textile Printing?

Answer 2

• Pre-treatment of fabric for printing.
• Printing paste making by using printing ingredients.
• Making print impression on fabric using printing techniques.
• Curing or drying of fabric / print.
• After process treatment or neutralization (soaping, washing if required).

Question 3

Mention the styles that are being used for Textile Printing till now.

Answer 3

1) Direct Printing Style: It is the most common textile printing style. Print paste is transferred directly on fabric to produce a pattern. Dyestuff’s, thickeners, amount of water are dissolved to prepare printing paste. Wood block, copper roller & screens are examples for Direct Printing.

2. 2) Mordant Printing Style: A substance known as Mordant is first applied to fabric before it is dyed. The mordant as a fixing agent combines with the dyestuff and the textile fiber and creates an insoluble color.

3) Discharge Printing Style: It’s technically a dyeing method used to produce a pattern on fabric. The fabric is dyed & then a bleaching agent is used to remove or discharge the color from specific area to create a desired pattern on cloth. Mostly applied on dark ground of fabric where we need a lighter print. It works well on natural fibre like cotton.

4) Resist Printing Style: A resist paste is painted on fabric and then the fabric is dyed. The dye affects only those parts that are not covered by the resist paste. After dyeing, the resist paste is removed leaving a pattern on a dark background. Wax, chemical, paper stencil or mechanism is applied to fabric to resist color while dyeing fabric. There are two types of Resist Printing are mostly used:

a) Batik Dyeing: Designs are painted with wax on a fabric which is then immersed in a dye bath. The painted portion can not absorb the color& creates a design.

b) Tie Dyeing: Knots are tied in the cloth before it is immersed in a dye bath. Tie Dye typically consists of folding, twisting, pleating or crumpling the fabric. String & rubber bands are used to bind the fabric.