Digital printing technology.
The technology used in digital printing on fabric is the one we use already, known as inkjet printing technology.
The inkjet printing technology utilized in digital printing on fabric was initially patented in 1968.
In 1990, inkjet printers became widely accessible for paper printing applications — you would possibly even have one on your table right at this moment!!
The technology has been continuing to develop and there are now specialized wide format printers which may handle a range of substrates — everything from paper to vinyl to canvas, and of course fabric.
Some of the most recent advances in digital printing on fabric are within the area of head technology and ink development.
Matching the ink to the fibre
Digital textile printing is not a rigid science. One of the most critical elements of digital printing is matching the ink chemistry to the fabric fiber. If you use the wrong ink on the wrong fiber, the design will simply wash away or lack vibrancy. Our process adapts to the medium:
| Ink Type | Best Suited Fibers | The Process & Fixation Method |
|---|---|---|
| Reactive Inks | Cotton, Linen, Viscose/Rayon | Requires chemical pre-treatment, printing, steaming to form a covalent bond with cellulose fibers, and an intensive post-wash. Offers incredibly soft hand-feel and excellent wash fastness. |
| Acid Inks | Silk, Wool, Nylon | Requires pre-treatment, steaming (at high temperatures to lock color into protein fibers), and post-washing. Known for extreme color brilliance and resistance to chlorine/saltwater. |
| Sublimation / Disperse Inks | 100% Polyester, Poly-blends | Ink is printed onto transfer paper first, then heat-pressed at high temperatures. The ink turns into gas, penetrating and fusing permanently inside the synthetic fibers. No washing required. |
| Pigment Inks | All fibers (Universal: Cotton, Poly, Blends) | Inks contain built-in binders. The ink sits on top of the fabric surface rather than bonding deep inside. Fixation happens purely through dry heat (calendering/curing). |
Rajlaxmi Creation prints on natural fabrics — cotton, silk, viscose, linen, organza and chanderi. We select the ink chemistry for each order; the table above is here so you can see the full picture of the technology.
Traditional printing demands thousands of metres just to offset screen setups. We have broken that barrier:
Production on Demand
The technology can execute runs as precise as a single metre, liberating designers from dead stock.
The Conscious Drop
By utilizing direct-to-fabric RIP technology, we print only the exact volume of ink required.
Water Preserved
Zero screens mean zero toxic wash-up waste. We protect the environment by eliminating the excess, proving that high fashion and high sustainability can coexist.
A single metre is what the machine is capable of. Rajlaxmi Creation's own commercial minimum is 50 metres per order and 25 metres per design — the volume at which our operation is viable. Read the row above as a statement about the technology, not about our order book.
