PRINT PROCESS
How does the Design and Print Process work?
Select your favorite design/s from our website collections or themes (See under the FABRIC and WALLPAPER tabs). Alternatively you can submit your own artwork for digital printing.
If submitting your OWN ARTWORK, please ensure that your files are preferably saved as vector based PDFs or hi-resolution jpegs depending on the nature of your artwork. You can send large files via WeTransfer to our design team for review at : design@fabricbank.co.za .
Select a FABRIC or WALLPAPER base for print. You have the option to print any of our listed design collection options as seen on our website OR your OWN SUPPLIED ARTWORK ,as a fabric or wallpaper application. All orders are printed per custom requirements, therefore we do not keep stock of any designs as printed fabric or wallpaper.
If you would like to supply your own fabric bases for print, please make sure they are rolled and correctly prepared. For more information or questions on supplying your own fabric, email info@fabricbank.co.za
Once you have selected or submitted your artwork and chosen your substrate for print, a quote will be generated based on the requirements of your order. An artwork layout card will then be sent to you for approval based on the selected design, scale , quantity and details of your order.(Please see example of a typical fabric layout card below)
This layout card must then be checked and approved by YOU (the client) to make sure that all dimensions and details are correct before we send to production for print. Please note that colours seen on layout cards do not reflect the true colour of the printed fabric or wallpaper.
A sample may be requested for final approval before print. Please note that samples are charged for. The sample price will be included in the quote/invoice sent. If the job does not go ahead, the sample fee will be invoiced for separately.
Please note that colours may differ slightly from the original sample to the actual printed job (Whether it be fabric or wallpaper). This is the nature of digital printing. Slight colour changes and variances are to be expected, as fabric and wallpaper substrate batches differ. Temperature and humidity also play a role in colour change when it comes to digital printing so please keep these factors in mind when placing your orders.
Your samples have been approved and your deposit settled. We can now send your selected artwork to print!
We have varied lead times that are ultimately dependent on the substrate chosen for print and the associated print method for that particular fabric or wallpaper.
Lead times are as follows:
CUSTOM WALLPAPER (UV ink) : 7-10 working days
CUSTOM POLYESTER UPHOLSTERY (Dye Sublimation) : 7-10 working days
CUSTOM FASHION FABRICS (POLYESTERS - Dye sublimation) : 7-10 working days
CUSTOM NATURAL FABRICS, DECOR AND FASHION (Reactive ink) : 4-6 weeks with a MOQ of 50m per design
INK TECHNOLOGIES USED BY FABRIC BANK
At Fabric Bank we make use of various ink technologies and equipment to ensure quality prints and products.
The ink systems we make use of are:
- Pigment Inks for cotton and natural fabrics (short order runs)
- Reactive Inks for cotton and natural fabrics (large order runs over 50m per design)
- Dye Sublimation for polyester fabrics
- UV inks for large format wallpapers
Below is a bit more information on the various ink technologies for digital printing:
Reactive ink digital printing: Reactive digital fabric printing is done using reactive dyes, printed via inkjet printing onto specially pre-treated fabrics, which are then steamed in order to fix the dye, and then washed. Reactive printing is popular with fabric prints for fashion, due to the colour yield and vibrancy, wash fastness and rub fastness.
The fabric is pre-treated prior to printing, and after printing it is put into specialist fabric steamers, to fix the print. After steaming, the fabric is washed, to remove any unfixed inks and to improve the wash fastness.
Dye Sublimation printing: The most common way to do sublimation printing is paper sublimation printing. You print the design on paper, place the paper onto the fabric and feed it through a calendar.(Heat Press) In the calendar, the paper and the fabric are heated and pressed in between two large rolls. The high pressure and the temperature cause the ink to go instantly from solid state into gas (sublimate) which will be absorbed by the fabric. As soon as the fabric comes out of the machine, the gas coagulates into the fiber This print method is used for POLYESTERS ONLY.
UV ink printing for wallpapers: UV inkjet printing is compatible with a range of soft, hard, porous, and non-porous materials.
It’s durable and quick curing. Furthermore, UV ink avoids the need for an acrylic primer.
By printing with inkjet technology, manufacturers can not only expand design capabilities for their wallpapers, but also save on costs by avoiding all of the extra maintenance that comes with traditional screen-printed wallpapers.