ink jet printing a perspective- for home textiles
DESCRIPTION
Ink jet printing present status and thw way forward. Home textiles in India and how they should look at digital printingTRANSCRIPT
KITL
Future Directions in the Indian Home Textiles(Ink Jet Printing of Textiles – A Perspective)
Dr. Sanjiv Kamat
KITLKothari Info Tech LimitedWho we are ?
KITL is a technology company known for its innovative products world-wide. KITL has invested into its own R&D covering the field of ink chemistry, RIP and colour management and variable data printing software.
What we do ?
• Producer of Inks for digital textile printing. Charu™ inks and Disha™ pre-coatings • Producer of RIP and colour management software for digital textile printing.
Print Pro™• Provider of Digital textile printing solutions to customers in India based around the
equipments of our OEM partners.
As an OEM supplier of inks and RIP, our products are marketed all over the world through our OEM customers and are well accepted.
KITLThree Key Perspectives-
1.Technology. Road ahead with advances in technology ...
2. Practitioner.
Myths and constructive suggestions to improve print quality and optimization of resources... Road to Quality
3. Business. How business should treat this new form of printing so that it is profitable for them and meaningful for the customers / end-users...... The market approach.
Today’s Journey
KITL
1. Technology Perspective
June 2014
KITLMethods of Textile Printing• Block, Brush, Spray
• Stencil / Table
• Roller
• Screen• Flat Bed• Rotary
• Transfer
• Digital/ Inkjet
KITLKITLInkJet - Historical Timeline17th to 19th Century
Development and evolution of basic science related to inkjet – Fluid Dynamics.
1878Rayleigh-Mechanism of liquid stream in droplets
1930’sInk jet for e recording device
1951Siemens “Elema” first commercial ink jet m/c
1967Stork produces high colour images by ink jet
1970’sPiezo and thermal DOD, Printing of carpets, Milliken/Zimmer
1991Seiren develops inkjet production line
1995 Canon in cooperation with Ichinose develops a printer capable of printing 1mt per minute at ITMA
1999Ichinose develops 12 color printer using thermal heads.
21st Century
DuPont/Ichinose, Durst, Mimaki, Konica Minolta, Reggiani, Robustelli, Stork, MS, Zimmer and many others contributed to the development of this industry and emerged as major players.
This period also saw the development of the print-head that eventually led to the development of the machines that rival the production of conventional machines!
KITLThe Essential Elements
Process oriented• Fabric• Pre-Treatment• Ink• Post-treatment
Technology oriented• Fabric Feed System/
Printer• Print head• Software -RIP
KITLFabrics
Acrylic
Cotton
Linen
Nylon
Polyester
Rayon
Silk
Viscose
Wool
Blends
• Most fabrics can be printed digitally with selection of proper inks and suitable pre-treatment and fixation methods.
Non woven
KITLInks
DuPont
DyStar
Fuji-Sericol
Huntsman
Jaysynth
Kothari Info Tech
Nippon Kayaku
Nazdar
Sawgrass
Stork
Solunaris
• Fabric dependent
• Acid dye• Reactive Dye• Dispersed Dye• Sublimation
• Fabric independent
• Pigment
KITLPost processing
Coaters, Steamers, Washers - What do these machines look like?
KITLPrinthead Technology
Epson
Fuji Diamatix
HP
Konica Minolta
Spectra
Seiko
Kyocera
Ricoh
Kyocera KJ4 2656 nozzles
Epson DX 7 1440 nozzles
Konica Minolta 1024
KITLSoftware- your printer is as good as your sw
Wasatch
IneditPrint Pro-KITL
ErgosoftDP Innovations
DGS
Features of a textile RIP
• Ensures the colour reproduction.
• Selects the volume and placement of the drop needed to reproduce a colour.
• Manages the workflow and Imaging model – from Design to Print.
Caldera
KITLPrinting Machines
DGenDurst
IchinoseKonica / Minolta
KornitLa Mecchanica
MimakiMS / Dove
Mutoh
ReggianiRoland
SPG PrintsZimmer
Robustelli
KITLGarment Printing
KITLPrint methods
KITLFuture ProductivityScanning based systems present a robust model with
regards to image quality.
Speed could be improved byIncreasing number of printing rails. Increasing the number of nozzles per colour Higher Jetting Frequency Larger Swath SizeImproved Chemistry
KITL
2. Practitioner’s perspective
June 2014
KITL
• Designers / Merchandisers
• Production house/ Printer
June 2014
Who are the stake holders ?
KITL
1. Complete Paradigm shift !• Creative freedom for Designers
with no color limitations.• Easy, flexible and eco-friendly
way of production.
2. Opportunities!
June 2014
What is at Stake?
KITLThe Digital Advantage• Advantages No minimums• On demand manufacturing• Efficient sampling• No repeat size• No limit on colours• No colour kitchen• No screen engraving• No screen warehousing• No limit on design size• Flexible design possibilities• Superior design resolution• Reduced waste• Reduced manpower• Consistent quality• Reduction in Water and Carbon Footprint
• Presumed Disadvantages• Speed• Cost
KITL
“Cheap no good. Good no cheap”
Old Red Indian Saying
KITLComparison of the Print Process
KITLHow Green is the Process
KITLNeeded change- Education
• Digital printing is yet not given the due importance in educational institutes.
• Production in today’s environment is managed by machine “operators” with no exposure to textiles.
• Textile printers have little knowledge or inclination towards digital printing.
This must change. Focus is necessary in formal education sector to teach different aspects of this new technology.
KITLNeeded change- Mind set
Traditional Printer “what it cant do”
Designers, textile artists, fine artists- this technology is about “what it can do” to never before products and services
Unlimited repeat sizes, tonal graphics, engineered designs that cross seam lines, quicker samples, customization and short run production
KITLImplementation…
Quality is not by chance but by design.
It depends upon what and how the choices are made in the technology selection and implementation!
KITLMake proper & informed choices
Don’t – •Base your purchase decisions on a feel good factor.
Instead – •Choose your solution provider carefully.
KITLSolution provider
• Select vendor with “problem solving ability/experience”.
• Must have sound knowledge of the following domains to help you succeed –
• Printing Machinery• Chemistry• Software / color management process.
KITLMaking choices – Printing machine
• Invest in right technology – • CMYK is not enough. 8 colors needed.
• Speed is not the only panacea, Speed must always be evaluated at sufficient inking rates for each primaries.
• For some fabrics, it requires about 18 – 20 gm/m2 per color to achieve coloration similar to conventional printing.
• One pass vs Multiple pass.
• High DPI, how high is high enough?
KITLMaking choices – Good Pretreatment
• Maximize color yield, given the limited quantity of ink that can be jetted at particular resolution.
• Handle large ink volume laid down at high speed printing
• Controls penetration when printing with high viscosity inks at high printing speeds - brighter colours.
• Soft handle and maintain whiteness and strength of the fabric.
• Better levelness of colour
• Maintains the definition of the drop- sharper prints and better image quality.
Pre-treatment needs to be given its due importance
KITLMaking choices – Chemistry
• Is cheap ink really cheap?
• A Good ink can -
• Provide Good coloration
• Reliable jetting and printing performance
• Longer print head life.
• Higher printing speeds ( by able to jet at higher frequencies).
Choose your ink supplier carefully.
KITLMaking choices – Software
• Besides speed of processing, one should also look for - ability to handle very large images.
• Colour handling, especially light and dark inks.
• Colour management
• Colour profiling
• Ability to handle colour gradations
• Imaging model
• Ability to handle variable drops.
KITL
3. Business Perspective
June 2014
KITLHome textiles in India
KITLBed Linen: Rotary. High end Luxury (Lamp shades)
Bath linen: Beach towels, shower curtains
Upholstery: Jacquards, coordinates
Curtains: Design
Blankets: Sofa Throws
Kitchen linen: Price sensitive
Rugs and carpets: Woven
Printing Status Today
KITLMarket Drivers
Fast and Frequent Design Changes
Economic Short Print Runs
Increased Demand For Personalisation
Increased Demand For Niche Products
Delivery time is same day
KITLRegionwise Coloration Units
Regions Coloration units
South India 1050
West India 900
Central India 250
East India 100
North India 550
TOTAL 2850
KITLShorter print runs
Lesser inventory risks
Production to match shorter fashion cycles
Unlimited Colour-ways
No repeat length limitation
The Digi Advantage
KITL
Favorable Demography (35?!)Favorable Demography (35?!)
Indian Consumer
• New Indian Consumer
• Living in a globally integrated environment
• Moving towards to self-indulgence and self expression
• New Indian Consumer
• Living in a globally integrated environment
• Moving towards to self-indulgence and self expression
Changing LifestyleChanging Lifestyle
Rising AspirationsRising Aspirations
Increasing Awareness (Internet 3rd)Increasing Awareness (Internet 3rd)
Increasing AffordabilityIncreasing Affordability
KITLChanging Housing Market
• Housing has moved from “area” to “pick and choose”
• Desires adjusted based on prices but ready to pay a premium.
• Coordinated colours textures designs or what is called as “concepts” for homes.
Annually there is 15-20% growth in the Luxury segment including home textiles
KITLSocialites
Conservatives
Working Women
Rich
Consumer Segments
KITLSituation as it exists nowCurrent Status: • Designs in 8-12 colours• Decisions at the production level•without the customer being involvedIn spite of reduction designs/order mts ,the sale is through material in stockChoice to customer, limited to what is offered by the manufacturer
What has changed today with Digital printing in India:•Little better designs•better inventory control•better production planning•faster response time due all the above
Makes you wonder Is That All?!
KITLDigiprint the way Forward
Designer becomes the creative link between the business and the technician and do “Uninhibited Thinking”
A Quantum Leap possible only with customer involvement
Idea is to• Engage the customer • Enhance the customer experience • Produce on demand
KITLCustomer Involvement
Key factor is to engage (all the stake holders ) each and every one in the value chain
In fact billion people have billion choices and with this technology it is possible for Individualistic satisfaction
The future would be to sell on demand with mass customisation
KITLExperience Centres
•Feel and select fabric,•choose textures •work with designers/ editors to generate designs as per their idea / need, •make choices of colours they require and• finalise quantities they wish to purchase.
At such centres, customers can't and will not go empty handed !!!
KITLInternet Based
•Compliment experience centres. On line catalogue, choose from standard fabric, colour and design or supply on design and get quantity printed.
•Supplement experience centres. Repeat orders, new orders. Need not go away from the living room. Material delivered at specifies place
KITLNew additional opportunities
• Standard coated fabrics for feeding machines.
• Specific Pre-post processing centres at digital printing clusters.
• For Designers to set up their exclusive boutiques
KITL
“Yesterday has gone.Tomorrow has not yet come.Today is what we have.Let us begin.”
- Mother Teresa
KITL