Even though digital printing Knitwears have been around for years, the industry is still going through drastic changes. On the positive side, digital printing Knitwears technology uses more durable inks, which is beneficial for improved stability, longer print life, improved production efficiency and overall cost savings.

From using inkjet printing for prototyping and one-off production to becoming a mainstream technology in the market, the advent of digital printing Knitwears is disrupting the way textile printers work.

Here are the top three drivers of these changes:

1. New material

Twenty-five years ago, we could only print on polyester fabrics and blends, or on relatively smooth pre-coated materials. While dye sublimation is still a common method in digital textile printing today, it is no longer limited to polyester fabrics.

Today, there is a dizzying array of natural fibers such as silk, cotton, linen, wool, rayon and other richly textured fabrics. Canvas and mesh fabrics are also gaining popularity.

These emerging textiles open doors to exciting applications, but at the same time their textures pose challenges for digital printing Knitwears.

2. Inconsistent supply chains

Another big change in the digital printing Knitwears market is the supply chain. The current level of control for most textiles is not what it used to be. In fact, in a factory I visited not long ago, the base color changed from the beginning to the end of the cloth roll.

To ensure accurate final color when dealing with inconsistent fabric colors, digital printing Knitwears merchants need to exercise more careful color control. This requires more accurate color management tools and more frequent tolerance checks.

3. New printing machine

There are a number of new printers on the market today, ranging from desktop printers that can digitally print Knitwears directly on materials such as T-shirts, to larger printers for dye dyeing, direct fabric printing and industrial printing. Many of the textiles we see today are actually produced in small batches on industrial-scale printing machines, which is really a big change in the overall printed fabric market.