Today’s ever-changing technologies are now beginning to filter from our phones, mp3 players, and electronic gadgets into other facets of our daily lives. It is hard to imagine how big an impact these new technologies would have on the world of fabrics and interior design, but looking at the new digital printing techniques some manufacturers have begun to implement, one would hardly believe that we were basically still in the stone-age only a few years back.
Fabric printing was once a long, drawn out process that required high minimum orders in order to produce enough of the fabric and still make some sort of profit. These minimum price ranges could spike all the way to $10,000 a minimum order depending on the complexity of the printing job and the quality of the fabric. Yet, these age-old methodologies of traditional printing are breaking way into a whole new digital world.
Most fabric printing done today is done so with hi-tech, hi-resolution, digital printers rather than traditional textile screening methods. This giant leap for the world of fabric means much more vibrant and rich custom colors and patterns available at a lower minimum order. Today, clients can choose their own unique patterns with the comfort of reliability, quality, and a much quicker turn around. Traditional methods could take up to six weeks to complete complicated orders, and pale in comparison to the digital immediacy of modern printing techniques. Endlessly searching for those rare color blends to fit the rest of the décor is now a thing of the past.
So what, if any, are the limitations of these new methods? This new technology spreads itself across a wide variety of different tastes and industries. Since its inception earlier in the decade, digital printing has improved the quality of printed apparel, chic custom wall coverings, and lush window fabrics as well. Working specifically in the line of window treatments, I have seen a huge leap in quality of prints and range of print options just within the past two years.
As more and more manufacturers tap into such a diversifying technology, all fabric related industries will see a huge difference in uniqueness and quality of custom print designs on all kinds of fabrics. To be honest, having worked with custom fabrics for years, I personally can’t wait to see the limitless possibilities continue to shape our industry for the better.
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