Textile design

Key textile printing and design techniques include:

Screen Printing (Silkscreen/Serigraphy): Uses stencils and mesh screens for each color; very common for bold, vibrant designs and different scales of production.
Block Printing: Traditional method using hand-carved wooden or linoleum blocks to stamp patterns onto fabric.
Roller Printing (Cylinder Printing): Industrial technique where engraved metal rollers apply patterns; suitable for large-scale continuous fabric prints.
Digital Printing (Direct-to-Fabric): Modern inkjet or laser-based process that prints designs directly onto textiles, enabling high precision and complex color gradients.
Heat Transfer Printing: Patterns are printed on special transfer paper and then heat-pressed onto fabric; includes methods like sublimation printing.
Dye Sublimation: Sublimates solid dye onto polyester or polymer-coated materials for vibrant, durable prints.
Stencil Printing: Designs are cut into stencils and then ink is applied; includes classic tie-dye and resist processes.
Resist Dyeing (e.g., Batik, Adire): Wax, paste, or other resists are used to prevent dye from reaching parts of the fabric, creating patterns.
Discharge Printing: Bleaching agents are used to remove color from dyed fabrics to create lighter patterns/designs.
Foil Printing: Metallic or colored foil is bonded to fabric using adhesive and heat.
Flock Printing: Applies short fibers to an adhesive-coated fabric, creating a velvety, raised surface.
Rotary Printing: Perforated metal cylinders print fast, continuous patterns; good for repeats and high-volume production.
Spray/Jet Printing: Colors sprayed through nozzles to create patterns; suitable for variable or customized designs.
Lino and Copperplate Printing: Designs are engraved onto linoleum or copper and pressed onto textiles.
3D Embroidery & Embellishment: Raised or textured designs are stitched onto fabric, sometimes combined with printing.
Mesh Work: Uses mesh panels and ink application for design, often combined with other methods.
Direct-to-Garment (DTG): Digital printer applies ink directly onto finished garments, often T-shirts.
Hand Drawing & Painting: Unique, artisanal patterns created directly on fabric with dyes or paints.
Patchwork, Applique, and Fabric Manipulation: Combining and layering different fabrics and techniques to form complex surfaces.

These methods are chosen based on the intended effect, quantity, fabric type, required durability, available resources, and market trends.

Textile design techniques that do not involve printing include weaving (creating patterns and textures through the interlacing of warp and weft threads), knitting (forming fabric by interlooping yarns), embroidery (decorating fabric with stitched designs using thread or yarn), appliqué (attaching pieces of fabric onto a base fabric to form designs), quilting (stitching layers of fabric together to make padded material), fabric manipulation (pleating, folding, twisting, and gathering to add texture and dimension), lace-making (producing openwork textile patterns), felting (matting and compressing fibers), braiding and macramé (intertwining fibers to create decorative patterns), dyeing (coloring fabric or yarns using various resist, batik, or tie-dye methods), spinning (twisting fibers into yarn with design variations), non-woven techniques (such as bonding or felting fibers directly), beading (adding beads for decoration), 3D construction (shaping textile into sculptural forms), and incorporating smart textiles (embedding technology for interactive or color-changing effects).

Analogue

handblock printing

stamping

ink spray

perotime

engrave copperplate printing

roller and cylinder printing

stencil printing

screen printing

Silkscreen

Laser printing

Rotary printing