ImagesMagUK_May_2021

www.images-magazine.com 30 images MAY 2021 TIPS & TECHNIQUES H igh-volume producers of DTG- printed items are focused on optimising their margins and balancing the cost, quality and selling price of the item. Finding this balance is the key to maintaining a good profit and customer satisfaction. With a high demand for black or dark garments, we will look at how best to use white ink to optimise costs without sacrificing quality. A quick disclaimer though: every process described will depend on the printer, the software, By controlling this factor, you will considerably reduce production costs and optimise profits. White must be generated in the right measure – neither too much nor too little – and the flexibility of your software will dictate how much control you have over this. Too much white can cause: ■ Poor print quality in colour images. Random white dots may appear after printing CMYK, forcing you to redo the job or increase the use of CMYK ink. ■ Stiffening of the fabric. An unsatisfactory texture in the material can result in the buyer rejecting it. ■ Less competitive pricing. The more white ink used, the higher the final cost of your product. Ultimately, if you use too much white ink, your production costs will be higher and the negative impact on quality and customer satisfaction will result in a lower selling price. Too little white can cause: ■ Images with dull colours. ■ Low coverage of the fabric. ■ Lower selling prices. Without an adequately opaque white layer, the base coat won’t be bright enough to give the CMYK ink a strong contrast. However, for some customers, cost can be a more crucial factor than quality when they make their buying Industry experts provide insight and guidance in all areas of digital garment and textile printing Digital helpdesk For this design, the white layer was generated in greyscale mode, which reduces white ink consumption and production costs Encarna Luque, product manager for sublimation and inks at Roland DG EMEA, explains how you can optimise costs by reducing white ink consumption Encarna Luque the printing conditions, and the type and quality of the fabric. We always recommend contacting suppliers for more information and conducting tests prior to full-scale production. Environment and maintenance Like any machine, neglecting it will cause deterioration in output quality and increase the chance of blocked print head nozzles, which can ultimately halt production, having a detrimental impact on the long-term profitability of the business. Ensure your printer and print heads are in good shape so as to reduce downtime. Good maintenance helps avoid wasting ink and time with unplanned cleanings. Additional cleanings can represent around 10-80ml of ink waste, depending on the printer. DTG printers should also ideally include a recirculating system for white ink to avoid sedimentation, ie when the white ink pigment settles. A recirculating system will ensure the pigment is evenly distributed throughout the ink. White ink consumption The white ink consumption has a direct impact on the final cost of your garment.