1. Block Printing

Block printing is one of the oldest and simplest textile printing methods. It uses blocks made of wood, copper, or other materials, carved with a design. Dye is applied to the raised surface of the block, which is then pressed onto the fabric to transfer the pattern.

Each color in the design requires a separate block. The block maker carves the design, starting with larger areas and finishing with fine details to prevent damage. Intricate lines that are difficult to carve in wood are created using thin strips of brass or copper, bent and embedded into the block — a technique known as coppering.

Block printing is a slow, labor-intensive process, typically done by hand. The perrotine, a block-printing machine invented by Perrot of Rouen in 1834, mechanized the process but is now of historical interest only.

2. Engraved Roller Printing

Engraved roller printing uses engraved metal rollers to apply dye as fabric passes through the printing machine. This method produces most of the printed fabrics used in clothing and textiles today.

Each color requires a separate roller, allowing for consistent, high-quality prints across large quantities. After printing, the fabric is dried and steamed to fix the dye.

The process was patented by Thomas Bell in 1785, who first used engraved plates for textile printing. Bell's machine could print six colors simultaneously, but early versions struggled to align the rollers correctly. Adam Parkinson of Manchester solved this issue the same year, making multi-color roller printing commercially viable.

3. Silk Screen Printing

Silk screen printing, also known as screen printing or serigraphy, uses a mesh screen to transfer ink onto fabric. Traditionally, silk was used for the mesh, but today synthetic threads are more common.

A stencil blocks out areas where ink is not desired. A squeegee moves across the screen, pressing ink through the open mesh onto the fabric. As the screen lifts, the ink transfers to the fabric. Since only one color is printed at a time, multiple screens are used for multi-colored designs.

Design files for screen printing are created in solid colors, with separate layers for each color.

Types of Screen Printing:

• Flat Screen Printing — manual or semi-automatic, suitable for small runs and detailed work.

• Rotary Screen Printing — uses cylindrical screens for continuous, high-speed production.

3. Rotary Screen Printing

Rotary screen printing is a mechanized form of flat screen printing and is the most widely used textile printing method in commercial production.

While setup costs are relatively high, the process becomes highly cost-effective for large print runs. However, it's not ideal for small orders due to the labor involved in setup. Rotary screen printing works best for solid colors and simple designs, but is less suitable for complex images like photographs that require color gradients.

4. Stencil and Spray Printing

Stencil and spray printing uses stencils cut from materials like metal, wood, paper, or plastic to create designs. Dye or color is applied through the cut-out areas onto the fabric.

This method is simple and easy—even children can do it—but it is labor-intensive and slow, making it mostly suitable for small-scale or single-use projects.

In spray printing, specialized spray guns force dye through screens or stencils to transfer color onto fabric. Spray techniques are often combined with stencil use for greater control.

5. Heat Transfer Printing

Heat transfer printing uses a printing machine and heat press to transfer designs onto fabric. It’s a cost-effective method widely used for printing logos and messages on thousands of garments like t-shirts.

The design is first printed on special transfer paper, then transferred to the fabric by passing both through heated rollers.

However, this method has drawbacks: the dye often doesn’t fully penetrate the fabric, causing the fabric to show through the design. Colors may fade after washing, and transfers can peel or crack. The fabric surface may feel rough, and sometimes the edges of the transfer paper are visible.

6. Inkjet Printing

Digital textile printing began in the late 1980s as an alternative to traditional screen printing. The development of dye-sublimation printers in the early 1990s allowed direct printing on fabric using sublimation and disperse inks, eliminating the need for transfer paper.

The future of textile printing is digital, offering greater speed, quality, and efficiency. Recent innovations in water-based inkjet inks enable printing on a wide range of fabrics—such as cotton, blends, nylon, rayon, and silk—with simpler fixation processes.

These pigmented inks match the color and wash fastness of screen prints while improving fabric feel. Inkjet printing supports complex designs with multi-color layering and shading, making it ideal for designing, sampling, and short runs.

7. Inkjet Direct Print on Garment

Direct-to-garment (DTG) printing is a digital inkjet method that applies colorants directly onto fabric. It is used both for small designs on individual garments and larger prints on textile rolls.

The main advantage of DTG printing is the ability to produce realistic, high-quality images at low cost—even for small print runs or one-off items.

8. Sublimation Printing

Sublimation printing uses heat to transfer sublimation dyes onto fabric, requiring an inkjet or laser printer, sublimation ink, and a heat press.

Though more expensive than heat transfer due to costly inks, sublimation produces vivid, attractive prints. However, it only works well on synthetic fabrics like 100% polyester; cotton requires a special coating to accept the print.

While sublimation prints are generally very durable, they can fade with prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.