From cotton and silk to nylon and polyester, different fabrics require specific ink chemistry. That’s why selecting a fabric printing machine that aligns seamlessly with your application is crucial to ensuring optimal print quality, durability and color vibrancy.
In this guide, we compare some of the top brands and models in fabric printing to help you make the best choice for your business now and in the future.
What Type of Fabric Printing Machine Do You Need?
What Type of Fabric Printing Machine Do You Need?
In your quest to choose the perfect fabric printing machine, understanding your specific needs and the capabilities of different machine types is essential. Here’s a quick rundown of the three fabric printing machine types we’ll focus on in this guide:
- Direct-to-Fabric Printing Machines: These machines work best for natural materials such as cotton and silk and synthetic ones like nylon. They’ve been engineered to provide the precise ink chemistry required for a vibrant, long-lasting print on these fabrics.
- Dye Sublimation Printers: If your business frequently prints on polyester materials, these printers should be at the top of your list. They use a special heat transfer process to sublimate dye into the fabric, resulting in high-quality, durable prints.
- Hybrid Printers: These machines combine the capabilities of direct-to-fabric and dye sublimation printers, enabling greater versatility in printing on different materials.
How to Print on Fabric
Before diving into the different machine options, it’s important to understand the fabric printing process. Here are the essential steps for digital fabric printing:
- Choose the fabric: Select a material suitable for your application, whether it’s apparel, home decor or a commercial use product.
- Pre-treat the fabric: Depending on the textile and ink used, you may need to pre-treat the fabric with a special solution to improve ink adhesion.
- Create your design: Use design software to create your artwork, keeping in mind the fabric type and printing method you will be using.
- Prepare the printer: Load your chosen fabric into the printer and make sure you have the correct ink type for the fabric.
- Print the design: Print your design onto the fabric using the digital fabric printing machine.
- Heat fixation or cure: After printing, the fabric will need to be heat-treated to fix the ink, either with an integrated or standalone heat press, depending on your machine.
Top Dye Sublimation Printers of 2023
Dye sublimation printing is an integral part of the textile market. Since it’s perfect for printing on polyester, it’s one of the most popular textiles used for soft signage at trade shows, airports and malls. Sports apparel and home décor items, such as tapestries and shower curtains, are also best printed using dye sublimation techniques.
Here are our picks for the top dye sublimation models currently available.
Mimaki TS 100-1600
The Mimaki TS100-1600 is a standout option for those seeking quality without breaking the bank. This machine is priced at around $10,000 and offers impressive value with its 64” width, bulking solution, inclusive software and take-up reel. Designed with simplicity in mind, users can expect a straightforward experience and the ability to print a couple hundred square feet per hour.
Pricing
MSRP: ~ $10,000
Compare to Mutoh RJ900
In comparison, the Mutoh RJ900, with an older design, is cheaper but only 42” wide and lacks the bulk system. Users would need to purchase the take-up reel separately. The TS 100 has notably attracted some of Mutoh RJ900’s clientele due to its comprehensive features.
Mimaki TS 330P-1600
Priced in the mid $20k range, the Mimaki TS 330P-1600 stands out with its speed — about 2.5 times faster than the TS 100. This 64” wide printer offers a choice of eight colors, either running CMYKx2 or including fluorescents like yellow and pink.
Pricing
MSRP: ~ $25,000
Compare to Mutoh 1682
The Mutoh 1682 is a worthy competitor, but the TS 330 has the edge in color variation and speed.
Mimaki Tiger 600-1800TS
The Mimaki Tiger 600-1800TS is a game-changer, as it’s the first machine in the U.S capable of localizing production. Its breakneck speeds peak at 5,000 sq. ft. per hour, and even in production mode, it impressively churns out 3,300 sq. ft. hourly. The $140,000 price tag may seem hefty, but its ink costs are competitive, especially for production users. The design caters to both larger rolls (up to 600 lbs.) and the very lightest of papers (tests are ongoing for 20 gram paper). The lower ink and paper costs over time make it a savvy investment.
Pricing
MSRP: $140,000
Compare to MS JP4 and Epson
While these brands are strong contenders, the Mimaki Tiger 600-1800TS offers distinct advantages, particularly in speed and versatility.
Best Direct-to-Fabric Printer of 2023
Direct-to-fabric printing is necessary when working with cotton, silk, nylon and all other non-polyester fibers. The process requires a different ink chemistry to print directly onto fabrics.
Take a look at the top direct-to-fabric printing machine on the market today:
Mimaki TX300P-1800B
The TX300P-1800B uses an adhesive print blanket to transport the fabric through the printer, which is critical for production printing on knit goods and delicate fabrics. This model also has a belt that keeps it from distorting and curling on the edges. It utilizes a sticky belt to feed fabric through the printer, making it one of the best options for knit fabrics. This model serves as an entry-level option for production, offering a balanced blend of functionality and affordability.
Pricing
MSRP: ~ $83,000
Best Hybrid Printer of 2023
Hybrid printers combine the best of both worlds, allowing you to print on transfer paper and direct to fabric.
Here is our pick for the top hybrid printer model available in 2023:
Mimaki TX300P-1800 MkII
A versatile hybrid, the new TX300P-1800MkII from Mimaki is the revolutionary TX300P-1800 MkII, which is a hybrid version of their TX300P-1800 model that can handle both fabric and paper for dye sublimation. With eight channels (four for textile pigment inks and four for CMYK dye-sub inks), switching between fabric and dye sublimation is a breeze. This robust, hybrid printer features dual-media and dual-ink capabilities, expanding the potential range of applications for various types of businesses. The bulk ink system also reduces ink costs and makes unattended print jobs possible. It’s an ideal choice for businesses with space constraints.
Pricing
MSRP: $27,995
Note: As is evident from our list, Mimaki has made a substantial mark in the digital fabric printing space. Their consistent investment in research and development, diverse printer offerings and advanced inks emphasize their commitment to excellence and innovation in the industry, making them a standout choice for many businesses.
Please note: All prices listed reflect pricing at the time of publication.
Additional Considerations
Choosing the right fabric printing machine is just the start of your printing journey. The nuances of fabric printing extend beyond the type of machine and the material it’s designed for. Ensure a smooth operation and top-quality output by considering the following factors.
Service and maintenance
It’s essential to inquire about the level of maintenance and support included with your purchase. Frequent maintenance is required to keep the machines running optimally, so you want a reliable service provider.
For manufacturers like Mutoh and Mimaki, the distributor will typically provide service and support. Some companies that sell printers, like ITNH, will cover service for Mimaki and Mutoh printers and support any application needs for Epson.
Learning and ease-of-use
Consider how easy it is to use the machine and whether the manufacturer provides adequate training. Newer models tend to be more user-friendly, but it’s still important to have proper training for the best results.
Cost of materials
Assess the ongoing cost of consumables like ink, transfer paper and fabric. Some machines may have lower upfront costs but higher ongoing expenses.
- Ink: Most designs use a maximum of 1ml per square foot printed (all colors combined). To establish your estimated square foot ink price, take your 1 liter price and divide by 1,000. That will be a close approximation of your running ink costs. In many cases, Raster Image Processor (RIP) software will tell you the actual ink usage for print jobs even before they print.
- Sublimation Transfer Paper: Depending on the exact paper brand, weight/thickness and order quantity, you can expect your square foot paper cost to be between $0.03 and $0.12.
- Fabric: There are many different offerings of fabric types and styles. To get an accurate fabric cost estimate, you should contact an inkjet fabric printer expert. After a review of your application, the best-suited fabrics can be quoted.
Size and space
Be mindful of the fabric printing machine’s footprint and how it will fit into your existing workspace. If you have limited space, opt for a compact model.
Speed and production capacity
Evaluate the machine’s production speed to ensure it meets your business’s needs. A high-speed machine is advantageous if you have large-volume orders.
All-in-one digital fabric printers
Some fabric printing machines are offered as “all-in-one,” meaning there is a built-in heat fixation (or cure) and no need for an additional offline device. There can be both benefits and downfalls with this type of equipment.
An all-in-one printer takes up less space and print jobs can technically be completed in one step. However, your hourly productivity is the same whether there is one step or two.
Usually, stand-alone heat-setting equipment is preferred for a variety of reasons. First, it can typically last up to 40 years, making it a great long-term investment. It’s also important to understand that stand-alone heat setting equipment can typically keep up with multiple printers, making for a more flexible and potentially more cost-effective solution. Why have a heat fixation unit for every printer when you can have one central unit servicing all your printers? And in 10 years, when you’re ready to purchase another printer, you’ll be glad to know you don’t need any fixation equipment.
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We’re happy to answer any further questions you may have about dye sublimation or direct-to-fabric printers. Just contact us for advice!