Printing on bullet Liverpool fabric is easy, affordable and in high demand. Whether you’re a home-based small business or an established print shop, you can translate this versatile fabric into a scalable, lucrative opportunity — as long as you have the right inkjet printer.
Read on for the details of bullet Liverpool fabric, including:
Mutoh XPJ-1682WR Sublimation Printer
What is Bullet Liverpool Fabric?
Bullet Liverpool fabric (sometimes referred to as just bullet fabric) is a type of knit polyester with a bit of spandex added for stretch. One side is smooth and the other side is texturized, giving the overall fabric a distinguishing look and feel.
The medium-weight fabric is structurally sound, making it a popular choice for:
- Jackets
- Dresses
- Blouses
- Bows
- Skirts
- Leggings
How Do You Print on Bullet Liverpool Fabric?
Inkjet printing can yield vivid, photo-quality prints on bullet Liverpool fabric. Beyond the amazing colors and graphics, inkjet printing makes short-run jobs easy, and customization and personalization are also a breeze.
To achieve these benefits, first you need to make sure you utilize the correct inks and printing equipment. The ink chemistry and printing process for any type of fabric depends on the fibers. Since bullet Liverpool fabric is a knit polyester with a small amount of spandex, you should follow the polyester printing process: Dye sublimation. This is good news because the dye sublimation printing process is easy to follow and the equipment is more affordable than other printing processes.
Dye sublimation is a two-step process:
- Step one involves printing onto transfer paper, instead of directly onto the fabric.
- Step two is to transfer the ink from the paper onto the polyester fabric using a heat press. This is about a 40 second process.
Mimaki TS100-1600 Transfer Printer
Equipment
Many inkjet printing options are suitable for home and office environments thanks to the environmentally friendly, water-based ink chemistry. To print on bullet Liverpool fabric, you will need a dye sublimation printer and a heat press.
Dye Sublimation Printers
Polyester and polyester resin-coated products are printed on using a technique called dye sublimation. A dye sublimation printer first prints onto special transfer paper, and then the ink is heat transferred from the paper to the fabric using a heat press. The ink transforms from a solid state to a gaseous state when it enters the polyester fibers.
Printing on transfer paper versus printing directly onto the bullet Liverpool fabric has many advantages. The printers required to print to transfer paper, such as the Mimaki TS100 and the Mutoh 1682WR, are simpler and less expensive than their fabric printing counterparts. They are also quite popular and there are many high-quality models to choose from for both entry level and factory production. Models range from 24” wide desktop models to 10’ wide grand formats. The most popular are the 44” and 64” wide printers.
Related Reading: 5 Things You Need to Know About Dye Sublimation Printers
Heat Presses
There are two main styles of heat presses: Flatbed and rotary drum. Like the name suggests, a flatbed press has two flat plates that are squeezed together, like a panini maker. Flatbed presses are available in small sizes at affordable prices. However, as they get larger, they can get expensive and require a lot of floor space.
Rotary drum heat presses have a heated drum with a diameter of 8” to 10” for entry level models. A heavy duty felt belt is wrapped around as much of the drum as possible. Printed paper and white polyester fabric is fed between the belt and the drum as they move along. As the paper and fabric exit the press, the ink is now transferred onto the fabric. Rotary drum presses start at a higher price than flatbeds, but they are more desirable for high production uses. Widths range from 44” to 10’ —as drum diameters increase, so do production speeds.
The low-end range of dye sublimations printers will cost between $6,000 and $7,000. However, the most popular equipment packages typically range from $20,000 to $50,000. It’s important to talk to a printing expert to fully discuss your goals, objectives and budget. They can propose one or more equipment options and even help you prep your work space. To speak with an ITNH printer specialist, contact us here.
Bullet Liverpool Fabric Printing FAQs
Q: What type of ink should I use to print on bullet Liverpool fabric?
A: The dye sublimation printing process requires disperse dyes, which convert from a solid state to a gaseous state in high temperatures. Using a heat press, the ink easily bonds to bullet Liverpool fabric and other types of polyester.
Q: How much does a dye sublimation printer cost?
A: Printers themselves start at under $10,000; however, it’s important to talk to an expert, first, to ensure you get the package that best suits your needs. Entry-level packages can range from around $20,000 to $50,000. Of course, the biggest and faster the printer, the more it will cost.
Q: Will dye sublimation prints last long?
A: Yes. The dye sublimation process chemically bonds the ink to the bullet Liverpool fabric, and printed items are permanent and even washable.
