Colours are important in almost all print projects. For some the exact match of shades is crucial, and others weight the durability and quality of the colorants the most.
Unfortunately, there is no key to the right solution. We will help you whether you need technical guidance or aesthetic feedback. We (almost) always know what works and what does not – otherwise, we will definitely find out.
We will not start printing on your fabric before you are 100% satisfied with the samples.
Which colour is on your mind?
Sometimes you just fall for a colour. Perhaps you cannot tell us why – you just want it. We understand.
Send us a piece of your inspiration source and let us look at it. It can be a photo of the red evening sunset, a screen dump of a specific colour mix or something completely different. We will gauge the colours, recreate them and print a sample for you.
Perhaps you are already certain of the exact pantone colour for your print. In that case, we match it with our colour range.
Whichever approach, we insist on giving you the opportunity to verify the colour on fabric before start up. A colour may appear differently on different monitors and on different materials. It is frustrating when the colours you had in mind are not the colours on the printed fabric rolls.
100% reproducible colours. We guarantee the same colour next time
We file the technical data of your project as well as a fabric sample in order to be able to recreate your project if you need to reorder your print. Our colour guarantee goes for our digital production in Denmark as well as the projects we print in China by means of conventional printing techniques.
Unlimited options with the digital technology
In fact, you need not worry about the printing technique. We use the transfer printing technique and disperse dyes. This is the ideal technique for polyester fabric. Therefore, the colour fastness are the same on your printed fabric whether we use the digital printing technique or one of the conventional techniques (gravure or screen).
Conventional printers require a separate screen/template for each colour. This gives a natural limit to the number of colours you can include in your print. If we go with the digital option on the other hand, you have free rein.
In most cases, it pays off to go digital. Only at very large parties of fabric or the requirement of uni-coloured prints, will we consider one of the conventional printing techniques for your project.
Read more: Technical guide of textile printing techniques
Beautiful prints with gradient colours
Colour grading from one colour to the next is always difficult. Of course, scan htp is determined to overcome this challenge too.
The path towards a beautiful print of gradient colours has three elements. First, it requires a high-resolution print file. Secondly, we need attention to the calculation between colour profiles to correct any faults that might appear from one media to the next. Finally, successful colour grading requires full control of vertical and horizontal stripes (banding).
We have multiple examples of perfect results of colour grading within our digital production.
Transfer printing on dyed fabric
Using disperse dyes in the transfer printing technique involves only a small amount of colorants. The colours are almost transparent.
If we are to print on a dyed fabric, the fabric has to lighter than the print colour. Consequently, we cannot print on black fabric, and we will always advise you to seek other printing techniques for black fabric, i.e. pigment print.
If white fabric does not work for you, many types of light fabric also provide good results as long as the print is darker than the fabric itself.
We also have the opportunity to print a black or dark ground colour if you do not require a coloured backside of your fabric.
Light fastness in digital transfer prints
Transfer printing sometimes gives us a challenge in terms of light fastness, for instance neon colours have a poor light fastness. In such cases, we may recommend adding UV-absorber to achieve a durable result.
Solar screening products may also be problematic without pre-treatment of the fabric. We have great focus on overcoming the fastness challenges in our product development, and we believe in finding a satisfactory solution to light fastness issues in digital transfer printing.
So far, we leave projects that require a high light fastness to our China-production.
Colour fastness of our digital prints
Colour fastness – test results on a standard 100% polyester PFP
Our recommendations for your print file
Our starting point is always that you should try to send us what you have. We are not magicians, but we come very close …
However, we recommend the following:
- Bitmap-files (PSD, TIFF)
- At least one repeat size
- Size 1:1 (please state measurements in mm)
- Resolution at least 300 dpi, and please avoid jpg compress
- Make your file in RGB colours and save it without colour profile or in Adobe RGB (1998)
- Make your file in your required colours
Vector-files (AI)
- At least one repeat size
- Size 1:1 (please state measurements in mm)
- Make your file in RGB colours and save it without colour profile or in Adobe RGB (1998)
- Make your file in your required colours
If you cannot make a file according to the above specifications, please do not to hesitate to send us whatever you have. We will try to adjust your file to meet your expectations.