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AnaJet direct to garment Inkjet Printing |
Dye Sublimation (Iron On) |
Thermal Transfer
(Screen Print Type) |
Screen Printing |
|
Basic
Technology |
Inkjet direct printing on garment |
Printing images on a release paper, then transfer image to garment by heat press. |
Transfer preprinted images to garment by heat press |
Screen printing directly on garment |
|
Technology History |
New digital revolution |
50+ years |
50+ years |
100+ years tradition |
|
Printing on
100% cotton |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Suitable Substrate |
Cotton, Poly-cotton, Cotton blends, and other materials. |
Polyester |
Primarily Polyester, poly-cotton, and others |
Cotton, Poly-cotton and other materials |
|
Ink and
Environmental Concerns |
Water-based pigment ink. Environmentally friendly. Non toxic. No fumes. |
Typically Solvent-based ink. VOC and environmental concerns. |
Ink is already on transfer paper. Can generate VOC. |
Screen printing ink, plastisol. Environmental concerns. Produces VOC, and waste water problems. |
|
Printed Garment’s Tactile Feel |
Soft and natural cotton feeling |
Natural feeling. |
Depends on the character of transfer paper used. |
Thick hardened plastisol. Not natural feeling. |
|
Indivisual customized graphics, and
short run. |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
|
Capital Equipment Investment |
$15K – $200K |
$750 -- $6K |
$2K -- $5K |
$5K -- $250K |
|
Suitable for: |
Professional Commercial System |
Hobbyist or small scale commercial. |
Hobbyist or small scale commercial. |
Professional Commercial System |
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