Reactive vs. Pigment Printing – Everything You’d Want to Ask a Textile Printing Company

Reactive vs. Pigment Printing – Everything You’d Want to Ask a Textile Printing Company

Today, modern textile printing companies offer a wide range of services that can be tailored to the needs of a collection and the required results. To achieve a visual and quality result that will set your company and product apart in the market, it’s worth knowing the basics about the technologies which are used. Consequently, even the strangest questions can improve collaboration between the client and the printing house and help achieve a satisfactory result.

In recent years, two textile printing techniques have gained significant popularity; they are frequently used for both large-scale production and personalized collections or smaller fashion sets. We are, of course, referring to reactive and pigment printing. Both technologies are forms of digital printing, though they rely on slightly different parameters. Although the difference in visual effect may be imperceptible at first glance, there are several fundamental technological and quality differences between them. These differences affect the further use and maintenance of clothing and accessories, as well as production planning.

Quality priorities vs. capabilities

The choice between digital pigment printing and reactive printing also depends on priorities are and types of products. Defining specific requirements is important not only in terms of quality but also cost, as the prices for these two types of printing differ. Depending on the current price lists and requirements of a given printing house, price differences may be greater or smaller. The price is influenced not only by the type of printing but also by the size of the order. Larger orders are often priced individually. The final price is also influenced by the preparation and finishing of the fabric. If the printing company does not offer its own fabrics and knits prepared for printing, it is the customer’s responsibility to purchase and supply them.

In the list below, we’ve provided a comparison of both technologies. We hope this will help you decide which one to choose and when to use it to achieve the best effect:

REACTIVE PRINTING:

Materials suitable for printing:

Natural fibers: cotton, linen, silk, wool, hemp, viscose, modal, Tencel/lyocell, bamboo (although these are synthetic fibers, the fiber-forming polymer is cellulose);

*results on wool and silk may be different from those intended;

Type of ink used: reactive inks containing reactive dyes that react with the hydroxyl groups of cellulose, forming permanent covalent bonds (a type of chemical bond);

Color intensity: high, very good results with vivid colors, wide color range;

Fabric handle after printing: soft, print imperceptible to the touch;

Lightfastness: it is worth asking the print house for specific parameters. These are typically defined by specific ISO standards. They are generally good—though they also depend largely on the designs, and more specifically on the ink concentration in the design;

Wash resistance: high wash resistance. These are usually defined by specific ISO standards;

Care: depends on the guidelines of the specific print house. However, it is usually recommended to wash the product inside out, at a maximum temperature of 40 degrees, without using stain removers. Do not tumble dry the product. Ironing temperature adjusted to the fabric;

Intended use: women’s, men’s, and children’s clothing, bedding, underwear, and textile toys;

Environmental impact: requires higher water and energy consumption during the finishing process.

PIGMENT PRINTING:

Materials suitable for printing:

Natural fibers: cotton, linen, silk, wool, hemp, viscose, modal, tencel/lyocell, bamboo (although these are synthetic fibers, the fiber-forming polymer is cellulose);

Synthetic fibers: polyester, polyacrylonitrile;

Blends: e.g., 80% cotton/20% polyester;

Technical fabrics: Heavyweight canvas, upholstery fabrics, and even some recycled fabrics;

*Results on wool may be different from those intended;

Type of ink used: pigment inks containing binders (i.e., adhesives, usually polyurethane or acrylic), which physically and chemically attach pigment particles to the fabric surface;

Color intensity: slightly lower and more matte, especially with dark colors;

Fabric handle after printing: slight perceptibility of the printed layer, slight stiffness with darker colors. However, thanks to the use of modern inks and proper processing, an effect very similar to reactive printing can be achieved;

Lightfastness: it is worth asking the print house. In the case of pigment printing, lightfastness is significantly higher than with reactive printing;

Wash resistance: It is worth asking the print house. These are usually defined by specific ISO standards. The wash resistance parameter is also high here (though slightly lower than in the case of reactive printing). Compared to reactive prints, pigment prints have lower resistance to repeated washing;

Care: depends on the guidelines of the specific print shop. However, it is generally recommended to wash the product inside out, at a maximum temperature of 40 degrees, without using stain removers. Do not tumble dry the product. Ironing temperature should be adjusted to the fabric;

Intended use: curtains, upholstery, pillows, outdoor clothing, casual wear, accessories such as bags and backpacks, and promotional prints;

Environmental aspect: the process does not require washing or steaming the fabric after printing, resulting in significant water and energy savings.

Summary

If versatility, a wide selection of diverse models in small sets, and fast turnaround times are what matter—pigment printing is the way to go. This technology is also ideal for promotional items, home accessories, and products requiring higher lightfastness. However, if color depth, softness, and resistance to repeated washing are important (aspects particularly crucial for products intended for children or premium items), reactive printing may be the better choice. The choice of printing technology can also affect order turnaround time. Due to fewer production steps, pigment print orders are generally processed faster than reactive print orders.

Jarn quality matters

Finally, it’s worth mentioning the quality of the printing material. The better the quality of the raw material, the better the final result after printing. This also translates to color fastness, the shape of the product, and an aesthetic appearance even after many washes. Just as with single-color materials, high-quality yarn prevents pilling, deformation, and color fading caused by fiber loss.