Printed fabric invented: The first
technique of printing on
fabric was block printing. It is
believed that it was mostly originated in China and then well accepted
throughout Asia, India, and Europe. In block printing, patterns are carved on
wood or cooper blocks, these blocks then are dipped into dye and then pressed hard
against the cloth. The impression comes on the cloth and the printed fabric
gets ready. Indeed, it is a very time-consuming process because unlike
machines, every single print impressed by hands.
In the early 17th century,
EastIndia Company started shipping printed cotton to England. They even
commissioned simpler patterns than the traditional Indian styles and got them
printed to be sent back to Britain. By the 18th century
when the industrial revolution starts setting in, the process of printing
became mechanized. Now, there were cylinder or roller printings were taking place. In this process, the fabric is carried along with a rotating central cylinder and pressed by a series of other rollers that are engraved with designs. Each roller was filled with different color and thatā
show the printing process got much faster and easier.
By the early 20th century,
the modern screen-printing method had arrived. It is said that the technique
was prevailing at the time of block printing also and both these techniques have
had almost the same journey. This technique involves the use of a stencil of an
image on a screen of porous mesh (traditionally made of silk), a roller is used
to press ink over the stencil, which in turn gets forced through the mess and
comes onto the fabric. There are separate stencils for different colors. The
rotary multi-colored screen printing which is prevalent in contemporary times
helps printing fabrics at a better, faster and economical
rate.
The one which is the latest and trending
now days is digital printing. The computer-controlled lasers and high-pressure
jets are there to inject ink directly onto the fabric. This allows for very
detailed patterns and beautiful ones. Also, the process is very expensive but
dam faster.
The printing techniques on fabric have indeed
evolved over time but the old ones haven't lost their relevance or charm.
Comments
Post a Comment