Pigmenttipainatusta

Pigmenttipainatusta, also known as pigment printing, is a textile printing technique that utilizes pigments suspended in a binder. Unlike dyes that chemically bond with the fabric fibers, pigments sit on the surface of the material, held in place by the binder. This method is versatile and can be applied to a wide range of natural and synthetic fibers.

The process typically involves preparing a printing paste containing pigments, binders, thickeners, and other additives. This paste is then applied to the fabric using various methods, such as screen printing, roller printing, or digital printing. After printing, the fabric is subjected to a heat treatment, known as curing, which solidifies the binder and firmly attaches the pigment to the surface.

Pigment printing offers several advantages. It is relatively cost-effective and can produce vibrant, opaque colors. It also provides good lightfastness and washfastness, meaning the colors resist fading from sunlight and repeated washing. However, the feel of the fabric can be somewhat stiffer or heavier compared to dyed fabrics due to the binder layer on the surface. Additionally, the color range can be limited by the available pigment shades, although modern pigment printing technologies are continuously expanding these options. This technique is widely used in the textile industry for apparel, home furnishings, and other fabric-based products.