What Is Digital Print Fabric? Features, Differences from Screen Printing & Best Uses

Digital printing puts a design file straight onto fabric by inkjet. Think of it as the fabric version of an inkjet printer for paper.

Our Taiwan fabric is printed by jetting reactive dye ink directly onto the cloth. Reactive dyes bond chemically with cotton fibres to develop colour, which makes them a good match for 100% cotton.

What digital printing makes possible

Traditional screen printing needs a screen for each colour, and screens cost money. Digital printing needs none, so small runs are easy to start.

Screen printing limits how many colours you can use; digital printing hardly does. Photographic gradients and watercolour strokes come through as they are, and small motifs and fine lines stay crisp.

Because everything is managed as data, reorders reproduce the same design (allow for slight colour differences between lots). You make only what you need, which also cuts leftover stock.

Compared with screen printing

Screen printing carries screen costs and assumes large runs. In return, a simple design printed in large volume comes out cheaper per metre.

Digital printing has no screen costs: existing designs from 10 m, custom designs from 100 m. There is no colour limit and fine detail stays sharp. Pricing for large volumes is by quotation.

For many designs in small quantities, or when the design matters most, choose digital. For a simple design in very large volume, screen printing suits better.

Good for

Original prints for baby and kids brands (double gauze), custom designs for goods and bag brands (oxford, sheeting), corporate novelties (handkerchiefs, pouches), makers' own designs, and small runs for test sales or crowdfunding. See also our articles on double gauze, sheeting and oxford.

Our Taiwanese mill today

Our partner mill in Taiwan uses AI in production management to keep quality and lead times steady. With demand growing, it added two new machines. Orders for original prints rise every year and peak toward year-end. If you have a fixed deadline, contact us early.

Greentex digital print fabric

Greentex is the official Japanese agent for original digital-print fabric from Taiwan. Fabric printed at our partner mill in Taiwan is inspected to standards for the Japanese market before delivery. It is also sold through major craft store chains in Japan.

Existing Taiwan prints from 10 m; fully original (OEM, custom) prints from 100 m, in about two months. The mill makes a sample for you to check before production, and if you go ahead, the sample is free.

FAQ

Does digitally printed fabric fade?

Reactive dyes bond with the fibres, so the fabric can be washed normally. For dark colours, wash separately and dry in the shade the first few times (see also our care FAQ). Please check the hand and colour on a free sample.

Are there screen or plate costs?

No. Printing goes straight from the file with no screens, so small runs of original fabric are realistically priced.

What is the minimum order?

10 m for existing Taiwan prints; 100 m for fully original (OEM, custom) prints, in about two months.

What fabrics can you print on?

Eight 100% cotton bases, including 20s sheeting, heavy 10s sheeting, oxford, twill, double gauze and triple gauze.

What files should I prepare?

High-resolution files (around 300 dpi). We accept the main formats, including AI, PSD, PNG and JPG, and can help adjust repeats for all-over patterns.

Ask us through Custom Orders. Other questions are answered in our FAQ.