The Surecolor SC-F2000 in action: It prints a t-shirt in 27 seconds in its fastest print mode
Screen printing is essentially a stencilling technique that first appeared in China in 960AD. It was not until 1870 that screen printing was adopted across Europe, and the French in particular started to use this technique for printing cloth. Screen printing onto garments now represents over 50 percent of the total US screen printing applications market and the UK market statistics are just as impressive.
Back in January I looked at direct-to-textile printing for the wide-format print market with the MTEX 5032 printer. Certainly digital printing at that end of the market is seeing dramatic growth—but I got to thinking, can the same be said for smaller-format direct-to-garment printing, another traditional screen printing staple?
So this month I am looking at why you might choose small-format direct-to-garment (DTG) digital printing over mainstream screen printing solutions, if at all. In particular, I have been looking at the Epson SureColor SC-F2000 printer, which was launched in September 2013.
Epson claims the Surecolor SC-F2000 is set to change the world of direct-to-garment printing
For print shops or sign-makers to create a new t-shirt printing revenue stream without the set up costs and space required for traditional production screen printing, direct-to-garment (DTG) digital printing is a real possibility. DTG is also a possible option for traditional screen printers wanting to deliver full-colour, short-run, quick-turnaround, and personalised-garments, with no set ups or colour separations.
According to the many t-shirt forums and bloggers on the internet, Epson was seen to ‘wait it out’ in this market, watching other manufacturers iron out tech issues and glitches in this technology. If this is true, then by waiting and tackling these issues head-on, Epson seems to have delivered a well-thought-out DTG printer in the Epson SC-F2000.
Jumping hurdles
Historical problems on DTG printers have included head strikes because of lint, dust, and uneven platens, as well as issues with the white ink pigment (the TIO2 pigment) settling in the ink lines and clogging up printheads.
Larry Kaufman, product manager Professional Imaging, Epson America, recently said that Epson dedicated a team of mechanical, chemical, and software engineers for more than three years to create this all-new imaging technology designed for printing directly onto garments. Many hybrid solutions exist in the market, but what Epson has here is a first among its kind; a garment printer where the printhead, ink, and chassis have been designed and manufactured by one brand.
The purpose-built, one-inch wide, high-performance printhead of the Epson SC-F2000 has 360 nozzles per colour and has vibration meniscus control for highly-accurate dot shape and placement. It has also developed an ink-repelling coating technology to reduce nozzle clogging, especially important with the white ink lines. All of these developments significantly improve the printhead life and keep maintenance to a minimum. But do not expect to just let this printer sit for days without use; like all direct-to-garment printers, you will need to carry out basic maintenance, although the unique inbuilt automatic ink circulation system will certainly help keep this printer in good shape. The inks are hardwearing, crack resistant, and soft against the skin, and even though it creates vibrant punch colours, the ink is eco-friendly, having passed a part certification from Oeko-Tex Standard 100, meaning it does not contain any harmful substances.
A soft touch
The printer comes with Garment Creator software, which includes a cost calculation function, allowing you to estimate the print cost by calculating the amount and cost of the ink used for each print job. This can be beneficial if you want to set a different tax rate or discount levels. This design software also enables designers to produce customised, eye-catching designs for t-shirts, caps, and bags up to 25mm thick, in fact, any fabric as long as it is either 100 percent cotton or blended fibres with a minimum 50 percent cotton content.
Epson’s Garment Creator software includes a cost calculation function, which allows the user to estimate the print cost by calculating the amount and cost of the ink used for each print job”
According to Epson, the SureColor SC-F2000 can produce a single white t-shirt in 27 seconds and a dark coloured t-shirt in 111 seconds using white and CMYK. Andy Lunt, managing director at T Shirt and Sons in Wiltshire who trialled the system notes that the software is quick and easy to use.
According to Epson, the SureColor SC-F2000 can produce a single white t-shirt in 27 seconds and a dark coloured t-shirt in 111 seconds using white and CMYK”
“The software is straightforward,” says Lunt, continuing: “We simply upload an image, click on it, set the parameters depending on whether it’s a white or black shirt, select the size, set the position and off you go.”
Garment Creator allows you to save predefined colour management and layout control presets, which should make it easier to deliver consistent results.
According to Andy Lunt, managing director of T Shirt and Sons in Wiltshire, Garment Creator software is quick to pick up and easy to use
I genuinely believe that the Epson SureColor SC-F2000 may very well have a huge impact on the t-shirt market, but do not just take my word for it; according to Lunt at T Shirt and Sons, it was not long before his head printer was asking for five of them. The company employs almost 40 people and produces around 40,000 t-shirts a week.
Digital printing is a relatively new venture for T Shirt and Sons and adding another string to its bow means that it can now produce short print runs quickly, and at the exact time they are needed—something it was not able to do before.
With digital, every t-shirt or garment can be different and individual, just like the person wearing it, so perhaps bespoke fashion really is just round the corner after all—what will yours say about you?
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