Our Services

Embroidery

Our services include embroidery is a decorative and artistic technique that involves embellishing fabric or other materials with stitched designs using specialised embroidery machines. The process of embroidery we use is done using computerized embroidery machines.

Here's an overview of how our embroidery works:

1. Digital Design: For machine embroidery, a digital embroidery design file is created using specialised software. This design file contains instructions that the embroidery machine will follow to create the pattern. It specifies stitch types, colours, and the order of stitches.
2. Stabilisation: The fabric to be embroidered is secured in an embroidery hoop or frame, similar to hand embroidery. Additionally, a stabiliser or backing material is often used to support the fabric and prevent puckering or stretching during stitching.
3. Machine Setup: The embroidery design file is loaded onto the embroidery machine. The machine is threaded with the chosen embroidery thread colours, and the appropriate needle is selected.
4. Embroidery: The machine begins to execute the design by following the instructions in the digital file. It moves the fabric and needle according to the design's specifications, stitching out the pattern automatically. Modern embroidery machines are highly precise and can produce intricate designs with great speed.
5. Finishing: After the machine has completed the embroidery, any excess thread is trimmed, and the stabiliser or backing material may be removed. The finished embroidered piece is ready for use or further processing, such as attaching it to garments or accessories.

Embroidery allows for intricate and detailed designs with a three-dimensional texture, making it a popular choice for adding decorative elements to clothing, textiles, home decor, and promotional items. Whether done by hand or with machines, embroidery requires skill and creativity to achieve beautiful and personalized results.

Screen Printing

Our services also include screen printing, also known as silk screening, is a versatile and widely used method for applying designs, images, or patterns onto various surfaces, including textiles, paper, wood, metal, and more. It's commonly used in the production of custom apparel, posters, signage, and promotional items. Here's an overview of how screen printing works:

1. Design Preparation: The process begins with the creation of a design or artwork that needs to be printed. This design is typically made as a vector file using graphic design software like Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW. The design is then separated into individual colour layers, as each colour in the final print will require a separate screen.
2. Screen PreparationScreens are a fundamental component of screen printing. They are typically made of a fine mesh material, such as polyester or nylon, stretched tightly over a frame (usually made of aluminium or wood).To prepare the screen for printing:
   • Emulsion Coating
     The screen mesh is coated with a light-sensitive emulsion, which is allowed to dry. The emulsion acts as a stencil, hardening when exposed to light.
   • Image Exposure
     The separated colour layers from the design are printed onto transparent film positives. Each film positive corresponds to one colour in the design. The film positives are then placed on top of the coated screens, and the entire assembly is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. The UV light passes through the clear areas of the film positives and hardens the emulsion on the screen, creating a stencil with the desired design.
3. Screen Printing Setup: Once the screens are prepared, they are mounted onto a screen printing press. The press holds the screens in place and allows for precise registration of each colour layer.
4. Ink Application: The substrate to be printed (such as a T-shirt or paper) is placed on the printing table or platen beneath the screens. Ink is applied to the top of the screen, directly above the area where the design is located. A squeegee is then used to pull the ink across the screen, forcing it through the mesh openings and onto the substrate below. The ink is pressed through the stencil created by the emulsion, transferring the design onto the substrate.
5. Curing: After the ink is applied, the printed substrate is typically passed through a conveyor dryer or heat tunnel. The heat cures the ink, drying it and causing it to adhere permanently to the substrate. Curing times and temperatures can vary depending on the type of ink used and the material being printed.
6. Repeat for Additional Colors: If the design involves multiple colours, the process is repeated for each colour layer. Careful registration (alignment) of each screen is essential to ensure that the colours align correctly.
7. Cleaning: Screens need to be thoroughly cleaned after each use to remove any residual ink and emulsion. This ensures that the screens can be reused for future print jobs.

Our services include screen printing as it is valued for its durability, versatility, and ability to produce vibrant, opaque prints on various substrates. It is especially well-suited for medium to large production runs of printed materials and is a popular choice for custom apparel, promotional products, and artistic prints.

Digital Printing

Our services include digital printing on fabrics, a modern printing technique that involves using digital technology to directly print colourful and detailed designs or patterns onto textile materials. It offers a high degree of precision and customization, making it a popular choice in the fashion, home decor, and textile industries. Here's how digital printing on fabrics works:

1. Design Creation: The process begins with the creation of a digital design on a computer. This design can include intricate patterns, detailed graphics, text, and various colours. Designers use graphic design software to create or manipulate the artwork.
2. Digital Printing Equipment: Specialized digital fabric printers are used for this process. These printers are equipped with inkjet technology and are designed to handle textile materials. They use water-based or pigment-based inks that are formulated to adhere to fabric fibres.
3. Colour Separation: The digital design is broken down into its individual colour components, typically using a process called colour separation. Each colour is assigned a specific inkjet nozzle, allowing precise control over the application of colours during printing.
4. Printing: The fabric to be printed is loaded onto the printer's platen or feeding system. As the fabric moves through the printer, the print heads release tiny droplets of ink onto the fabric's surface according to the colour separation instructions. The print heads can move horizontally and vertically to cover the entire fabric with the design.
5. Curing or Fixation: After the ink is applied to the fabric, it needs to be fixed or cured to ensure it bonds permanently with the textile fibres. This is typically done using heat or steam, depending on the type of ink and fabric being used. Heat fixation is more common and involves passing the printed fabric through a heated oven or press. The heat activates the ink's pigments or dyes, causing them to bond with the fabric.
6. Finishing: Once the ink is fixed, the printed fabric may undergo additional processes like washing, steaming, or drying to remove any residual ink, enhance colour vibrancy, or improve the fabric's softness.

Digital printing on fabrics offers several advantages, including:

• Customization: It allows for high levels of customization, enabling designers to create unique and intricate patterns or one-of-a-kind prints.
• Colour Accuracy: Digital printing provides precise colour matching, ensuring that the final printed fabric closely resembles the original design.
• Reduced Waste: Unlike traditional printing methods like screen printing, digital printing doesn't require the creation of screens or plates, which reduces setup time and minimizes material waste.
• Short Runs: It's cost-effective for producing small to medium quantities of custom-printed fabrics, making it suitable for on-demand and niche markets.
• Complex Designs: It can reproduce highly detailed and complex designs, including gradients and photographic images.

Digital printing on fabrics has revolutionized the textile industry by offering efficient and environmentally friendly printing solutions while enabling creativity and flexibility in design.

Sublimation Printing

Sublimation printing is another one of our services. A digital printing technique that involves transferring a design or image onto a substrate (typically fabric or a specially coated material) using heat and pressure. This process is often used for creating high-quality, long-lasting, and vibrant prints on a variety of items, including apparel, textiles, ceramics, glass, metal, and more.

Here's how sublimation printing works:

1. Design Creation: A digital design is created using graphic design software. This design can include colourful graphics, photographs, or any other artwork.
2. Printing on Transfer Paper: The digital design is then printed onto special sublimation transfer paper using sublimation ink. Sublimation ink is unique in that it becomes a gas when heated without passing through the liquid phase, which is crucial to the sublimation process.
3. Heat Transfer: The printed transfer paper is placed face-down on the substrate, such as a polyester fabric or a coated item, like a ceramic mug. The paper and substrate are then subjected to high heat (typically around 350 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 175 to 200 degrees Celsius) using a heat press machine. The heat causes the sublimation ink to turn into a gas, allowing it to penetrate and bond with the surface of the substrate.
4. Cooling and Solidification: After heating for a specific duration, the heat press is released, and the transfer paper is removed. As it cools, the sublimated ink reverts to a solid state, permanently embedding the design into the substrate's surface. The result is a high-resolution, full-colour print that is both durable and wash-resistant.

Sublimation printing has several advantages, including:

1. Vibrant Colors: Sublimation allows for the printing of vibrant and detailed images with a wide range of colours.
2. Durability: The prints are long-lasting and resistant to fading, cracking, or peeling, as the ink is embedded into the substrate.
3. Versatility: Sublimation can be used on various materials, including textiles, ceramics, metal, and more, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.
4. Full Coverage: Sublimation can cover the entire surface of the substrate, including curved or irregularly shaped objects.

However, it's essential to note that sublimation printing is primarily suitable for polyester fabrics and materials with a special sublimation coating. It is not suitable for natural fibres like cotton, as sublimation ink does not bond well with them. Additionally, the process requires specific equipment and can be more expensive than some other printing methods.

Contact us for more information on these services.