New digital textile printing technologies are making their presence felt in the display sector to the extent that there are now machines that cover every budgetary and production requirement. But the learning curve remains, with the intricacies of sublimation dyes often becoming more apparent when working with disperse inks rather than low-energy options that involve a transfer process.

The key choice that can confuse display producers and sign-makers considering the textile route is whether to opt for a two-stage sublimation printer, or select a machine that provides direct-to-fabric capabilities. For the latter, disperse – or high-energy sublimation direct dyes – tend to be somewhat stronger than their low-energy equivalents which are used in transfer printing. However, both methods need a calendering element to fix the job and bring out the colours to their full density. For outdoor applications, disperse inks are considered to offer a greater life-span as they take longer to fade, and also offer good print-through, which is vital on products such as flags.

The question about performance comes down to understanding the behaviour of the equipment being used and having the essential knowledge that a company using dye sublimation, whether it's direct or transfer, needs to take on board. Everyone knows that there is a greater learning curve with textiles than there is when using other types of wide-format printer, and that the finishing element is vital and integral to the whole process. Learning the theory and putting it into practice can be daunting as well as time consuming but, in the long term, it is generally an investment that is well spent.

Soft signage has become a de facto term in the display world for the use of digitally printed textiles. True, materials manufacturers are offering up products which can be used with alternative ink chemistries to emulate the effect. But, in terms of overall versatility, dye sublimation has maintained its place in this sector because of the feel, or 'hand', of the finished job and its durability and final appearance. Unlike other processes, during the fixation stage of production the dyes physically bond with the fabric, so there's minimal chance of the ink rubbing off or suffering from abrasion.

Today, we have established platforms on the market that are being joined regularly by new additions at both ends of the investment and production scale. Given that Epson print-heads have, until recently, been instrumental in the dye sublimation offerings from the likes of Mimaki, Roland and Mutoh, it was perhaps inevitable that the company should launch its own duo of machines, at 1.1 and 1.8m wide, designated the SureColor SC-F6000 and SC-F7000 respectively. But Epson's experiences in the textile market are not new, having evolved via its partnership with Robustelli to give it sufficient insight into inks and print-head modifications to introduce its own entry-level offerings.

In terms of machines printing disperse inks the choice is more variable, with a few making their mark with varied success in the past few years. Investment costs in this sector are considerably higher than their low-energy sublimation counterparts, but the engineering of these platforms doesn't come cheap. Inherited by Agfa when it purchased the assets of Gandinnovations, the :Jeti Aquajet failed to make its mark on the direct-to-textile production market and has now been discontinued. Durst continues to promote its Rhotex 3.2m platform, while Hollanders Printing Systems is bolstering its production potential for the ColorBooster series with a new investment plan. Based on existing chassis technology, MTex is now making moves into the market with a solution it believes to be very competitively priced while matching competitor quality.

But display producers wanting to venture into digital textile don't necessarily have to follow the dye sublimation route; alternative ink products have continued to make inroads into this market, the most obvious being latex. Materials manufacturers and convertors, such as Georg + Otto Friedrich and A Berger, offer digital textiles that are compatible with a variety of ink formulations, proving that solvent-based and UV-curable machines can also print to a range of fabrics.

First-time users of digital textile printers generally need the backing of reliable and knowledgeable manufacturers and distributors who can provide as much hand-holding as might be required, with guidance on the most suitable option and the training to achieve the most from their new investment. Leading industry suppliers are now widely associated with this market sector, so there is no need for a buyer to be faced with confusing and alien technology that offers no proper support.