Knowledge Center
The Key Differences Between Pigment and Reactive Ink
Pigment ink holds the dye on the fabric surface with a binder film, while reactive ink chemically bonds the dye molecule to the cellulosic fiber; this difference sets the two methods' fixation process and required production steps apart.
How Pigment Ink Fixes
In pigment ink, the dye particle doesn't chemically bond with the fabric fiber; instead, a binder holds the dye as a thin film on the fabric surface. Fixation is usually completed with heat treatment, with no extra washing or steaming step needed.
How Reactive Ink Fixes
In reactive ink, the dye molecule forms a chemical bond with cellulosic fibers such as cotton, linen and viscose. For this bond to form, printing is usually followed by steaming and then a wash step that removes excess dye.
The Practical Difference Between the Two
Because the fixation method differs, so does the production flow: pigment requires fewer processing steps, while reactive calls for extra equipment and process steps for steaming and washing. This difference directly affects the fabric's hand feel and the complexity of the post-print workflow.
What to Consider When Choosing
The choice depends first on whether steaming and washing equipment is available on the production line, then on the target fabric hand feel; without that equipment, pigment is usually the more workable option since the process stays simpler.