Ink Category
TrueHue Pigment Textile Inks
Pigment inks are fixed by forming a binder film on the fabric surface rather than bonding chemically with the fibre. They can be used on a wide range of fabrics, above all cotton and other natural and blended fibres.
- Ink family
- TrueHue
- Category
- Pigment Textile
- Print medium
- Fabric surface
01 / About the Ink
What is pigment ink
In pigment ink the colouring particle settles on the fabric surface rather than inside the fibre. A binder holds the pigment on the surface as a thin film; fixation is usually completed by drying and heat treatment.
Because the bond does not rely on a chemical reaction between dye and fibre, the method can be used on cotton, blended and other natural fibres. It generally involves fewer process steps than systems that need steaming and washing.
The need for pre-treatment varies with the fabric and the ink series. The ink is assessed together with machine configuration, print head, binder system and fixation conditions.
02 / Applications
Applications
- 01
Garments
Prints on garments made from cotton and blended fabrics.
- 02
Home textiles
Pattern prints on bed linen, curtains and decorative fabrics.
- 03
Bags and accessories
Prints on tote bags and textile accessory surfaces.
- 04
Blended-fibre fabrics
Prints on fabrics with different fibre ratios; suitability is determined by test print.
Fabric structure, hand feel and wash expectations are verified with a test print in each application.
03 / Process
The ink's place in the process
- 01Pre-Treatment
Pre-treatment
If needed, the fabric is prepared according to printing and fixation conditions.
- 02Printing
Printing
The pattern is printed directly onto the fabric with pigment ink.
- 03Drying and Curing
Drying and fixation
The print is dried and the binder is fixed on the fabric surface with heat.
- 04Finishing
Finishing
The fabric is cooled and moves to the next stage after hand feel and fastness checks.
Drying and fixation time and temperature are determined by the ink series and the binder system.
04 / Related Equipment
Related Machines and Equipment
These pages show the machines and process equipment associated with this ink category. Compatibility is not determined by the ink alone; machine configuration, print head and process conditions are assessed together.
- 01View the equipment
Pigment Textile
- 02View the equipment
Thermofix / Curing Oven
05 / Knowledge Center
Ink Guide
- 01
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.
Read the guide - 02
How Is Ink-Machine Compatibility Evaluated?
Ink-machine compatibility is the evaluation, both before and after installation, of whether a given ink series will run smoothly with a machine's print head and feeding system.
Read the guide