For a break down of my favorite article Measuring Print Quality of Digitally Printed Textiles feel free to download this pdf.

The topics of the three papers chosen deal with textiles and printing. The research papers especially focus on textiles and inkjet printing. The topics include image quality on ink jet printed textiles, dyes for digitally printed textiles and evaluations of pigmented inks on digital printers for textiles.After reading the papers, it was found that there has been much research in regards to creating new ways to allow on demand printing textiles to evolve into a production sized operation, as well as ways to integrate digital into the rotogravure market of textile printing.

The paper that stood out the most was the article Measuring Print Quality of Digitally Printed Textiles (Kai 548). The article deals with the quantitative methods for evaluating print quality of the printed fabrics. By evaluating the output, they were able to determine which fabric maintained the best image quality for this process. Thermal Ink Jet Printing of Textiles details research into the requirements of textiles as it relates to results of a modified printer for thermal ink jet (Hunting 568). Finally, the Evaluation of Pigmented Ink Formulations for Jet Printing onto Textile Fabric provides insight into the methods of pigment dispersion to have it successfully move onto the fabric (Daplyn 307).

When looking at all three papers there is a great emphasis on digital textile printing in laboratory environments. Since most of the hypothesis in the articles were proven correct, it would be interesting to see these experiments replicated at a production scale. Another area not explored that may be of benefit for further research is a subjective evaluation, done by the consumer, to see if the fabric that was chosen to be the best quantitatively is also the best qualitatively. There seems to be no such study in the field. If it can be determined what digital printed textiles consumers prefer, it may help direct the development of textile friendly ink jet substrates.

References:

Daplyn, S., & Lin, L. (2003). Evaluation of Pigmented Ink Formulations for Jet Printing onto Textile Fabrics. In Pigment and Resin Technology (Rep. Tech. Vol. 32 No. 5). England: ABI/‌INFORM Trade and Industry.

Hunting, B., Derby, S., Puffer, R., & Loomie, L. (1999). Thermal Ink Jet Printing of Textiles. In Recent Progress in Ink Jet Technologies II (Rep. Tech No. 5). Springfield, VA: Society for Imaging Science and Technology.

Tse, M.-K., Briggs, J. C., Kim, Y. K., & Lewis, A. F. (1999). Measuring Print Quality of

Digitally Printed Textiles. In Recent Progress in Ink Jet Technologies II (Rep.Tech. No. 1). Springfield, VA: Society for Imaging Science and Technology.