Sign & Digital Graphics magazine recently spoke to Jaimie Mask, product specialist at LexJet, about the burgeoning field of printable fabrics. In its January 2017 issue of the magazine, Sign & Digital Graphics highlights this growing industry of textile prints. Given the demand for inkjet-printable fabrics, there has been an increasing need for technology that enables any type of digital printer to utilize the fabric.

While this technology is still somewhat new, LexJet offers a self-adhesive printable fabric called LexJet Print-N-Stick Fabric. Versions of this product are compatible with aqueous, latex and solvent printers, and is often used in supermarkets, office buildings and other areas with wall murals. Mask explains the difference between this product and a similar one called Photo Tex.

“The difference between the two is that Photo Tex has more of a wider weave vs. the LexJet Print-N-Stick product having a tighter weave,” she says. “So the tighter weave gives better image quality.”

Mask goes on to explain that there are markets for both products, especially architecturally. This shift to fabrics is in part due to its durability. The advances in technology have improved the scratch and flame resistance, allowing them to be used in a variety of environments.

“This technology allows the ink to adhere with the fabric material, and you don’t have a scratching issue at all. You can fold and do everything you do with dye sub fabric,” says Mask, who considers these advances in technology to be “game changers” for many LexJet clients.

To read more on this exciting new technology, see the article in the January 2017 edition of Sign & Digital Graphics magazine.