Several ways of garment labeling include transfer labels and printing garment tags. There are two ways of printing on garment tags—screen printing and pad printing. Of the two printing methods, tagless pad printing is the most cost-effective and efficient compared to heat transfer or sewn labels. With this printing technology, it is possible to print tags directly onto any type of garment, including underwear and outerwear. This capability is a major advantage of tagless label printing.
A pad printing machine uses a silicone print pad to pick up printing ink from an etched plate. The pad then transfers the image from the etched plate onto the part (textile). Unlike heat transfer or screen printing, the pad printing process lays a thin layer of ink and pushes it into the fibers of the fabric. The garment embeds the print, making it soft to the touch.
The ink cup, which is equipped with a ceramic ring, floods the image and scrapes it, leaving the perfect amount of the ink on the etch. A print pad then presses onto the image and picks up the ink. The pad then moves over the part and presses onto the garment, leaving the image.
Laser plate-making machines can convert an image into a graphic template within minutes. Laser machines give users the flexibility to create and adjust their garment or footwear tags on demand. With these machines, they eliminate the waiting time associated with heat transfer methods. Additionally, these machines make the printing process sustainable—there are no chemicals and very minimal VOCs.
Heat transfer labels require multiple equipment and energy to achieve what pad printing does with a single machine. Furthermore, the application procedure produces waste, demonstrating its unsustainable nature.
Additionally, a transfer label sits on the fabric. These labels are not durable because they are applied using an adhesive that breaks down once exposed to water. Transfer labels do not stretch and crack after a few washes.
Finally, clothing labels applied through heat transfer are pricier, take longer to apply, and produce results that are just not long-lasting.
Tagless label printing is suitable for the majority of garment and footwear applications. Pad printed labels can resist 50 industrial washes on fabrics like cotton and cotton blends, spandex/elastane/Lycra, polyester, nylon, leather, and denim.
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