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FEBRUARY 2017 images 47
Do you think a hybrid system
is better than having a
separate direct-to-garment
(DTG) machine and screen
printing press?
ME: DTG offers a better solution for four-colour
process than CMYK using screen print technology
as it is possible to use high resolution FM screen-
ing for the CMYK print. What DTG lacks is the
ability to add special spot colours, and printing the
white underbase is the biggest issue for DTG print-
ers. So, again, it’s the best of both worlds.
Combining the two technologies–screen and
digital–opens up new creative opportunities for
garment printers. A hybrid system is also a good
stepping stone for existing screen printers who
want to add DTG printing into their production
workflow.
GB: Yes, hybrid technology truly merges the best
of both analogue screen and digital printing, such
as minimal artwork preparation and a very fast
time to press with no need for colour separations
and time-consuming screen prep, very fast press
set-up, close to screen print production speed
and a significant reduction in consumable cost. It
eliminates the requirement for pre-treatment, and
allows for printing on a wider range of substrates,
including synthetics and performance fabrics.
NV: Yes, a hybrid solution is a better choice. It al-
lows the printer to create jobs that are not possible
with just one of the technologies. It gives a wider
range of jobs that the printer can produce or de-
velop. And the printer will still have the opportunity
to use each of the technologies as standalone if he
wishes so.
JP: No two customers are the same, however with
the ability to produce contract work and bespoke
work on the same machine, printers are no longer
turning away work.
How would you summarise the main
advantages of a hybrid system?
Julian Wright: This system will give the user a great advan-
tage when printing multi-coloured images with gradients and
fades; it will allow almost photographic quality with minimal
set-up time and graphic adjustment.
Mark Evans: Freedom to combine the best of both worlds–
the convenience of CMYK digital printing with the customi-
sation and added value that screen printing can add to the
process.
Oliver Luedtke: New and creative applications and business
opportunities (short runs, fast turnarounds, photorealistic
prints, personalisation, customisation), and low cost per print
as white base layers can be produced by the carousel, along
with reduced time and labour when preparing screens and
setting up carousels. Other advantages include reduced in-
ventory of screens and a simplified print process that reduces
the use of inks.
Geoff Baxter: A hybrid screen and inkjet DTG printing system
provides the ability to screen print a white ink underbase,
which can be optimised for performance on specific fab-
rics, and can cost up to 20 times less than digital white inks.
Pantone spot colour and/or special effect inks can be printed
after the Digital Squeegee Station, and bleed blocking barrier
bases can be printed on difficult fabrics if required. It offers
high productivity with lower cost consumables, no pre-treat-
ment is required and it minimises the need for pre-press and
art department involvement.
Colin Marsh: Hybrid printing bridges the gap between DTG
and screen printing, making low volume complex colour
designs possible with very low set-up costs.
Nuno Venda: With the Hybrid solution we can have the best
of both technologies: with screen printing, the use of special
effects in garment decoration; and with digital printing,
unlimited number of colours, high resolution, quick machine
set-up, reliability in colour reproduction, minimum waste of
material, and reduced number of stencils (they’re only used in
the decoration of dark garments and/or special effects).
John Potter: To take full advantage of the mass customisa-
tion market that has grown in the UK.