Pigment printing fixes colour with a binder that needs a curing process [1]. One guide lists stiff hand and poor crock (rub) fastness among its drawbacks [1]. A lab study abstract on printed cotton twill reports rubbing fastness between 3 and 4/5, and washing and perspiration around 4/5 [2]. Ask for a printed sample and a test report on your own fabric before approving bulk.
Buyer guide
Pigment printing on cushion covers: how it works
Pigment printing holds colour on the fabric with a binder that needs a curing process, usually heat [1]. This guide explains the process and the trade-offs, and says plainly where the guides do not cover linen.
What pigment printing is
Pigment fixation on textiles relies on binders that require a curing process to hold the pigments on the textile [1]. The binder forms a matrix that entraps the pigment particle [1].
Factories may print by digital, screen or rotary methods, so confirm which one yours uses. For the wider choice of methods, see our guide to fabric printing methods for cushions and curtains.
How the binder and curing work
A textile-chemistry article describes film formation: binders form a matrix that entraps the pigment particle [1]. Reactive binders can self-crosslink during fixation, while non-reactive binders need a fixing agent to form a stable film [1]. It describes the conventional route as a thermal process in which pigment coloured textiles are dried and then cured with heat, and presents UV curing as an alternative that removes the drying step [1].
A lab study abstract on 100% cotton twill applied binder solutions to the fabric before inkjet printing, varying binder (0, 20, 25, 30%) and catalyst (0, 9, 12, 15%) levels [2]. It reports the best results at 25% binder and 12% catalyst [2]. That is one study on one set of materials, so treat it as an illustration, not a rule for every factory.
Durability trade-offs on natural fibres
Hand feel. A stiff hand is listed as a known drawback of pigment printing, along with a relatively high temperature cure [1].
Rubbing. The article says pigment prints have lower crocking fastness than reactive prints because pigments are insoluble, and that crocking fastness can be improved by selecting the appropriate binder [1]. In the cotton twill abstract, rubbing fastness was between 3 and 4/5, and washing and perspiration fastness were around 4/5 [2].
Cushions. Cushion covers are handled and rubbed in use, so rub fastness is worth checking. We found no test of pigment printing on linen, so treat linen as an open question.
Supplier checklist. Ask which print method is used, whether the fabric is pretreated, how the print is cured, and which test report covers rubbing and washing for your fabric. Compare a printed sample by hand and by rubbing it yourself, because a figure from another fabric may not match yours, and keep the approved sample as the reference for bulk.
What to put in your approval brief
A written brief keeps the factory, your buyer and your quality team working to the same approved sample. Write these items into the brief before bulk production, and record any change to them in writing:
- Print method (digital, screen or rotary).
- Fabric and whether it is pretreated.
- Cure method.
- Rub and wash test method, and the report for your fabric. See colour fastness tests for printed fabric.
- An approved printed sample as the bulk reference. See sampling before a bulk order.
If you are weighing sublimation instead, one trade article advises that sublimation fabric be at least 60% polyester [3]. Our guide to dye sublimation on polyester cushion covers covers that route.
| Item | Why it matters | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Cure method | Binders need a curing process; conventional is drying then heat, UV is an alternative [1] | How is the print cured? |
| Hand feel | A stiff hand is a listed drawback [1] | Can I feel a printed sample before approving? |
| Rub fastness | Pigment prints have lower crocking fastness than reactive prints [1] | Which rub test method and report cover my fabric? |
| Binder and pretreatment | A cotton twill abstract applied binder before printing and varied binder and catalyst [2] | Is the fabric pretreated, and with what binder system? |
| Wash fastness | The abstract reports washing around 4/5 on cotton twill [2] | Which wash test report covers my fabric? |
Guides are an article and a conference abstract, and describe processes in different words. Confirm details on a sample.
How this applies when you work with us
Cushions and curtains are part of our fabric furnishings range. Tell us the print method you want and ask for a printed sample before approving bulk. We confirm minimum order, lead time and price in the quote. See our guide to printed cushion and curtain fabrics, then use the pricing, minimums and lead times page or contact us. We reply within 1 business day.
Further reading
Further reading
- Textile Pigment Printing: Chemistry of Binders, Textile Focus (Nanjiba Nur, 20 August 2021). textilefocus.com
- Effects of Binder Solution on Color Fastness of Digital Printed Cotton Fabric, IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering 460 (AUTEX 2018 conference), via Istanbul Technical University research portal (Sahin and Acikgoz Tufan, 2018). research.itu.edu.tr
- A Fabric Printing Appraisal, Signs of the Times (Darek Johnson, 10 January 2017). signsofthetimes.com
FAQ
Questions buyers ask
What does pigment printing on a cushion cover mean?
It means colour is held on the fabric by a binder that needs a curing process [1]. See the durability section for the trade-offs.
Is a pigment printed cotton cushion durable?
The guides do not give a general answer. One lab study abstract on cotton twill (digital inkjet, binder applied before printing) reports rubbing fastness between 3 and 4/5 and washing around 4/5 [2]. Another guide lists poor crock fastness as a drawback [1]. Ask for a test report on your fabric.
Will pigment printing make the fabric feel stiff?
It may, since a stiff hand is listed as a known drawback [1]. Check a printed sample by hand before approving bulk.
Do guides agree on how pigment prints are cured?
The guides describe conventional curing as drying then heat curing, with UV curing as an alternative [1], and a binder applied before inkjet printing in one lab study [2]. Ask your supplier which applies.
Can sublimation be used instead on cotton or linen?
One trade article advises sublimation fabric of at least 60% polyester, with 100% giving better colour transfer and product life [3]. See our dye sublimation guide for that route.
Does pigment printing work on linen?
We found no test of pigment on linen. The lab study used cotton twill [2], so confirm on a sample of your actual fabric.
Next step
Send the brief. We send a sample plan and a price.
Tell us what you want to make. We reply with questions or a quote.