Let’s compare cotton fabric printing and polyester fabric printing based on material properties, print quality, comfort, and cost to help you make an informed decision.
1. Material Properties for Cotton Fabric Printing and Polyester Fabric Printing
1.1. Properties of Cotton and Polyester Fabrics
Cotton and polyester are two popular fabrics in the fashion, apparel, and home furnishings industries. Each material has its own advantages, but both are highly versatile, easy to dye, and can be printed with various patterns.
Cotton fabric is made from natural cotton fibers, or a blend of cotton with other synthetic fibers. Some common types of cotton fabric include: 100% natural cotton, cotton poly, cotton satin, cotton silk, cotton velvet, 65/35 cotton (CVC), 35/65 cotton (Tixi), and more.
Polyester fabric is a synthetic fabric made from polyester fibers—an artificial polymer derived from ethylene, which comes from coal and petroleum. There are four basic forms of polyester fibers: staple fiber, tow, fiberfill, and filament. Polyester fabric consists of two main types: Poly-1,4-Cyclohexylene-Dimethylene Terephthalate (PCDT) and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET).
1.2. A Comparison of Cotton and Polyester Properties:
| Cotton | Polyester |
| Breathable, absorbs water easily and takes a long time to dry after printing. | Naturally water-resistant, dries faster than cotton. |
| Natural moisture content is up to 8.5%. | Natural moisture content is 0.4%. |
| Soft, smooth, and non-irritating to the skin. | Thick, can be quite hot, and may cause discomfort when used in summer. |
| Easily biodegradable and environmentally friendly. | Difficult to decompose when discarded into the environment. |
| Can only be hand-washed; machine washing can cause wrinkles, loss of shape, and pilling. | Can be hand- or machine-washed and can be treated with fabric softener. |
| Lower durability than polyester; easily damaged if not properly stored or used. | High durability and excellent stretch, resistant to shrinkage. |
2. Print Quality of Cotton Fabric Printing and Polyester Fabric Printing
The quality of prints on cotton fabric is often very natural and appealing. The soft surface of cotton allows ink to penetrate deep into the fibers, creating sharp images and vibrant colors. However, a weakness of cotton is that the print can fade over time and with repeated washes. The print will lose its original vibrancy, and the product may become discolored or yellowed after a period of use.
In terms of print quality, prints on polyester fabric have better sharpness and colorfastness than those on cotton. The surface of polyester fabric absorbs less ink than cotton, but the ink on polyester is often brighter and adheres firmly to the fabric’s surface. Polyester fabric is also very durable and resistant to chemicals, so prints on polyester are unlikely to fade and will not affect other fabrics during washing.
3. Comparing the Price of Cotton and Polyester Fabrics
If you want to print fabric by the roll or in large quantities, you need to consider the price of cotton and polyester fabrics to fit your budget.
Cotton fabric is generally priced lower than polyester because it is made from cotton bolls—a common and easily accessible natural resource. The production process for cotton fabric is simpler, with five basic steps: harvesting and classifying cotton fibers, refining cotton fibers, dissolving and spinning, weaving, and dyeing cotton fabric. This helps manufacturers reduce costs and, consequently, the final product price.
Conversely, polyester fabric is typically more expensive than cotton. Polyester is a synthetic fiber produced from chemical compounds, and its manufacturing process is more complex than that of cotton. The production process for polyester consumes more energy and resources, which increases production costs and, therefore, the final price of the product.
4. Popular Fabric Printing Technologies Today
4.1. Cotton Fabric Printing Technology
There are several popular cotton fabric printing technologies available on the market today:
- Screen Printing: A traditional printing technology that uses a printing frame to position the print, after which a rubber blade pushes the ink through the mesh. Once the images, patterns, and text become clear, the printer will dry the finished product.
- Digital Printing: This is a new printing technology that uses a digital printer to print directly onto the surface of cotton fabric, without any intermediate steps. The printer uses pigment or reactive inks to print complex designs onto the cotton fabric with precision and sharpness.
VieTextile is a company that provides digital printing services on cotton fabric for detailed, sharp images with vibrant, fade-resistant colors. Advantages such as fast printing speed, high precision, and no color limitations help customers save time and effort while receiving high-quality prints at a reasonable price.
4.2. Polyester Fabric Printing Technology
Prints on polyester fabric achieve the best display quality when using heat transfer printing technology. This is an advanced printing technology that applies the principle of sublimation. The image is first printed onto transfer paper and then a heat press is used to apply the print to the fabric surface. At high temperatures, the ink sublimates from a solid to a gas and adheres to the fabric surface.
The result is a print that adheres firmly to the fabric without making it stiff or bulky, ensuring breathability. The printed image is sharp, the colors are bright and true-to-life, and it can handle complex designs like 3D images. Additionally, the print is highly durable and does not fade or crack even when machine-washed. This technology allows for printing on polyester fabric of all sizes, including all-over prints.You should consider choosing either cotton fabric printing or polyester fabric printing based on the intended use, personal preference, print quality, comfort, and environmental sustainability goals. I hope this article is helpful to you.
