The newest printing method for textiles is digital ink-jet printing.  From a technical standpoint, this process is identical to the ink-jet printer used with nearly every desktop computer.  However, for fabrics, these machines are 60-84 inches wide.  Digital printing offers tremendous design capabilities.  Designs of photographic image quality are possible with this technique.  Of course, the method uses a CAD system with digitized image data.  It presents the opportunity to change from one design to another immediately without any printed fabric waste.  This method has been used in conjunction with body-scan data to produce printed fabrics that are custom fitted for the individual.  It has also been used to rapidly produce trial prints for sale or evaluation.  Many individuals foresee this method as a technique for the future.  There are technological shortcomings associated with this method.  The current top printing speeds range from 30-70 yards per hour for flat fabrics compared with a rotary screen machine output of 50-120 yards per minute.  The limiting factor on printing speed is the  technology of the printing heads.  Reports indicate that these production speeds will not  increase unless there is a breakthrough in the mechanics of the printing heads.  Other printer hardware limitations include cost of the printer heads, ink-jet nozzle clogging, ink recycle, reuse systems, and machine width limitations.  

---TIANYU Rotary Screen Printing Solutions