In Garment printing, transparency and opacity settings are crucial tools for managing how ink is applied—especially when preparing images with layered or complex color details, like semi-transparent elements, gradients, or soft edges.
The tool Transparency control in Properties allows you to control the visibility and density of ink layers, especially the white underbase layer, which is key in DTF printing to make colors pop on dark or colored garments.
Key Functions:
Opacity (Image or Channel Level)
What it does: Adjusts the strength or visibility of the ink printed from a color or alpha channel.
Why it's used: To control how solid or faded a part of the image should appear when printed.
Example: Reducing opacity to 50% will make that area appear softer, allowing background fabric or other colors to partially show through.
- Transparency (Alpha Channel / Masking)
- What it does: Defines areas where ink should or shouldn’t be printed, often based on an alpha channel or mask.
- Why it's used: To create soft edges, glows, fades, or cutout effects without hard borders.
- Example: Transparent PNGs or designs with soft fades will have alpha areas that should not receive ink (or less ink).
- Specific Use
- White Ink Underbase Control: This tool often helps control how much white ink is laid beneath transparent or semi-transparent areas. This is important because overusing white ink can create stiff prints, while underusing it can wash out the image:
- 100% opacity = full white underbase
- 0% opacity = no white underbase
- Visual Accuracy: Transparency allows designers to preview how the design will look on different garment colors.
- Cost & Efficiency: Proper use of this tool can reduce ink usage, which saves money and improves drying/curing times.
- White Ink Underbase Control: This tool often helps control how much white ink is laid beneath transparent or semi-transparent areas. This is important because overusing white ink can create stiff prints, while underusing it can wash out the image: