Wash and rub fastness
Printed pigment sits on the fibre via binder, so specify grades with strong wash and crocking fastness for durable garments.
Applications
Pigments for Textile Printing
Pigment recommendations for textile printing with technical checks and export enquiry support.
Textile printing uses organic pigments bound to fabric by a resin binder rather than dyed into the fibre, so pigment selection centres on wash and rub fastness, light fastness for the garment's life, and fine particle size for sharp print definition. Unlike solvent plastics work, the medium is usually a waterborne print paste, demanding easy dispersion and stable, non-flocculating pastes. Buyers should confirm fastness to washing and crocking, soft handle compatibility, brightness for fashion shades, and reproducible strength so printed runs match approved strike-offs consistently.
At a glance
What Pigments for Textile Printing covers
Fine particle definition
Sharp motifs need finely dispersed pigment so fine lines and halftones print crisply without bleeding or blocked screens.
Stable waterborne pastes
Print pastes are water based, so pigments must wet easily and stay flocculation free through storage and repeated printing runs.
Light fastness for fashion
Garments face daylight, so choose lightfast pigments matched to the shade so prints do not fade during normal wear and display.
Recommended pigments
High-demand grades to consider
A starting shortlist of export-grade organic pigments relevant to Pigments for Textile Printing. Open any grade for shade, fastness and packing detail, or send your requirement for a matched recommendation.
Pigment Pastes
Polyester Pigment Paste
Polyester PasteDispersion paste designed for polyester resin coloration.
View export grade Green PigmentsPhthalocyanine Green 7
Pigment Green 7Chlorinated phthalocyanine green for durable industrial coloration.
View export grade Yellow PigmentsPigment Yellow 138
PY138High-performance yellow for demanding coating and plastic requirements.
View export grade Orange PigmentsPigment Orange 13
PO13Diarylide orange used for inks, textiles, and industrial colorants.
View export grade Pigment PastesWater Based Pigment Paste
Water Based PasteWater-dispersible pigment paste for coatings and textile systems.
View export gradeExplore more
Related pages & export hub
Answers
Pigments for Textile Printing — frequently asked questions
How is pigment printing different from dyeing textiles?
Dyeing chemically bonds colour into the fibre, while pigment printing fixes insoluble pigment onto the surface with a resin binder. Pigment printing works on almost any fibre and gives bright shades, but fastness depends on the binder and cure, so wash and rub fastness must be verified.
What determines wash and rub fastness in pigment prints?
It depends on both the pigment's inherent fastness and the binder system holding it to the fabric. A durable, well-cured binder plus a fastness-rated pigment gives prints that survive laundering and rubbing. Under-cured binder or a weak pigment leads to fading and colour transfer onto skin or other fabric.
Why does particle size affect print sharpness?
Coarse or poorly dispersed pigment blocks fine screen mesh and blurs detail, while finely dispersed pigment reproduces thin lines and halftones cleanly. For detailed textile designs, finely milled pigment, usually supplied as a stable aqueous dispersion, is important for crisp, defined prints.
Should textile printers use pigment pastes or powders?
Ready-made aqueous pigment dispersions are common in textile printing because they mix easily into print pastes and give consistent, flocculation-free colour. Powders can be used where in-house dispersion capability exists, but pre-dispersed pastes reduce variability and speed up colour kitchen operations for most printers.
Buyer knowledge base
Pigments for Textile Printing: a quick sourcing guide
How professional buyers de-risk a pigment purchase: sampling, fastness verification, documentation and clear commercial terms.
Compliance on file
REACH and RoHS declarations and correct HS codes prepared for your market's customs.
Trial then commit
Approve shade, strength and dispersion on a sample before any production quantity.
Built for export
25 kg bags, palletised and batch-labelled, cleared under HSN 3204 17 90 for smooth customs.
Dispersion support
Guidance on oil absorption and let-down, plus ready-to-use pastes where direct handling helps.