Designing
- How to prepare files for printing
- How to reduce the file size for fabric printing without losing quality?
- Why does my design look blurry in the editor?
- Can I upload files with a resolution of more than 300 dpi?
- What is a linear meter?
- Does my design remain private?
- Can I print photos on fabric?
- What if I can't upload my design?
- What color profile should I use for fabric printing?
- How to order a personalized textile product with my design?
- Are there any minimum order requirements for personalized textile products?
Production
- Is your printing eco-friendly?
- What technique and machine do you print with?
- What printing methods are available for custom textile items?
- What is pretreatment in fabric printing and why is it needed?
- What is the difference between DTF printing and sublimation?
- What is OEKO-TEX certification and why does it matter?
- Can you print on dark-colored fabrics?
- How to care for custom printed fabric and DTF garments
- How to achieve accurate colors in custom fabric printing
- What is digital pigment printing on fabric and how does it compare to sublimation?
Wholesale & B2B
- Do you have a minimum order quantity for wholesale fabric printing?
- How do I place a bulk fabric printing order?
- Does Muzefab offer white-label fulfillment and dropshipping?
- Can I get a VAT invoice for my business order?
- How does cut and sew manufacturing work at Muzefab?
- How do I get a custom quote for a large or complex order?
My orders
What is pretreatment in fabric printing and why is it needed?
Pretreatment is a preparatory step applied to fabric before digital printing. It conditions the fabric surface to accept pigment ink correctly — improving color vibrancy, sharpness, and washfastness. Without pretreatment, ink spreads unevenly into the fiber structure, colors appear washed out, and durability drops significantly.
Why natural fabrics need pretreatment
Natural fibers — cotton, linen, viscose — are highly absorbent. When inkjet droplets land on untreated natural fabric, they wick along the fiber threads in multiple directions (a phenomenon called "dot gain"), causing edges to blur and colors to lose saturation. Pretreatment temporarily modifies the surface chemistry of the fabric to control this absorption — ink stays where it lands, dots are crisp, and colors are dense.
Pretreatment also activates the fiber surface for better pigment binder adhesion, which directly affects how well the print withstands washing.
Synthetic fabrics (polyester) used in sublimation printing do not require pretreatment — the sublimation process works through heat transfer into the polymer structure, not surface absorption.
What pretreatment contains
Pretreatment solutions for pigment printing typically contain a combination of fixation agents, binders, and pH-adjusting compounds. The specific formulation is calibrated to the fabric type and the ink system used.
At Muzefab, the pretreatment used in our Kornit Presto production process is GOTS 7.0 certified — meeting the Global Organic Textile Standard requirements for processing chemicals. It is also OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified, meaning it has been independently tested and found free of harmful substances.
Is pretreatment applied to all fabric orders?
Yes — all natural fabric printing orders processed on our Kornit Presto system include pretreatment as part of the standard production process. It is applied inline as part of the printing pass; you do not need to request it separately or pay for it as an add-on. The pretreatment is invisible in the finished fabric and does not affect the hand-feel when softener is applied in the same pass.
Does pretreatment affect the fabric after printing?
No — when the full Kornit Presto process is completed (pretreatment → printing → softener application → fixation), the finished fabric feels soft and natural. The softener step is specifically included to neutralize any stiffness that pretreatment chemicals might introduce. The certified formulations we use are safe for direct skin contact, including babywear (OEKO-TEX Class I).
