How it works
Reactive dyes form a chemical bond with the cellulose in cotton. The fabric is prepared to receive the dye, printed drop by drop from the digital file, then steamed to fix the colour and washed to remove any dye that has not bonded. Because the colour becomes part of the fibre rather than sitting on top of it, the printed cloth feels exactly like unprinted cloth.
When to choose reactive
- Fine home textiles where hand-feel matters: curtains, bedding, table linen, tea towels.
- Apparel worn against the skin, such as shirting.
- Deep, saturated colours and photographic detail.
- Products that will be washed often.
Compared with pigment
Pigment printing needs no steaming or washing, which makes it faster and more resource-efficient. Reactive takes longer but gives the softer hand and deeper colour. Our article on reactive vs pigment printing explains the trade-off in detail.
