Course information

Micro-credential: Sustainable concept of digital printing

Part of pathway / module: Color management in eco-design / Innovative Textile Printing

EQF level: 6

ECTS credits: 1 ECTS

Learning methods and duration

Assessment methods

• Initial assessment (quiz): To see the participants basic knowledge of differences between analogue and digital textile printing, some image based questions to see their ability to distinguish digital printing techniques, and some “opinion/experience” question. 
• Formative assessment: Short online quizzes on resource use, waste streams, machine type, and suitability of machines regarding the materials structure and properties. Some group activities like mini-projects can be included. 
• Summative assessment: project assignment of realistic digital printing scenario with definition of the product, selection of the suitable printing technique and machinery. Some lab work can be included (analyse of the ink behaviour on the chosen substrate), or/and evaluation of the expected colour reproduction quality. Finally a written report will be structured.

General objective

The learner will be introduced to:

• Digital textile printing as a key sustainable alternative to conventional analogue printing, by explaining how inkjet based processes reduce water use, waste and production footprint. 
• State-of-the-art digital textile printing machines, eco-friendly inks and recyclable/renewable substrates, and how their combined use contributes to a lower carbon footprint in fashion and home décor applications.
• The environmental benefits and limitations of digital printing technologies. 

Responsible institution: University of Zagreb (Croatia)

Contact: 

Enrollment: 

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Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

After the completion of this module, learners will:

• Understand the principles, technologies and applications of digital textile printing and how they differ from analogue printing processes.
• Know the environmental impacts of analogue textile printing.
• Explain the relationship between the principles of sustainability, quality, repairability, and sustainable design and production processes in the fashion industry.
• Know the main digital printing techniques and machine types and their typical field of application.

Skills

After the completion of this module, learners will be able to:

• Select appropriate digital printing technology, according to the final use of the product.
• Analyse ink behaviour on textile substrates using image analysis of provided print examples (penetration, sharpness, defects).
• Evaluate the quality of colour reproduction.
• Describe and compare the environmental performance of analogue and digital printing.

Competences

After the completion of this module, learners will:

• Propose suitable digital printing solutions for specific textile products, balancing aesthetic quality, functional performance and environmental impact.
• Communicate and collaborate with designers, technologists and marketers when choosing digital printing technologies and materials for sustainable collections. 
• Elaborate how digital printing can support circular and environmentally responsible production.

 

Course Content

Unit 1: Fundamentals and Sustainability Context of Digital Printing

• Introduction: principles, technologies and application of digital printing in textile industry.
• Environmental impact of analogue textile printing (sustainability issue and resource consumption).
• Inkjet technology for sustainable textile printing (mechanisms, advantages and environmental benefits).

Focus: Start by explaining what digital printing is and where it is used, then contrast it with analogue printing to show why sustainability is an issue, and finally introduce inkjet technology as the key enabler of more sustainable printing.

Unit 2: Technologies, Machines and Materials for Sustainable Digital Printing

• Digital printing machines.
• Recyclable and renewable materials in digital printing (applications and implications for sustainable production).

Focus: Move from the general concept to the technical core:  types of digital printing machines (DTG, DTF, sublimation, etc.) and how they work in practice, then link them with recyclable/renewable substrates and what that means for process design, print quality and environmental impact.

Unit 3: Applications: Sustainable Fashion and Home Décor

• Digital printing for sustainable fashion and home decor (meeting the demand for environmentally responsible design solution).

Focus: This final unit is integrative and application-oriented: learners combine what they know about principles, impacts, inkjet mechanisms, machines and materials to analyse or design concrete solutions for sustainable production (case studies, mini-projects, etc.).