Technology Research Trip, July 2006
The InkDrop team recently set aside three days for a technology investigation trip. On the first day our group travelled to New York to visit the Stork U See facility in Manhattan where we met with Sangeeta Sachder, the Digital Print Manager. Sangeeta provided our team with greater insight into the operation of our Sapphire II machine. She also demonstrated the operation of the Rimslow continuous steaming unit. It was a terrific opportunity to share experiences and learn strategies that will help us refine our printing process. We also had the opportunity to view a selection of printed products on display. We were particularly interested and impressed by the nylon lycra samples as we are currently investigating innovative print concepts for swimwear customization.

On the second day, we travelled to Wilmington, DE to visit the DuPont Artistri center. The Artistri sales and applications team graciously hosted our visit and provided a demonstration of the printing and finishing equipment that is part of the Artistri solution. We also had the opportunity to visit their product display area, where we noted an impressive collection of printed items produced by a selection of their customers. One of the highlights of this visit was an opportunity to see the printers in operation and to learn more about the supporting software for image management. We were also able to sample a few of our 'in-house' designs with pigments - an interesting growth area within the digital textile printing arena.

On the third day our team stopped in briefly at the First2Print studio within Manhattan's fashion district. We also had the opportunity to visit with colleagues at Super Sample. Visits to service providers are key in that they allow us to learn more about their capabilities so that we can help match our contacts and customers with appropriate resources in the industry.

The [TC]² Summer Intern Program Concludes
Our summer interns completed their 8 week program on July 20th. As part of their training the InkDrop team coordinated and presented a series of programs related to concept development, color, digital printing, and sewn product construction. In addition to their formal training, each intern was asked to identify a target market and research trends in color and print design for the creation of a unique version of our professional tote style. The initial research was used for the creation of color, trend and concept boards that supported their design efforts. Although many of the students were already familar with concepts related to sewn product design, most had little or no experience in the creation of textile designs and the printing process. We think the results are fantastic!

On a related note, we would like to acknowledge our friends at Cotton Incorporated for providing color trend resources for our students to work with. We also wish to acknowledge Dennis Horstman (Cotton Inc.), Len Farias (Cotton Inc.), Amy Hammonds (AATCC), and Chris Hipps (DataColor) for supporting our 'Color Day'. It was a terrific learning opportunity for our students!

Installation of Stork Sapphire II Printer
Stork Digital Imaging recently installed their Sapphire II printer at [TC]² in support of the technology demonstration center in which InkDrop Printing operates. This machine has been installed with acid dye inks for digitally printing silk and nylon fabrics and offers tremendous benefits in image quality and detail as well as production speed. The InkDrop team is rapidly gaining experience with this new piece of equipment and are filling orders on a daily basis. This technology offers our industry members and visitors a valuable opportunity to learn about state-of-the-art approaches to digital textile printing. Visit the Stork website for additional information and/or contact Kerry King directly (919-653-3523) to arrange a visit to our demonstration center.

Educational Opportunities at [TC]² and Beyond
The InkDrop team has developed a seminar program entitled, 'Developing Digitally Printed Products'. This program has been created to provide a basic understanding of the digital textile printing system with an eye toward the creation of unique products. Visit the [TC]² site to obtain dates and additional information.

Keep your eyes open for additional announcements as we launch new programs and partner with other organizations to support our industry through education and technology demonstration.