Turning masterpieces into wearable art — and much more

You know the times you capture an image, and you’re so in love with it you wish it could be printed onto a shirt to wear wherever you go? Well, Epson has taken a giant leap beyond that, and can now produce a range of beautiful fabrics, clothing, and merchandise featuring your photographs.

The Epson team teamed up with Australian photographer Vicky Papas Vergara at the recent 2016 NZIPP Infocus Conference in Wellington, where Vergara hosted a live shoot showcasing how to create a wearable art creation from scratch. The idea behind the live shoot was to teach the notion of freestyling without the pressure to create, and how to create wearable art on a budget — all while teaching attendees how to pose a model in classic, timeless poses.

Ryan Warby, Epson Australia’s national business development manager, worked with Vergara to print one of her striking images onto fabric, which Vergara then transformed into the beautiful gown seen in the resultant image above.

Epson’s new Fabric-series (F-series) Dye-Sublimation printers — including the SureColor SC-F9200, SC-F7200, and SC-F6200 models — are responsible for this game-changing facility. The printers are able to produce durable, high-quality textiles in a reliable and cost-effective manner. So, whether you wish to follow Vergara’s lead and produce artistic and unique clothing, or are interested in creating pieces that could be used for interior decor — on fabric or a range of hard surfaces — the F-series are able to cater for your needs.

The sky really is the limit with these new printers. You can produce custom fabrics, cabinetry, signage, decor, merchandise, and even sporting goods, complete with accurate and eye-catching representations of your unique art. The printers support flexible production with low running costs to ensure that you can realize sellable products with maximum profit margins.

The 44-inch SC-F6200 replaces the SC-F6000, with support for a new highdensity black (HDK) ink, a new high-quality print mode, as well as an improved waste management system. If the scenario of being able to produce your own custom clothing and merchandise sounds up your alley, this model would be the right choice for you.

If you’re interested in creating custom fabric — as Vergara has done — the new 64-inch SC-F200, which replaces the SC-F100, would be the model to select. Featuring support for the new HDK ink and high-quality print mode, it also includes an adjustable output heater and precision auto take-up, and it has been specifically designed for roll-based production — perfect for fabric and soft-signage work.

And for high-volume high-speed work where you’re wanting the absolute best quality, your best option is to lean toward the new 64inch SC-F9200. This offers nearly twice the performance of the SC-F200, and features dual printheads, dual high-capacity continuous ink supply systems, and a maximum print speed just over 100-square-metres per hour.

All models are designed to ensure reliable operation with low running costs. They incorporate high-capacity ink systems and low power consumption. When used with Epson’s advanced inks they are fully covered with a comprehensive warranty package with flexible cover that includes everything, including the printheads. They can even be ordered complete with software designed to enable you to realize your artwork in its full colour, expression, and detail.

If you’re interested in stepping up your game when it comes to printing your work — and the media you print your creations onto — then head to epson.co.nz/textile for further information.