Digital BW, The Print

Hi Glenn,
I hope I didn't miss the point of your question, but if you're printing with a pigment ink printer (Epson durabrite or ultrachrome inks are pigments), you can print on cotton (or any other fabric) without any kind of coating or treatment.  The result is pretty good -- the colors will be a little less true than on treated fabric, and the resolution somewhat reduced. 

If you're printing with a dye ink printer, then the inks will mostly wash out and bleed unless you pretreat the cotton with Bubble Jet Set 2000 or a similar fixative. 

You could also look into treating with InkAid or Digital Ground, although you'd have to seal completely because they're not waterproof.

I hope that helps.
Heidi
http://GardenDelightsArts.com

From: Glenn <glennrbarry@...>
Subject: [Digital BW] DIY coating for cotton fabric
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, April 22, 2010, 7:40 PM
    
      Hi All,

I'd like to try a test printing on cotton fabric, yes I know that there are pre-prepared products available, but nothing locally for me anyway.

I am considering just sizing the cotton with gelatin to reduce bleedthrough.

It's going to be for the whole bottom of a surfboard, which is why it has to be 100% cotton instead of nylons/polyester blends and I don't think (actually hoping) the resin will be rejected by the gelatin.
Resin doesn't laminate properly to anything synthetic.
Does anyone have any other suggestions?
I have read about using a combination of water based PVA and white acrylic paint, but that much PVA glue will likely delaminate.
I'm going for cotton fabric as opposed to rice paper as this board has compound curves that are problematic for papers.
thanks
Glenn