Index The World of Body Scanning Research [TC]² Activity - The Sapphire II Digital Printer Member Profile - Stork Important Dates A Look Ahead

[TC]² Seminar Offerings
Register Now!

Grading for Fit:  April 5-7, 2006

This seminar utilizes hands-on projects to explain the basic principles of fit and how to derive, calculate, and use grade rules. Attendees should understand patternmaking, general grading principles, and basic CAD functions.

Introduction to Apparel Manufacturing:   April 24-28, 2006
Don’t miss this comprehensive course at [TC]², providing details and methodologies from fiber to a finished product. 
Seminar highlights include:

• textile fundamentals • the integral components of apparel manufacturing and its support systems • an overview of the various technologies utilized in the apparel industry • key apparel terms and concepts • descriptions of various apparel manufacturing systems and business strategies

For more details, or to register, visit http://www.tc2.com/what/seminars.html.

February 21 - 24, 2006
Las Vegas, Nevada

[TC]² staff members will present seminars focusing on 3D measurement extraction technologies and improving customer service levels during MAGIC, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

On Tuesday, February 21st at 2 p.m., “Improving Fit Using 3D Technology” will provide an understanding of current 3D software for custom apparel applications. “It’s All About Service”, presented on Tuesday, February 22nd at 1 p.m., will discuss methodologies to improve service levels and gain greater customer satisfaction and retention. 

Seminars will be held in the South Hall, First Level, Room MS114.  [TC]² will also have booth space in the Info Hub area of the Sourcing Zone.  For more details on MAGIC, visit www.magiconline.com.

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The World of Body Scanning Research

For centuries, scholars have studied human morphology in an attempt to categorize body shapes into a logical, understandable and usable system. The apparel industry has put an equal amount of blood, sweat and tears into developing an accurate sizing standard by utilizing anthropometrics. Still today, a classification for body shape and a standard sizing system remain somewhat of an enigma. We can all breathe a deep sigh of relief. With the advent of body scanning technology, these age-old conundrums are being cracked — and some adventurous folks are taking it a step further. Using body scanning technology, unexpected avenues are being pursued… and the findings are fascinating.

In 400 BC, Hippocrates devoted a substantial amount of time to the study of body shape. He rejected the notion that illness was caused by superstitions, possession of evil spirits or disfavor of the gods. Instead, Hippocrates suggested a correlation between body shape and susceptibility to disease. Through the centuries, there have been numerous scholarly studies that have attempted to categorize body shape, mostly for medical purposes.

In the 1930’s, William Sheldon, a Professor of Psychology, made significant strides in the field of physique classification. Sheldon studied the human form in an attempt to predict human behavior. Using what could be interpreted as the rudiments of body scanning technology — a camera, controlled lighting, a pedestal and screen, Sheldon evaluated 4000 male subjects. Unfortunately, for accurate and quick data collection, a highly trained investigator was needed.

While Sheldon was delving into the study of body shape, the U.S. Department of Agriculture was laboriously taking 59 measurements of more than 10,000 women in an attempt to formulate a sizing standard. The first voluntary sizing standard was published in the 1950’s. Since then the data has been updated, however, apparel manufacturers still seek to cast a wider net — to offer better fitting apparel to a larger target population.

The challenge with studies on body shape and size has been the accurate, timely and financially feasible collection of an enormous amount of data. Body scanners have the ability to collect hundreds of measurements from a subject in a little over a minute. With body scanning technology, not only are researchers zeroing in on fit, they are also exploring some interesting and unexpected findings. In upcoming articles we will take a look at the research in both the academic and industry arenas.

References
Simmons, Karla Peavy. Body Shape Analysis Using Three-Dimensional Body Scanning Technology, Ph.D. NCSU, 2002.

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[TC]² Activity

A New Addition: The Sapphire II Digital Printer

In December 2005, Stork Digital Imaging installed a Sapphire II digital printer in [TC]²’s Demonstration Center. This versatile printer is fully equipped to accommodate lightweight, stretchy, thin, and open fabric constructions.  

Lightweight and stretchy fabrics have a tendency to move during the printing process. A blanket feed belt with an adhesive surface works in combination with a heater, strategically positioned underneath the belt to provide additional grip. During printing, the belt’s surface becomes tacky as it comes in contact with the heat. The tacky surface stabilizes lightweight and/or stretchy fabrics, producing printed patterns with perfect registration.

When printing thin or open fabric constructions, ink can penetrate through the fabric to the blanket feed belt. The Sapphire II is equipped with a belt washer to clean ink off a contaminated belt. The washer is engaged as needed. To avoid strike-off, the belt’s surface is scrubbed and dried before it returns to the point of fabric entry.

Sapphire II in [TC]²’s Demonstration Center

The versatile printer is ideal for printing high-quality samples and production runs on textiles and apparel. The Sapphire II is noted for its ability to print brilliant colors as well as subtle gradations with excellent image resolution. The exquisite lightweight silk scarf, designed by Kerry Maguire King, Manager, Digital Print Services at [TC]², demonstrates the printer’s outstanding capabilities.

100% Silk Scarf Printed on the Sapphire II

The InkDrop Boutique, a unique division of [TC]² specializing in digitally printed accessories such as scarves, totes and cushions, already has a variety of projects underway on the Sapphire II digital printer.

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Member Profile

Stork, located in Boxmeer The Netherlands, is the only company in the world that develops and produces rotary screen printing systems and digital systems for all process steps in the printing process.  Stork does this for both the textile and graphic printing market and has been hard at work for more than 50 years, ensuring customers the ability to reduce costs and time in their processes, from concept to the final product.  With system and application know-how in rotary screen printing for the textile and graphics industries as well as know-how in the digital printing areas, Stork is sharp in a much needed industry.  Remaining flush with other major companies through partnerships with companies like DuPont, Lectra, and BASF, Stork has earned a world market lead in rotary screen printing and is among the top three companies in digital textile printing technology.

Producing its first flat-screen textile printing machine in 1953, Stork continued to enhance its product line through the next few decades with innovative techniques that changed the printing world.  A rotary-screen printing concept followed in 1963 and since then, subsequent generations of machines have been developed.  The latest is the Pegasus printing system.  With exceptional versatility, from short runs to high-volume batches, on all types of fabric, the Pegasus guarantees absolute reproducibility and top quality.

Over the years, the accumulation of screen printing knowledge enabled Stork to branch out into graphic applications.  Initially making equipment for reading barcodes, currently, in addition to supply label and packaging printing for the food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and healthcare industries, Stork is also involved in ground-breaking industrial applications like RFID.

Stork is a modern company born over a half century ago that has never looked back.  Grand concepts have led Stork powerfully right into the new century.  Jos Notermans, Marketing and Sales Manager, adds that "being the market leader in rotary textile printing, it is not more than logic that Stork is also the one to set the standard in Digital Textile Printing. In 2002, Stork developed and introduced the Stork U See Digital Textile Standard. This guarantees consistent color printing output from the same file anywhere in the world, bringing total quality control to brandowners that design in the western world and produce in the far east."  As an associate member of [TC]², Stork is able to partner with us to develop this standard through shared ideas and technology inspiration.

For more information, please visit http://sdi.stork.com

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Important Dates

January

February

March

April

For detailed information about industry events, visit www.techexchange.com

Thanks to the techexchange site sponsors Apparel Magazine, Gerber Technology, Intentia, Lectra and Methods Workshop.

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A Look Ahead in the Newsletter

Body Scanning University Research
Review of Columbiatex

View previous editions of this newsletter

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