Complete Guide to Artificial Flower Dyeing: Materials, Techniques, and Cost Control

The dyeing process of artificial flowers directly affects the overall quality of the artificial flowers. Clear textures, natural gradations of color, and reliable color fastness all become factors influencing the popularity of the products.

Today, based on the product materials, we will introduce the main dyeing and printing techniques currently used in the market and their costs.

I. Printing and Dyeing Process of Plastic Synthetic Flowers

The printing and dyeing process for plastic (such as PVC, PE, PP) materials-based synthetic flowers (such as OULI®-DH5006 Rigid PVC hydrangea flower mainly occurs during the raw material processing and shaping stages. The methods include:

1. Injection color paste coloring (overall coloring)

This is the most common coloring method currently available on the market. Plastic particles and color powders are mixed in a certain proportion, then melted, injected into the mold, cooled, and the product is formed. The color is then all dyed together.

This method is applicable to all thermoplastic materials such as PVC, PE, PP, etc.

The advantages of dyeing with this method are: uniform color (just mix the raw materials evenly), no fading (the color is within the plastic).

However, this method also has disadvantages. For example, the color is monochromatic. You cannot achieve different colors for different positions of the petals when mixing the raw materials, which means it is impossible to achieve a gradient color.

In terms of cost, this printing and dyeing method is particularly low in expense. It is currently the most cost-effective printing and dyeing method on the market and is highly suitable for large-scale production.

2. Surface Painting (Hand Painting, Spray Gun)

This coloring method involves applying color to already formed single-color petals or multiple layers using a spray gun. Alternatively, it can be done by hand painting. This method is usually employed after the first method mentioned above, allowing for the creation of gradient colors or patterns.

This method requires the plastic to have the ability to adhere to colors to prevent color fading. Common materials used include PVC, PE, etc. Using this method for printing and dyeing can enable the product to achieve color gradation, or create retro effects for the product, thereby enhancing the realism of the product and increasing its market appeal.

However, this method requires workers to have high skills, so it involves a large amount of labor and has a low production efficiency. Moreover, the color is located on the outermost layer of the plastic product, and over time, it may be worn down.

II. Fabric-based Simulation Flower Dyeing Process

The dyeing of fabric-based artificial flowers (such as OULI®-ZAQ4008 silk Hydrangea bouquet is usually carried out before the fabric is cut and sewn. The current relevant processes used in the market mainly include:

1. Digital Printing

This is currently the most popular technique for high-end artificial flowers. It works like a printer, printing the computer patterns onto silk.

The materials suitable for this process include: silk, polyester, cotton fabric and other types of textiles.

The advantages brought by this technique are as follows: DIY, an unlimited variety of colors, the patterns can be freely set, and the printing effect is very clear, such as the clear petal and leaf veins we often see on artificial flowers, which are extremely realistic. Of course, achieving the gradual color change of the petals is a piece of cake.

The disadvantages of this process are: the cost of ink is relatively high, and it also requires the fabric to have good ink absorption properties.

The cost of this process is also at a medium-high level. For small-scale production, since no plates are required, the cost can be controlled. However, for large-scale production, although the costs of machines and ink are spread out, it is still higher than traditional printing.

2. Traditional Screen Printing

Traditional screen printing requires making a screen for each color, and then using a scraper to apply the colors one by one onto the fabric. It is suitable for various fabrics. The printed and dyed products have the color adhered or piled up on the surface of the fabric, and sometimes one can feel the raised texture by touching it.

Products dyed in this way usually have bright colors, but they tend to be rather rough. When mass-producing, if there are few color varieties, the cost will be low. However, if there are many color varieties, a large number of screen plates need to be made, and the cost will increase significantly. At this point, other dyeing methods are not used.

3. Direct Dyeing

This process is a relatively primitive method. It involves placing the fabric in a colored dye vat and allowing it to soak. Of course, the color obtained through this process is also single.

This dyeing method is suitable for fabrics that are easy to take color, such as cotton and silk.

The advantages of this process are: the product color is uniform and the cost is low. The disadvantages are that it can only dye a single color and cannot print patterns.

Comparison Table of Artificial Flower Printing and Dyeing Processes

In summary:

Each printing and dyeing method has its own advantages and disadvantages. When choosing a printing and dyeing method, the factory needs to consider multiple factors such as the product material, product quantity, printing clarity, color gradation, and customer usage scenarios. As wholesalers or consumers, after understanding the knowledge presented in this article, it will also be helpful for you to make product choices.

If you have any further questions about dyeing and printing knowledge, or if you need to purchase artificial flowers（链接https://www.ouliflowers.com/artificial-flower）, please feel free to leave us a message.