Steaming is one of the important process in digital textile printing. If it is not done properly we won't get the desired result.

• The steaming process fix the ink in printed textiles.
• The temperature we give to digitally printed fabric helps to become the part of the fiber. 
• During the process ink and fiber bond together by making covalent bonds under alkaline conditions.
• In fact, ink reacts with fiber by given temperature and time.  
• Water-based ink, like reactive, acid and disperse can only be fixed by steaming
• But before steaming the water is evaporated by an inbuilt heater in the printing machine.
• When the water is evaporated, only the raw ink and chemicals left on the fabric.
• The chemicals like sodium alginate (nature thickening agent), urea, soda, resist salt keep the ink by making a thin layer of protective film
• Thickeners like sodium alginate do not react with dye-based ink during steaming. 
• steam consolidates on the fabric surface and is consumed by the thickener and hygroscopic chemicals, like urea in the printed zones
• ink and all chemicals dissolve together and make a kind of very concentrated bye bath within the layer of a film created by thickener and other chemicals. 
• The digitally printed fabric is steamed for 15-20 minutes at 102-degree centigrade applying saturated steam on a closed vessel or loop ager 
• The given temperature for fixation processes should typically be done by maintaining atmospheric pressure.
• There might be 0.5kg per cm square to create a 102 degrees centigrade temperature.
• It is highly advisable to cover all metal parts above the fabric roll. Otherwise, the condensed water may develop on the metal surface and might fall on printed fabric.
• Any kind of water contact (Even highly moist area may create a problem) to the unsteamed printed fabric