Direct Printing has been the most common method of applying design to fabric.
A direct print, also called an application Print, in which the design is Printed directly onto a white cloth (or) over a previously dyed fabric. The later is called the overprint (Printing done on goods which have been previously dyed and finished). These overprints are usually done to cover defects. The Printed design must be considerably darker than the dyed background.
These are the most popular print types and the most common approach for applying a colour pattern is direct printing.
The dye is imprinted on the fabric in paste form, by which any desirable pattern can be produced.
Corn starch is used to print cotton fabrics but today gums (or) alginates derived from sea weeds are preferred because they are easier to wash out and do not themselves absorb any colour.
The fabrics printed with direct printing techniques are identified by the background is white (or) has larger portions of white background.
The Printed design is of lighter shade on the back of the fabric than on face of the fabric.
The fabric will be an overprint if the background colour is the same shade on the face and back and print design is substantially darker than the background.