Discharge Printing (Special Printing Techniques)

Discharge printing, also called extract printing, method of applying a design to dyed fabric by printing a colour-destroying agent, such as chlorine or hydrosulfite, to bleach out a white or light pattern on the darker coloured ground. In colour-discharge printing, a dye impervious to the bleaching agent is combined with it, producing a coloured design instead of white on the dyed ground. 

With discharge printing, the fabric is first dyed to the desired ground color, usually a dark shade. Next, the fabric is then printed with a chemical that selectively destroys the dye. This leaves a white discharge design in the ground color. As an alternative, a combination of the discharging agent and a dye is printed onto the fabric. The discharge agent destroys the ground color and the dye replaces the ground color in the design. The dye used must be unaffected by the discharge agent. This yields special color effects of a color discharge design surrounded by a stable ground color. Using this method, it is possible to surround delicate colors and intricate colors with deep ground colors. 

Discharge printing has higher production costs than normal printing techniques. Designs not easily achieved with other printing methods can be produced by discharge printing. Care must be taken to choose ground colors that can be selectively destroyed without extraordinary means and without damaging the textile fabric. 

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