Flag coloring technologies have become more popular recently. For a long time flags have been produced in a single way – sewing and embroidery. This is a traditional way of producing flags. For this reason, the most valuable are embroidered flags. They are usually used only during solemn events and because of their value are kept indoors. Depending on the size and complexity of the flag, embroidered flags can cost up to several thousand euros.
Flags cut from different colored materials are also valued. Production of Lithuanian national flag in this technology is not as complicated as, for example production of Scandinavian, American or Australian flags.
Nowadays, printed flags become more and more popular. Although, it is impossible to do it without sewing procedures because the edges of the flags and their fastening elements are sewed, colors and ornaments are made by painting. This facilitates the mass production of flags.
The production of flags uses two main printing technologies – silk-screen and sublimation. Silk-screen printing was the first of the technologies used to paint flags. This is a stencil printing method that has been used for several reasons. First of all, this painting method is considered to be the most durable. This technology also produces extremely high quality colors. In addition, the technology itself is quite simple. However, silkscreening is an expensive then producing only small amounts of flags, because in this case a significant part of the painting cost makes preparation of a stencil.
Sublimation technology is mainly used for printing smaller quantities. Paint after printing is heated to make it stick to the fabric. This can be done in two ways. The first way is to print a drawing on a special piece of paper, from which later it is transferred to the fabric. The second way is direct printing. This is done with a color printer- it is printed on the fabric. Of course, fabric with the print should also be heated to absorb the paint. In some printers, the bottom of the heater is integrated into the printer itself. In other cases, heating is performed in separate equipment. This heating process is called calendering.
