Abstract: An improved fabric handling device equipped with a hot melt ink jet shademarking system for the contactless shademarking of processed fabric is described as follows: a series of commercial ink jet printheads are mounted on a head mount beam attached to a fabric spreader or loom weaving apparatus, and are attached via umbilical lines to a hot melt ink reservoir and pressure regulating system. A control system is provided including an individual controller for each printhead. A central controller is operatively connected to and directs the individual controllers, the hot melt ink jet reservoir, and the pressure supply and pressure regulator. After receiving information from the operator regarding the fabric being shademarked, the central controller can automatically select an appropriate marking configuration for maximum visibility and minimum ink consumption.