The printing performances on georgette fabric with disperse dyes are closely related to the rheological behaviors of thickener used in the printing paste. Compared with sodium alginate (SA), rheological behaviors of carboxymethyl tamarind gum (CTG) were investigated by steady shear, oscillatory and transient tests. Results showed that CTG and SA exhibited typical pseudoplastic characteristics, more viscous behaviors under lower frequency and high viscosity recoverability. Flow behaviors were well predicted by Cross model at low shear rates and power‐law model at high shear rates. Viscoelastic behaviors were well depicted by Friedrich–Braun model. However, CTG had quicker shear‐thinning features and stronger elasticity than SA. In the disperse printing of georgette fabric, CTG had better screenability, higher color yield, excellent double‐sided printings, levelness, hand, color fastness, and outline sharpness instead of SA. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45000.