While screen and digital printing have long been the stalwarts and continue to form the core and foundation of the garment printing industry, the recent advent of hybrid systems has sparked a sort of printing renaissance, merging the best of both traditional techniques. Yet, it’s direct-to-film (DTF) printing that’s truly turning heads since its burst onto the scene in 2020.
There are those doomsayers who claim that digital printing is practically on its deathbed, with some even prophesying a total overhaul of garment printing courtesy of DTF. While these declarations might be a touch melodramatic (and yes, we disagree with them, traditional printing methods are not going anywhere), there’s no denying that DTF printing will be a big game-changer in time.
So, let’s dive into the world of DTF printing and see what all the fuss is about.
What’s Direct-to-Film Printing Anyway?
DTF printing, short for Direct-to-Film printing, is the process that’s stirring up the conventional printing pot. How? By transferring designs directly onto a wide variety of substrates—not just limited to garments but also stretching to metals and ceramics. Imagine slapping a cool, custom design on a t-shirt one minute and embellishing a coffee mug the next, all thanks to the versatility of DTF.
Here’s the scoop: You print your design onto a special transfer film and then, with the magic of heat pressing, bond it seamlessly onto whatever surface your heart desires, and voila, you’re custom apparel or merchandise, is done! Want to jazz up those bland cotton tees? Done. Got an itch to personalize some polyester caps? Easy. Eyeing that plain ceramic mug for a touch of flair? No problem.
DTF isn’t just making waves; it’s practically causing a creative tsunami, proving that when it comes to printing, it’s ready to press on anything that dares to stand still long enough.
The Printing Process in Brief
So here’s the fun part. DTF printing is where art meets science on a thin stage of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, barely 0.75mm thick, optimizing its transfer properties. The process starts by laying down CMYK inks in a mirror image of the final design, followed by a layer of white ink.
Here’s where the magic happens. After the inks are applied, a layer of hot melt powder is evenly distributed over the wet ink, either manually or with an automated powder shaker. This powder is crucial as it acts as an adhesive once activated by heat.
The film, now coated with powder, is then heated in a curing oven at temperatures ranging from 140 to 170 degrees Celsius (284-338℉). This melts the powder, turning it into a sticky adhesive that will bond the ink to the fabric. If a curing oven isn’t available, a heat press can be used as an alternative. It’s important to maintain a small gap—about 4 to 7mm—between the film and the heat press to prevent direct contact.
Before the film is applied, the garment is pre-pressed to zap any moisture and ensure a smooth surface, which helps in achieving a clean transfer. Once everything’s hot and ready, the film is laid onto the garment and pressed under medium pressure for 15 to 20 seconds. This step is known as curing.
After the heat press, the film needs to cool back to room temperature. Once cooled, the film is peeled away, leaving the ink design adhered to the garment. For enhanced durability, pressing the garment again for about 10 to 15 seconds after peeling can help reinforce the transfer, making it more resistant to washing and stretching.
This entire process showcases the precision and efficiency of DTF printing, providing a reliable method for high-quality garment decoration.
Setting Up for DTF Printing
The DTF Printer
There are a few core components you need to start printing designs.
The most obvious one is the DTF printer itself. Without it, you won’t be able to print any of your designs. A simple option for starting with DTF is using a converted printer.
A converted printer, in this case, is a modified inkjet printer specifically retooled for DTF printing. These printers come with multiple CMYK ink tanks and a modified exit tray to prevent jams and ensure that prints come out smoothly, among other changes.
The Epson L1800 desktop inkjet printer is relatively easy to obtain at a low cost, making it a good choice for entry-level converted printers. Spare parts are also relatively easy to find on the market. However, its printing speed isn’t the fastest on the market. You could find other reliable options, such as converted Epson P600s, P800s, or R3000s. You can still find converted printer starter kits for sale online, but these aren’t as affordable as they used to be.
Large-scale commercial DTF printers also exist, which have a faster printing speed compared to a converted printer. Some of these printers also incorporate parts of the printing process into their hardware; for example, a DTF printer like the DigitalHeat FX DTF 24H2 might have a powder shaker that automatically coats the film with hot melt powder.
If you’re just starting your journey into the world of DTF printing, you’ll need more than just enthusiasm. Here’s a quick rundown of the essentials.
First and foremost, you’ll need a DTF printer. Shocking, we know. For beginners, a converted printer is a great place to start. These are not your average inkjets; these are inkjets that have been to the spa, getting tweaked and tuned with multiple CMYK ink tanks and a fancy modified exit tray to avoid those dreaded paper jams.
Take the Epson L1800, for example. It’s the poster child for entry-level DTF printing—easy to find, easy on the wallet, and pretty straightforward. Spare parts are just a quick online hunt away. Its only catch? It’s not exactly the Usain Bolt of printers, so if speed is your game, you might want to look elsewhere.
For those who are thinking big, commercial DTF printers like the DigitalHeat FX DTF 24H2 are the Ferraris of the printing world. These bad boys are built for speed and come with bells and whistles like integrated powder shakers that automatically sprinkle the fairy dust (read: hot melt powder) across your prints.
Whether you start small with a converted classic or go big with a commercial powerhouse, the realm of direct-to-film printing is ready and waiting. Just remember, while the printer might be the heart of your operation, your creativity is the soul. You can read more on DTF printers here and which one could be the best for your business here.
Other industrial printers out there include:
- DTFPRO Panthera V2
- Printomize Peregrine x4
- TheMagicTouch UK R-Jet Pro DTF600
- Sublicool XYS-01 24” DTF Printer
PET Films
PET, or polyethylene terephthalate films, are the unsung heroes of the DTF printing world, and they’re a bit different from your average screen printing films. Marketed specifically as DTF transfer films, they boast a thickness of about 0.75mm, which isn’t just for show—it actually enhances their transferring prowess.
These films are versatile too. You can find them in cut sheets, perfect for the boutique print shops dabbling in small-scale projects, or in larger rolls that feed the hungry machines of big commercial printing operations. Whether you’re running a cozy corner shop or a print factory, there’s a PET film format to match.
And for a bit of print drama, PET films come in two thrilling varieties: hot peel and cold peel. Hot peel films are the instant gratification of the film world—apply the design, heat it up, and peel it off like a band-aid. Cold peel films, on the other hand, play hard to get. You’ll need to turn off the heat and let things cool down before you can peel away and reveal the masterpiece beneath.
Software
DTF printing excels at bringing complex designs to life, capturing even the most intricate details with flair. However, to truly nail the print characteristics, color accuracy, and overall quality after transfer, you’ll need the right tools for the job. Enter RIP software, your digital maestro for managing those fussy CMYK and white inks.
One standout in the RIP software arena is AcroRip, a favorite among garment printers for its robust features and compatibility with a broad range of printers. Picking up a copy will set you back at least $300 from authorized resellers, who often sweeten the deal with onboarding support packages to ensure you’re up and printing without a hitch.
Now, mastering color management and ICC profiles is a bit like tuning an instrument before a concert—it’s crucial. Get it right, and your prints sing with the right hues; get it wrong, and you might end up with a red that’s more sunburn than sunset. Properly managing these elements is essential for achieving top-notch print quality and making sure your DTF prints don’t just look good but look perfect.
Hot Melt Adhesive Powder
This white, granular substance that looks suspiciously like your morning sugar fix is actually the adhesive powerhouse behind DTF printing. Known as hot melt powder, most of it is crafted from Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU)—think of TPU as the superhero of adhesives, although sometimes it teams up with other components for an extra boost, or it’s completely replaced by different materials.
You’ll typically encounter this powder in two fashion-forward shades: basic black and classic white. White powder is the jack-of-all-trades, suitable for any material or color fabric you throw at it. Black powder, on the other hand, is the go-to for black garments.
The powders come in different grades, measured in microns, which is just a fancy way of saying how big the particles are. Fine-grain powders are on the daintier side, 0-70 microns, and feel a bit like flour. Then there’s the “medium” powder, which could pass for table salt in a pinch, and the “coarse” variety, that feels like your average sugar crystals.
Choosing the right type of powder depends on what you need from your print—think fabric compatibility, the desired feel, flexibility, and how long you need it to last. Generally, the bigger the particle, the stronger it sticks, but alas, it might make your print feel as stiff as cardboard.
So, as you dive into the world of direct-to-film printing, remember: not all powders are created equal. Whether you’re aiming for a print that’s as soft as a whisper or as durable as your last diet attempt, there’s a powder for that.
Printing Inks
Digital water-based inks are the lifeblood of DTF printing. They’re cousins to DTG inks, but with a few clever tweaks in pigment composition. Primarily, DTF printing leverages a palette of white and CMYK colors—Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (and no, the ‘K’ doesn’t stand for ‘Kangaroo’; it’s for ‘Key’, which sounds infinitely cooler than CMYB).
The beauty of CMYK lies in its ability to replicate a spectrum of colors on printed materials, mixing these four basic hues to achieve everything from subtle gradients to bold, vivid shades. Meanwhile, white ink plays the role of the unsung hero, laying down an essential ‘undercoat’ that ensures the CMYK colors pop and your design truly comes to life on the substrate.
Heat Press
The heat press isn’t just a tool in DTF printing—it’s the backstage crew that makes sure your design shines in the spotlight on your chosen substrate. Initially used to pre-press garments, ensuring a smooth, flat canvas, the heat press also steps in to transfer the design permanently. No curing oven for melting the adhesive powder? No problem! The heat press can fill in, provided you use it in “no contact” mode—if that’s an option; keep in mind, your mileage may vary depending on the ink and transfer film brands you work with.
This piece of equipment is pivotal in DTF printing because it brings the heat (literally) necessary to meld design with fabric. It’s all about the perfect balance of heat and pressure. Skimp on either, and your beautifully crafted design might just flake off like a bad sunburn, refuse to stick, or peel off like an old sticker on a laptop. So, make sure you get this right to avoid turning your print masterpiece into a fashion faux pas.
Cover Sheet
A cover sheet is used to protect the transfer film when it’s being heat pressed. In some cases where a heat press doesn’t have a “no contact” mode, or if the film needs to be pressed down onto the substrate, the cover sheet will ensure that the transfer film doesn’t get damaged or singed in the process.
A cover sheet in DTF printing is there to protect the transfer film. When you’re heat pressing, especially if your press lacks a “no contact” mode or when the film needs a more direct touch, the cover sheet acts as a trusty shield. It ensures that your transfer film doesn’t end up singed or stuck, a fate as undesirable in printing as in cooking.
So, consider the cover sheet your essential sidekick, guarding against any potential mishaps that could turn your sleek DTF print into a sticky situation.
Automation Systems
When we talk about automation systems in DTF printing, we’re referring to the high-tech helpers designed to streamline your print process. This includes gadgets like curing ovens, automatic powder shakers, or roll-to-roll cutting machines. These systems are all about saving you from the mundane, manual tasks that can bog down production, like painstakingly applying powder or meticulously cutting out designs.
Now, don’t get us wrong—investing in automation isn’t a must, and you can always come back later to this thought when you’re planning to scale. But, with a solid setup and a slick workflow, you can rival the efficiency of these mechanized marvels. However, if you do decide to upgrade, brace yourself for the price tag. For instance, the STS 24” automatic powder shaker and dryer will set you back a cool $9,880. Yes, for that kind of money, you’d expect it to make your coffee too, but alas, it just shakes powder.
So, whether you choose to automate or not, the goal remains the same: elevate your DTF printing game and keep those prints coming without missing a beat—or breaking your back.
Setup Costs for DTF Printing
In contrast to DTG printing, DTF printing doesn’t have a very high entry ceiling in terms of investment costs. Entry-level printers are inexpensive and can help you get started once you’re set up.
Equipment
Entry-level printers like a converted Epson L1800 can go for as low as $600 to $2,000 on various online resellers; as mentioned earlier, however, these are increasingly hard to find. Other converted alternatives usually go for at least $1,000. Most sellers do offer several add-ons to sweeten the deal, such as starter kits that include inks and films, among other things.
Higher-grade printers can cost a little higher, but you won’t be breaking the bank when purchasing one compared to the price of a mid-range DTG printer. For example, the DigitalHeat FX DTF 24H2 printer can be yours for the cost of $25,995 only. It also includes an automatic powder shaker and a dryer to automate the powdering and curing process.
A decent heat press can cost you about $200 and above. If you’re on a budget, Cricut sells small-scale heat presses that go from $50 to $250, but these are relatively small in size and not ideal for bulk orders. Larger, reliable flatbed heat presses like those made by Fancierstudio, Vevor, and Hotronix would better suit your business needs.
Consumables
You may be able to purchase 500ml bottles of CMYK ink for $12 per unit. Some sellers even offer preferential rates for larger orders. Larger quantities above 500ml can go for about $50 or more.
For DTF transfer films, you can usually find them in either A4 or A3 sizes. You can buy cut sheets in 50 to 100 sheets per pack. As for film rolls, you can get a 30cm wide and 100m long roll for $100 and above.
Labor Considerations
Even if you are operating a one-man show or have help from family members, you still need to determine your labor cost and decide on your overall profit margin from sales.
- Sales Time – looking for customers is also a labor cost. It can depend on whether they’re walk-in customers recommended by previous clients or cold-call customers.
- Accounting Time – how much time you spend settling your business accounts, be it preparing quotes or sales orders, contacting vendors, or even negotiating with customers.
- Shipping & Handling – how will you deliver your orders to your customers? What considerations should you weigh when planning to ship orders out?
- Maintenance – how often should you clean the printers? Will you need to run daily cleaning cycles or only if they’ve not been used in a while?
Entry-level setups allow a single person to create custom garments, but once demand increases, you’ll need to think about getting newer and better equipment as well as hiring people to help you out. Be realistic about your assessments of labor costs, especially if you have a team of employees helping you run the business and get garments printed. You’ll need to factor in their salary and overhead costs, such as utilities, when everyone is working hard in the shop.
Getting Your Return On Investment (ROI)
If you can put out a good amount of prints to your clients, you’ll be able to recoup your ROI reasonably quickly. Because most DTF consumables are inexpensive, you can easily tailor your business to maximize profits without sacrificing quality or production times.
Using entry-level printers can be a challenge to see a total ROI in a short time, given the slower printing speeds compared to most mid-range printers. Using multiple printers can help mitigate the issues with production time, but be sure you plan ahead so you don’t make unnecessary investments.
For example, a converted Epson L1800 has an estimated printing time of 10-15 minutes for a standard A4-sized transfer film. In contrast, an industrial printer can produce more prints in a shorter time while maximizing profits. In the case of the DigitalHeat FX DTF 24H2 printer, you can easily make a profit of approximately $850 from a single order of 60 shirts with prints on both sides.
Most entry-level printers may have a printing speed of between 5 to 10 A3-sized sheets per hour (subject to other criteria such as design complexity). Industrial printers have their output measured in square meters (m2) since they use transfer film rolls instead of single sheets. The Printomize Peregrine x4, for example, boasts a printing speed of 10-18 m2. The TheMagicTouch UK R-Jet Pro DTF600, on the other hand, has a printing speed of 15 m2 (according to the manufacturer’s estimates).
You can always inquire about the printing speed of a printer you’re planning to purchase or ask for a demonstration of its printing capabilities to see how it performs. The faster your printer’s speed, the more prints you’ll be able to output in a short time.
Calculation Samples
For an entry-level setup, your total investment for all the necessary equipment might look like this:
Pricing your services can be difficult to do as you need to balance between pricing for profit and winning over interested customers. If your prices are too low, you might not be able to break even; if it’s too high, customers might overlook you as you’re higher than current market trends.
Here’s a rough estimate to know how many shirts you’ll need to sell to achieve your ROI:
Assuming you’re able to print 50 shirts in a day, you can easily achieve your ROI in the span of 10 to 11 days!
Do remember that these are only estimates. You can still tinker with your pricing structure depending on the kind of materials you use for each order and your planned price markup. You might find good quality transfer films sold at a low price, which helps keep your costs down.
The Pros and Cons of DTF Printing
DTF printing offers several advantages thanks to its unique printing capabilities. For most people in the industry, what they see DTF being able to bring to the table is enough to convince them that this is where printing’s future is headed.
On the other hand, there are still shortcomings to what DTF printing can offer potential users, given that it’s a recent innovation. Given time, DTF printing can provide a robust printing solution once it overcomes the growing pains of the technology. We’re keen to see where that road leads.
Until then, you can still consider what DTF printing offers today.
Entry Costs
As mentioned, getting started isn’t very cost-prohibitive as you can find printers at low prices. Sure, most entry-level printers might have prevailing issues, mainly concerning speed and print quality. However, you can resolve these issues with proper setup and sound quality RIP software and inks, among other things.
Assuming ideal circumstances, you might be able to get an entry-level setup. It includes an entry-level DTF printer; a starter set of DTF inks, transfer films, and hot melt powder; the AcroRip software; a cutting board; and a good quality heat press – for approximately $1,500 to $3,000. It’s not as cheap as when converted printers were all the rage, but they’re still more affordable than other decorative methods.
For an industrial-level setup, on the other hand, you can buy a complete printing machine with other automated systems (like the DigitalHeat FX DTF 24H2 printer), such as an automatic powder shaker and heater as well as a heat press, for upwards of $15,000 or higher.
In the case of DTG, an entry-level converted printer is usually recommended for those starting up a business. Mid-range printers like the Brother GTX Pro can go for about $25,000 or higher, putting you over budget. On the other hand, a DTG starter kit (with Dupont inks and pre-treatment solutions), a pre-treatment machine, a heat press, and AcroRip software may cost around $3,200 or more just for a simple starting setup.
Dye sublimation entry costs are comparable to DTG. You can acquire most entry-level printers for less than $1,000. Add it to the cost of equipment and consumables – the sublimation transfer paper, dye-sub inks, RIP software, a cutting device, and a reliable heat press, and you may go around $3,500 or so in total.
Screen printing still has one of the lowest entry costs compared to the other printing methods. A simple setup will have a 4-color, single station, rotary screen printer; plastisol (or compatible) inks; emulsion for the screens; some mesh screens; wooden squeegees; and a heat press. All in all, you will only need to spend about $1,000 or so for all this.
Another contender for low entry costs is heat transfer vinyl. All you need are a cutting machine, weeding tools, heat transfer vinyls, a heat press (a cheap recommendation is to use a clothes iron), and pressing tools. With careful research and budgeting, you can get all that within $800.
Consumables
In line with the above, consumables are affordable compared to DTG printing supplies. For the price of a DTG ink bottle, you could be able to buy 2 DTF ink bottles of a similar capacity – but you’re getting them that much cheaper!
You also save on the amount of white ink you use. DTG printing has a higher white ink use rate than DTF, so every dime you can keep in the long run can go a long way in total savings.
Acquiring affordable but good-quality transfer films and adhesive powder is also possible – and is much cheaper than buying pre-treatment liquids and equipment.
Output
DTF printing requires a reliable printer, the necessary DTF consumables, a way to cut out the printed films, and a heat press to get you to print garments. You can easily invest in automation systems, like a powder shaker, down the road, but those augment your outputs and improve your profit margin over time.
Costs aren’t just restricted to finances, after all. Time is an all-important cost factor as well. Using DTF, you won’t need to worry about other processes like pre-treatment, drying pre-treated garments, setting up and exposing screens, or reclaiming/cleaning screens, slowing down your production process.
While they share some similarities with vinyl transfers, you won’t need to weed out any excess vinyl from your DTF design: just print your design and heat-press it onto the garment. Easy peasy!
With the proper setup for your shop, you’ll be able to put out a decent amount of printed transfers (between 10-20 per hour for entry-level printers; more than 30 per hour for industrial printers), which can be heat-pressed onto the garments you’re selling. Not having to pre-treat and dry garments is another plus point that gives you more time to focus on printing and preparing garments for shipment.
However, screen printing still dominates when it comes to bulk orders. An optimal screen printing setup can effortlessly print out a large number of shirts. While DTF printing can comfortably handle large orders, it still has ways to catch up to screen printing’s sheer production capabilities at full steam.
Versatility
This is possibly DTF’s most significant strength that puts it on par with screen printing. Working with various substrates grants you unprecedented opportunities to expand your clientele. Polyesters? No problem. Rayon? Right on. Silks? Sure thing. The possibilities are limitless!
Contrast this with DTG printing, whose inks only work on garments with at least 50% cotton; on other substrates, you risk inks not being absorbed by the substrate or prints cracking after a wash cycle. Dye sublimation, another contender, is mainly limited to plastic substrates, like polyester. You could use dye sublimation on natural fiber (i.e., cotton) garments, but you’ll have to pre-treat the garment with a polymer coating beforehand.
DTF’s versatility doesn’t end there, though. You won’t even have to restrict yourself to just printing on garments. Why not expand to putting your transfers onto water bottles, Thermos mugs, signboards, and more? It’s easy to transfer your designs onto virtually any surface, regardless of whether their shape is flat or contoured (like water bottles).
To take things even further, why not stash away a few hundred film sheets of that design for later use? You can do that. Simply keep them in a folder or some other secure storage media, and sort them nicely in a drawer or cabinet for future use.
Keeping them carefully stored will prevent dust or other particulates from collecting on your prints. This way, you can reuse these prints or even sell them to interested customers in the future without a hitch.
Color Vibrancy
Screen printing still shines with its vibrant Pantone-matching color range, easily able to meet the needs of corporate clients who need their corporate logo printed with the correct color gamut.
Now CMYK is good, don’t get us wrong, considering it does convey colors as accurately as can be printed onto a physical medium. However, it does lack the vibrancy that most customers would prefer. This is a matter of preference, though; newer DTF printers can capture a good color vibrancy that’s appealing to the eyes.
Because no two monitors, printers, and color inks are the same, you’ll need to be able to manage color expectations – especially if you’re using the RGB gamut for making the designs and then printing them out with CMYK inks. RGB does not translate its colors very well into CMYK, after all.
The best way to mitigate this is to use a Pantone Bridge tool, allowing you to preview what RGB colors will look like once it’s printed into CMYK. This way, you can best manage a customer’s color needs based on the closest matching color. You may need to discuss this in detail with your customers so that they’re satisfied with the results.
Print Quality
You might not get the same soft hand of DTG prints, but once transferred, a DTF print can still give you a decently soft touch. If anything, your customers will get a much smoother print than vinyl prints. Now try stretching and contorting the design as much as you can. You’ll find that your design can retain its original shape. In fact, take a closer look at the design, and you’ll find no cracking or peeling at all!
It’s recommended that your transfers be heat-pressed a second time with a finishing sheet. Doing so will allow the adhesive and inks to set even deeper into the garment, giving it a more durable finish.
Though soft, it’s nowhere as soft as a DTG print and is usually compared to a screen-printed design. Screen-printed designs are known to have a somewhat plastic-like feel to them. You might not be turning a lot of heads with the print quality, as some customers might prefer that soft hand to printed designs.
DTF printing does excel on polyester (and other similar) substrates, since you won’t be able to distinguish between the print and the material itself. Even so, improvements to DTF technologies have enabled newer ones to print with a very comparable soft hand to DTG’s.
Maintenance
DTG and DTF printers share similar maintenance cycles, especially if you use a converted printer for your DTF prints. While DTF printers don’t need as much maintenance as DTG printers, regular maintenance is still required to ensure they run smoothly even when you’re not running them.
Basic maintenance may require that you run a standard print head cleaning cycle, or you may need to gently shake the ink tanks to prevent the inks from settling and potentially causing a print-head clog. Different printers require different maintenance methods, so be sure to read the included manual thoroughly before starting any printing jobs.
There’s quite a fair bit to do where maintenance is concerned, which can also be based on your type of printer. If you’re unsure how to do it, you might end up with more problems than you began with. Converted printers aren’t plug-and-play machines, after all, and that’s a mistake most newcomers fail to understand before they get into DTF printing.
In fact, the biggest caveat to buying a converted printer is the lack of support. There’s no support channel that can help you if you’re having difficulties with your printer. You could always look up various tutorials on YouTube for help, but again, self-maintenance is at your own risk.
DTF printers sold by vendors will usually have some measure of support to help you out. First-time buyers also get a complementary installation and walk-through with their new printer, allowing them to get started almost immediately after learning the essentials. You can also reach out to their customer care center and either get step-by-step troubleshooting assistance, or be able to call a technician to see what’s wrong with your printer.
Other Heat Transfer Methods
DTF printing might be a popular heat transfer decorative method, but it isn’t the first of its kind. There are other decorative methods that make use of heat transfer principles like DTF.
Heat transfer vinyl (HTV) is a predecessor to DTF printing. It also adheres a design to the surface of a substrate, but you’ll instead cut out a design from colorful vinyl sheets rather than print the design with inks. It’s also a durable print method and offers a wide variety of specialty vinyl like foil, glitter, and more.
White toner laser printers also make use of heat transfer printing. It shares plenty of similarities with DTF, like printing designs on transfer films and transferring them to a substrate via heat press. White toner printing’s main draw is that it uses toners (powder ink mixtures) and no liquid inks, and therefore, doesn’t need as much maintenance as DTF printers might. They can be a little pricey ($5,000 for a starter kit from Uninet), but still deliver quality prints.
DTF may be affordable to start with, but it can’t hold a candle to HTV. With an affordable desktop vinyl cutter, a weeding tool, a heat press, and some vinyl sheets, you might only need to pay less than $500 for everything you need to start with HTV!
DTG transfers are also a potential contender to DTF printing, adopting the same principles as DTF except using DTG equipment and inks. Though not as widespread as DTF printing, it still offers DTG printers the ability to print on other substrates that DTG printing normally has difficulty with. While this allows DTG users to transition to the simpler methods of DTF, newcomers would still be better off starting with DTF printing anyway owing to its more budget-friendly startup cost.
Screen printed transfers are also possible through standard screen printing kits. Again, it’s the same principles as DTF except that you drive ink through a mesh screen to create the design on a transfer paper, then heat press it to the substrate. By now, you’ll n
Important Things to Consider
DTF printing’s advantages continue to shine as more newcomers are looking to print their own custom garments. We believe it will be the future of garment printing with how it leverages new applications and technologies to conduct garment printing as a whole.
Going into DTF printing means having to be hands-on from start to finish, much like screen printing. It may be a little less laborious than screen printing, but you’ll still need to work to get your desired products out. As you grow, though, and you’re able to acquire new equipment to automate your production line and smooth out the workflow, you’ll be recouping your ROI in no time.
Having said that, though, should you get into DTF printing now? We’d agree that it’s a good idea to take that plunge. In our eyes, the most crucial factor that makes DTF a winner is its fantastic versatility. Now, you’re no longer limited to making shirts; you can have film transfers for book covers, water bottles, signboards, metal sheets, and so much more. The best part is saving up extra prints to be sold to people who’d like to transfer them onto items or garments they own. They won’t need any specialized equipment to do it themselves.
The DTF market is still expanding, and that means there’s still a lot of room for experimentation and growth. We can already see that more people are taking up DTF printing to kickstart their custom apparel printing business, and with good reason. As technology continues improving, we reckon DTF printing will shake the industry further.
