Direct film printing is a unique printing technology that involves printing designs onto special films for transfer to garments. DTF printing is a thermal transfer process with the ability to last as long as traditional screen printing. A few things you should know before implementing DTF printing technology in your business.
1. DTF printing high-quality equipment is essential
If you own a printing business, you already know that the quality of your work is as good as the quality of your printer and ink. Even more so when it comes to DTF printing. As with other heat transfer processes, it's crucial to buy a quality printer and heat press for the best results.
High-quality ink is also required to ensure that the printheads do not clog. We recommend inks formulated for DTF printing such as DTF white ink; quality assurance is better due to rigorous testing. An example of such a brand is INKBANK DTF INK, which offers a range of DTF inks with high color density and saturation, excellent performance and durability.
2. DTF printing not all PET film will cut it
PET heat transfer film is required for DTF printing, but this does not mean that every type of PET film is suitable for the DTF process. For best results, choose a printable double-sided cold release film. Poorer quality untreated films may be cheaper, but they simply cannot match the performance of double-sided cold peel films, and they may stain, not accept adhesives, or ruin your clothing. The cold release film is specially treated to withstand the high temperature and pressure of heat presses; it is also compatible with all desktop and large format printers. This film can be purchased as a sheet or in rolls for larger heat transfer film suppliers.
3. DTF printing can accept transfer without preprocessing
One of the many advantages of DTF printing is that garments do not require any pre-processing to accept transfer. This can simplify your operations and potentially reduce your costs. Overall, the DTF printing process is faster and requires less labor than DTG printing. DTF printing offers greater versatility. When printing directly onto textiles, your options are limited. DTF printing gives you more flexibility as you can print on a variety of fabrics including cotton, polyester, rayon, nylon, silk, leather and more. Prints on cold peel films cannot be transferred directly to garments. Instead, adhesives must be used to help the image adhere to the fabric.
