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What Is DTF?

The printing industry has experienced rapid growth in recent times, with more and more organisations moving to DTF Printers.

The use of Direct to Film Printing DTF allows you to obtain simplicity, convenience, consistency in performance with a wide range of colours. In addition, DTF Printers are a reliable and cost-effective machine to own. The low print costs, fast processing and reduction of labour compared to other print methods make a winning combination.

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What is a Direct to Film Process?

Direct to Film or DTF is a process that transfers prints onto fabric or other substrates using a heat-press mechanism.  Unlike the DTG (Direct-to-Garment) method, which only works on cotton fabrics, a DTF method can work on cotton, poly blends and many other fabrics such as leather.

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Pros of Printer DTF

So is it worth investing in a Direct-to-Film Printer? Let us look at the pros of this exceptional piece of technological advancement in the printing industry.

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  • Low cost per print

  • It does not require any pre-treatment

  • You can use it on almost any material or fabric

  • Process does not involve weeding

  • Minimal setup

  • High quality full colour digital prints

  • The material it is printed upon will still have a slight hand feel to it when you touch. After printing, the fabric will exhibit excellent wash resistance

  • The process is less tedious and quicker than other printing methods such as DTG or Vinyl Print

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What is a DTF Printer?

As the name suggests, a direct-to-film printer allows you to print a design on a film and transfer it directly to the intended surface, such as fabric. The key reason why DTF is gaining prominence is the freedom it gives you to choose almost any surface for printing and the reduced print costs compared to other print processes.

DTF printer technology can allow you to print easily on cotton, polyester, synthetic, or silk without any trouble. Plus, DTF printers can work on both dark and white fabric without any need of extra processes.

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How DTF Printing Works?

Firstly, DTF implementation in your printing business does not require a heavy investment. Whether you are new to the printing business or wish to explore DTF printing to expand your business, taking a closer look at these printers is worth your time.

DTF printers typically come with multiple coloured ink tanks. These tanks allow the printers the convenience to operate using CMYK settings, with the addition of White. The DTF printer ink is specifically designed for use with this process. With DTF you will be able to take any image and apply it to any garment regardless of the material makeup. The image is printed face down on to a DTF film, a white layer is then applied to the reverse of the design. Once printed a layer of powder adhesive is shaken on to the white ink, the ink and this powder is then cured and dried. This finished transfer can then be heat pressed on to a garment and the DTF film peeled off leaving a high quality durable print. So, if you are looking for a printing technology with flawless final designs that are an exact depiction of the image you wanted on the fabric, DTF is the choice.

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Direct to Film Printer Films

A DTF printer uses PET films. Using water-based DTF inks it is to possible to print on these films, add an adhesive powder to the reverse of the print, cure and then heat press on to garments. The characteristics of the film and their coating means the ink will release from the film once the adhesive powder has been heated and pressed to the material. These films are also known as DTF Transfer Films in the market.

You can find them as cut sheets for small-scale use or as rolls for big commercial setups. There are two classifications of PET Films based on temperature. These are cold-peel type films and hot-peel type films. Many printers are opting for hot peel films as these offer quicker production.

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Software for DTF Printing

Software is an integral part of DTF printers. This is because software influences the colour performance, print characteristics of the inks, and final print performance. For DTF printing, you will require specialised RIP software to handle your white and CMYK colours.

It is essential because software governs the colour profiling, drop sizes, ink levels, and several critical factors contributing to print quality.

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DTF Adhesive Powder

The Direct to Film printing powder is a white or black granular product and works as an adhesive material. This powder is shaken on the reverse of the print after your design has printed. This powder is then cured along with the ink and creates the adhesive layer for your print. Once pressed on a garment this polymer powder helps to create a durable finish with great stretch-ability.

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DTF Printer Inks

The inks used in DTF printers are unique water-based pigment inks designed in Cyan, Yellow, Magenta, White and Black colours. The white ink forms the foundation of your print, while the coloured pigment prints the design on the film.

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Automatic Powder Shaker Dryer

This Direct to Film printing component is more common for commercial use. This machine works with the printer as a secondary process to apply DTF adhesive powder in an even fashion. Plus, the powder shaker also removes excess powder before the film is passed through an oven to cure the ink and powder adhesive. It is then collected automatically on a roll. 

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Curing Oven

When not using an automated powder shaker the DTF adhesive powder can be shaken on to the print by hand. Once this has been done a small industrial desk top oven is used to cure the ink and adhesive powder.

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Heat Press Machine

This piece of equipment helps transfer the printed images on your film onto the desired surface or fabric.

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Why DTF Printers?

You can produce premium-quality prints with DTF Printers and the specialty ink they use.  If you wish to bring out the brightness and delicacy of the colour tones in both dark and light fabrics, DTF printers can help. 

So, you can say that DTF printers practically help you lift all restrictions of the traditional commercial printing processes. Moreover,  DTF printers offer you savings on the overall printing costs. This can provide high-profit margins to your organisation.

For example, the textile industry predicts to see DTF printers show massive growth in years to come. The industry believes that more and more companies will join the DTF printing technology for all its benefits. So, if you are a textile or t-shirt company that wishes to produce printed garments at an economical price with efficiency, a DTF printer is the way forward.

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