What is DTF printing?
DTF printing involves printing a design onto a piece of PET film (a special film with a coating that helps transfer designs) using water-based inks and a special adhesive powder. Then, the design on the PET film is heat-transferred to the fabric using a heat press machine. This printing method is durable, and the designs are detailed and vibrant.
Source: Printful
How does DTF printing work?
DTF printing is fairly quick compared to other printing methods. It’s also a great choice for printing detailed designs on bulky outdoor apparel.
Interested in how it works? Let’s break down the DTF printing process.
Step 1: Preparing the film
First, a PET film is prepared and placed in the DTF printing machine where the entire design is printed in color.
After creating the first layer, the machine prints a white layer over the entire image, completely covering the first layer. Check out the photo below if you’re curious how DTF print designs look once printed on PET film.
Next, an adhesive powder is uniformly applied onto the wet ink. After applying the powder evenly and removing any excess, the film is heated to prepare for fabric transfer. Adhesive heating is done in a curing oven or a heat press machine.
Source: Printful
Step 2: Pre-pressing fabric and using a heat press
With the PET film preheated, the fabric receiving the design gets dehumidified and pre-flattened under a heat press.
After initial flattening, the printed film is placed on the pre-pressed fabric. The design on the film is then transferred onto the garment using a heat press for 15 to 20 seconds at an average temperature of 165°C.
Source: Printful
Step 3: Peeling the film and post-pressing the fabric
With the design transferred onto the fabric, the second-to-last step is to carefully hot peel the film. Unlike cold peel transfers, the transfer is removed immediately while the film is still hot—that’s how we do it at Printful (and how most other DTF printing providers peel it).
When the film is removed, the designed fabric is flattened a second time in the heat press to help improve the design’s durability. After post-pressing, the garment is ready to pack and ship to customers.
Source: Printful
DTF printing pros
Direct-to-film is a favorite among custom apparel businesses for its versatility and high-quality results. Whether you’ve got small-scale projects or you run a large business, this method offers several advantages that stand out in the printing industry:
1. Wide fabric compatibility
Unlike DTG printing, which is primarily suited for cotton fabrics, DTF printing works with various materials, including polyester, cotton, nylon, and blends. This flexibility allows businesses to diversify their product offerings and cater to broader customer needs.
2. Vibrant colors and sharp details
The specialized inks ensure DTF prints have bold, vivid colors and sharp details, even on dark fabrics. This is particularly advantageous for businesses prioritizing professional results and eye-catching designs.
Source: Printful
3. No pre-treatment required
Unlike other techniques, DTF printing skips the pre-treatment process, saving time and labor. This makes it a faster and more efficient option for businesses working on tight deadlines.
4. Durability
DTF transfers are known for their excellent durability. The adhesive powder used during the process ensures the design bonds securely to the fabric. The result is a print that resists cracking, peeling, and fading, even after multiple washes.
5. Cost-effective for small designs
DTF printing offers a cost-efficient solution for smaller designs or logos compared to other methods like screen printing, which might involve higher setup costs.
These benefits make DTF printing a compelling choice for businesses looking to offer high-quality designs, fast turnarounds, and a broad range of customized products.
DTF printing cons
While DTF printing offers many advantages, you need to consider its limitations to make an informed decision.
1. Specialized equipment and materials
Source: Printful
Implementing DTF printing requires investment in specific equipment, such as DTF printers, PET films, and adhesive powders. This specialized setup can lead to higher initial costs compared to other methods. However, you can cut these expenses with on-demand fulfillment. More on that later.
2. Maintenance and technical expertise
Operating DTF printers demands regular maintenance and a certain level of technical know-how. Without proper upkeep, issues like print head clogging or inconsistent print quality may arise, potentially affecting production efficiency and customer satisfaction.
3. Print texture and feel
DTF prints involve applying a layer of adhesive powder, which can result in a slightly firmer texture compared to other methods like DTG printing. This difference in texture might influence customer satisfaction, especially for apparel items, like lounge or sleepwear, where a softer touch is preferred.
4. Environmental considerations
The DTF process uses PET films and adhesive powders, which may raise environmental concerns due to material waste and the use of non-biodegradable components. Businesses aiming for eco-friendly practices should weigh these factors when choosing printing methods or on-demand suppliers.
By understanding these potential drawbacks, you’ll be better able to assess whether DTF printing aligns with your financial and operational capabilities and sustainability goals.
DTF printing compared to other print methods
With so many print methods, you’ve got to narrow down which one best suits your long-term business goals. To make it easier, we’ve put together a brief comparison of DTF printing alongside other popular print techniques.
Pay attention to the types of designs and fabrics that work best for DTF prints, DTG prints, as well as with sublimation and screen printing. That way, you can plan what techniques to use with your brand’s product selection in mind.
Direct-to-film vs. screen printing
Screen printing is one of the most popular methods to use in the printing industry. This print method pushes ink layer by layer through a woven screen or mesh stencil onto fabric.
A woven screen has to be made for each color and design element, and at the end of the printing process, ink lays on top of the fabric instead of soaking into it. Screen-printed designs can also feel different depending on how detailed the original artwork is. More art details require more ink layers, resulting in a thicker feel on the garment.
Regarding DTF printing, the transferred design has a more uniform feel that doesn’t become thicker no matter how many colors or design elements are added.
Source: Printful
Learn more: DTF vs. Screen Printing? Which Method Fits Your Brand?
Screen printing works best for solid designs without small details, such as symbols, shapes, and geometric designs. Alternatively, DTF printing works well with details as it doesn’t require separate layers for design elements or colors. DTF printing also doesn’t require a specially made mesh screen for each design—just a printer, transfer film, printing powder, and a heat press.
The flexibility with design elements and color count makes DTF printing more friendly to one-off prints. This is handy when:
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You want to test just 1 product
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You don’t know your potential demand
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There’s no time for bulk production, and you need products ASAP
While on-demand printing is virtually nearly impossible with screen printing (as that would be too expensive), it outshines other methods in bulk production. Screenprinting will be more cost-effective than DTF printing if:
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You know you’ll have a massive demand for the product
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You’ve got the resources to store product stock when the sales are slow
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You’re prepping products for a large event like a concert or conference
Source: Printful
Direct-to-film vs. direct-to-garment printing
In simple terms, direct-to-garment printing (DTG printing) works by spraying ink directly onto fabric. However, before any ink can be sprayed, a pre-treatment solution has to be applied to the fabric. After the solution is added, the DTG printer sprays the water-based inks onto the garment. The ink soaks into the fabric fibers, and then, the design is cured to boost print quality.
Learn more: DTG vs. DTF Printing: Which Method Is Better for Your Designs?
DTG printing works mainly on cotton blends and is best suited for 100% cotton products. So, if you’re interested in selling mostly cotton-based apparel, this is ideal.
If you’d like to include products made of different fabric types, like active wear, in your catalog, consider using the DTF printing technique as well.
