Direct-to-Garment (DTG) Transfer (DTF) Explained – A Comprehensive Guide
Direct-to-film (DTF) printing is a highly innovative and progressive thing that has happened to the textile industry. With DTF printing, it has become a breeze to print complex designs on fabrics, which was unthinkable earlier. DTF is a superb technology that works on cotton, and several kinds of polyblends. Shifting to a DTF printer makes complete sense and offers you quality, convenience, and consistency. We are going to give you an overview of how technology took our hearts at Printgod. On the whole, we can say, it helps you to achieve great results for your print job
DTF Printing- Most Versatile Print Technology for Your Print Needs
Several printing technologies are prevalent at this time, but they do not come close to DTF because the latter goes far in its advantages. If you are still not using DTF printing, here are reasons why you need to switch to printing. If you already use a different printing mechanism, here are some reasons why you should switch to DTF printing.
DTF versus Sublimation
Sublimation carries an excellent reputation as a process that brings top-tier quality to your end product. However, it involves a very complex fabric limitation mechanism. DTF does not involve this. Additionally, sublimation printing equipment costs are a bit too high and it requires more maintenance as compared to the DTF printer. DTF stands out as the go-to choice of an efficient printing technique.
DTF versus Screen Printing
Screen printing is also an efficient technology. We know it for its high quality output. However, it is limited because it deals with small quantities and the process is quite tedious. It is not suitable to deal with complex or multi-color designs. Moreover, screen printing is an expensive technique. But, when it comes to a DTF printer, things are on a different side because you can print a complex design with high quality. And DTF won’t get very expensive. DTF is a cost-effective and productive process for giving a top-notch final product with reasonable per unit cost.
DTF versus DTG
DTG printing and DTF printing are more or less similar processes. However, a significant difference is that DTG gets done just on cotton garments. Moreover, DTG also requires more time and resources to complete the process of fabric pretreatment. So, DTF is a more worthwhile process when it comes to results and on cotton or other fabrics.
DTF versus Print and Cut Heat Seal Vinyl
The people that use print and cut heat seal vinyl know how labor-intensive it is to get a perfect product. Just a slight error will make the process vinyl damage the product. Print and cut seal needs a seemingly endless amount of time. But, with DTF, you need not worry about such things. DTF printing is based on using a printing process that does not need weeding. It saves time and is also an effort.
This means you need DTF printing. But, all DTF printing is not the same. Not only do you order to buy from a reputable service, but you also have to determine whether the enterprise’s work suits your requirements. Do they have a specific DTF printer for your work? Here are the things you need to look for.
How We Chose Our New DTF Printer
It can be complex to choose the right DTF printing service. First, you need to determine your requirements and then, you need to look for various factors to make an astute purchase that gives complete value to your investment.
Size: The first thing we examined was that the DTF printer fits well in our workspace. But, one also needs to consider the size of the garments we had to print. In general, a 24-inch DTF printer is good enough for a small workspace.
What other things should one check in the DTF printer? The answer is DTF printer specs and the garment size your DTF printer can work on, in the manufacturer’s product information.
Other Things to Check (For Printing Services Like We Are)
- Software Compatibility: Ensure that the DTF printer you want to buy is compatible with Design and RIP software that you use.
- Power Requirements: DTF printers have electrical components that must be compatible with the available power supply. You don’t want to get a DTF printer short circuit on the first day of operation. So, check the sockets and compatibility with your power supply system.
- G7 Certification: Check that the DTF printer you choose complies with G7 color standards. Printers, consumables, and software are all designed following G7 color guidelines. So, the DTF printer you choose also should be compliant with the G7 Guidelines to provide high end-product quality.
- Warranty: Ensure that you get a manufacturer-signed warranty for your printer. It covers the likelihood of the presence or currency of any technical fault in your DTF printer. A warranty is important for any kind of printer, for that matter. It secures your investment and provides a solution for any unforeseen issues.
These were things we checked to get our DTF Printers at Printgod.
Heat Press Process for Your DTF Print
Heat press is a crucial part of the DTF printing process. It involves transferring the melted print on the PET film onto the fabric.
- This process is accomplished in 15-20 seconds.
- It needs an extremely high temperature of about 170 degrees Celsius.
- DTF printing involves heat transfers that are a vital part of printing. A curing oven will make things easier for the heating process.
How to heat press in a curing oven?
Place the PET film and an adhesive power mix in the curing oven. As the oven allows you to regulate the temperature, you can melt the print in a hassle-free manner. But, if you don’t have a curing oven; there’s no need to worry. You can use any heat press. The most important aspect is that there should be no direct contact between the heat press and the PET film. You need to keep a distance of 4-7mm between the two.
When should you transfer the print to fabric?
It makes sense to transfer the print to the fabric when the film gets heated.
How Do We Make Your DTF Prints?
Two things are very swift with DTF.
- Printing onto the fabric.
- Creating the print.
The only thing you need to take care of is choosing the right software you are comfortable with. Ensure you’re choosing the right dimensions for your design. It helps prevent image distortion during the design transfer process.
DTF has a wide scope when it comes to fabric material you can print on. It can print on
- Non-treated cotton
- Silk
- Polyester
- Denim
- Nylon
- Leather
- 50/50 blends
The only requisite for a DTF printing is that the material you choose can tolerate a temperature of 170 degrees Celsius threshold in curing.
Other things to take care of:
The quality of consumables determines the final product quality. DTF powders and inks you choose must be compatible with your DTF printer.
A Bit About Consumables-Safety of DTF Inks and DTF Powders
DTF printing involves using a powder and ink combination that gives you the perfect print on your garment. However, the most important thing to understand is whether you are using a safe consumable product. A low-quality mixture can harm you and also the fabric in the process.
What’s the standard for choosing powders and inks?
Always go for manufacturer-recommended DTF powders and DTF inks to ensure safety during the DTF printing process. Consumables we use at Printgod are nontoxic and safe from the handler and the fabric respectively.
DTF inks in places other than the fabric can be washed easily with water and detergent solution. However, it’s best to stay safe at all times. Do not let the consumables get in touch with your skin. During printing, our technicians wear gloves, long sleeve garments, and high boots to keep on covered.
Washing the DTF Prints
The process of transfer of DTF print to the garment requires cautious work to ensure the printed garment doesn’t get spoiled.
A few things to understand
Washing is a crucial step in DTF printing. Always wash the garments turning them inside out. Secondly, harsh conditions will lead to unexpected outcomes of DTF printing. This means you need to take care of high rpm washing cycles and high temperatures.
- The threshold rpm for your washing machine is 600-800 RPM (medium).
- The washing temperature must be set between 30-60 degrees Celsius.
- Do not wash for periods longer than 1 hour.
- Never use powder detergent because the granules lead to high print stress and may damage the print.
- Do not ever use fabric softener which can interact with the print. Fabric softeners may lead to a faster wearing out or peeling of the DTF print.
- It’s best to air dry the washed DTF printed fabric. Avoid tumble drying. Avoid direct sun exposure to print drying by turning the garment inside out.
Do You Need High-Quality DTF printing?
At PG Transfers, we have switched to DTF printing and it has proved to be the best method of printing onto the fabric. It is also one of the safest and most efficient procedures for our technicians and the fabrics we print.
- We follow the standard operating procedures and always consider professionals’ guidance for altering the setting for different print requirements.
- By using certified high-quality consumables, we ensure timely printing, safety for your fabric and the workers, and a high-quality print that is a cynosure of your eyes.
- We always take care of controlling the humidity and environment, keeping it very conducive for DTF printing at 25-35 degrees Celsius; humidity level is not below 35% and not more than 65% humidity. All our technicians are very skilled and passionate printers.
Learn More
We tried to give you a comprehensive account of how DTF printing is done and why we have our specific DTF printer at Printgod to get the best results for our clients. Now, you’re assured that you will surely get your bulk print orders done excellently at your doorstep promptly and giving you complete peace of mind. Learn more about DTF printing Printgod Transfers.