Differences Between DTF Textile Printing Ink & DTG Pigment Ink

A customer asked what is the difference in the application of DTF ink and DTG pigment ink. For this problem, let me analyze it in detail. Before the analysis, let’s talk about the current market’s names for DTG pigment inks. Some of them refer to DTF textile printing inks, and some are called film transfer inks. In fact, DTF textile printing inks and film transfer inks two names of ink are relatively wide-ranging. DTF textile printing ink will be a bit more straightforward, mainly emphasizing the application of DTF pigment ink.

Closer to home, in the two applications of DTF textile print and direct to cotton print, both belong to the application of pigment ink, so what are the differences between the two applications?

1. Different craftsmanship

The biggest difference between the two applications is that the process is different. The DTF textile printing ink application is that the ink is printed on the heat transfer film, and then a layer of hot melt powder is sprinkled on the surface of the heat transfer film, and then the color is generated by pressing; while the DTG ink application is directly printed on the fabric. For better color and color fastness, the fabric often needs to be used together with pre- and post-treatment liquids during the printing process. The process is relatively complex for DTF print, and it often requires more professional customers to straighten the entire DTG print plan well. The DTF printing process is relatively simple, and the client is easy to quickly master the process, easy to copy and popularize. This is also an important reason why the DTF printing program is so popular.

2. Different hand feeling

Through the above-described difference in the application process of the two, in terms of hand feel, the direct spray application of DTG pigment ink will definitely perform better. This is because there is a layer of hot-melt powder between the ink and the fabric in the DTF printing  application. The hot-melt powder is used as a binder and the ink is transferred to the fabric. The natural hand feel is relatively worse than that of direct coating application. DTG pigment ink is directly printed on the fabric, so there is generally no hand feeling problem. In terms of hand feel, the application of direct spray coating has obvious advantages. On the other hand, as the application of DTF printing technology matures and the application performance of hot melt powder is improved, the finished products made by DTF printing applications can also meet the needs of market customers.

3. Different color expressiveness and fastness

The DTF printing application is even better in terms of color expression. Similarly, the DTF printing performs better in terms of fastness. In order to improve the color and fastness, direct spraying application often requires the combination of pre- and post-treatment liquids to achieve better results, and the use of hot melt powder in DTF printing applications perfectly solves the problems of color and fastness. Hot-melt powder is used as an adhesive to perfectly combine pigment ink and fabric, and the color performance and fastness performance after color development are very excellent. The problem of color and fastness is very troublesome in the application of DTG printing. The hot melt powder is used as an intermediate medium to make the pigment ink and the fabric fit well, which perfectly solves the old difficult problem of DTG printng application in terms of color and fastness.

4. Different cost of the solution

At present, the application machines for DTF printing are still mainly Epson 4720 nozzles, while the DTG printing is mainly industrial nozzles. The cost of the machines used between the two is quite different. In terms of ink prices, the DTF textile printing ink for the 4720 machine is also cheaper than the ink for DTG printing ink. The biggest cost of the DTF printing application is the heat transfer film, and the price of the heat transfer film is constantly falling. On the whole, the cost of the DTF printing is lower than the cost of DTG printing. DTF printing program has low investment threshold, simple process, easy entry and copying, so it develops rapidly and is popular in a short time.

The above is what I shared with my friends about the difference between DTF textile printing ink and DTG pigment ink. At present, both solutions belong to pigment digital application. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages. The market positioning and customer base are still very large. Difference. DTF printing will definitely become the mainstream solution in personalized application, and the digital printing of cotton cloth will definitely be the main application of DTG direct to garment printing. The two solutions complement each other and will become the backbone of the rapid development of the entire pigment digital printing.