What technology do you use to print on T-shirts? Screen printing? You are out! Now many manufacturers that make customized T-shirts have already started to use digital direct to film printing technology. Direct to film DTF printer provide one-stop hollow printing without cutting plotters, laminating machines, and hollowing machines. Direct to film printing process only needs a digital inkjet printer and a powder shake machine. The operation is easier so can save time and labor. It also avoids waste discharge, environmental protection and pollution-free.
Digital direct to film printing is actually to use DTF printer to print the pattern on a PET film, and then use a powder shaker to sprinkle hot melt adhesive powder on the back of the pattern of the PET film, and then transfer on garments with heat press machine. Digital direct to film printing does not have to worry about chromatic aberration and color fastness. The patterns printed by digital direct to film printers are bright in color. What you see is what you want to get. Compared with traditional heat transfer technology, the air permeability and feel are better. It is a subversive application process for T-shirt clothing heat transfer. Moreover, even one piece can also be printed, which is a powerful tool for production in the garment industry that focuses on small batches, multiple varieties, and short delivery times.
Many friends may say that the process of this digital film printing and powder shaking all-in-one machine is easier than other technology. When shaking powder, the effect of shaking coarse powder is relatively good but it is often not so ideal and clean when shaking fine powder. Well, many digital direct to film printers on the market now generally have this phenomenon.
Aiming at the common problem that the fine powder is not clean, our professional technical engineers set the technical parameters for shaking fine powder according to the professional parameters. Through this parameter, the machine is very clean and fast when shaking the powder. The clothes pattern after heat transfer feel comfortable, high firmness, and has strong tensile strength without cracking.
The digital direct to film printer can print and shake the powder at one time, no matter if it shakes coarse or fine powder, it is as clean. The digital direct to film printer can solve the shortcomings of the previous equipment. It can print in color and white at the same time. The printing does not need stroke, engraving, or waste disposal. It adopts a fully automatic production mode, printing+ dusting + drying fully automatic integrated production, which greatly improves production efficiency. And it can be operated by one person so greatly saves time and labor costs.
Direct to film comprehensive solution, shake fine powder is as clean as coarse powder. This technology doesn’t need engrave and has no waste discharge. Printed pattern is more soft, breathable and skin-friendly. DTF printing has no burrs, no leakage, bright colors without fading, and the printing of small text is still clear. And there is no restriction on the fabric, the application range is wider. The machine can print on cotton fabric, high elastic fabric, nylon fabric , chemical fiber fabrics, swimwear, denim, PVC, EVA and etc.
DTF Printer VS DTG Printer VS Screen Printer
In short, Screen printing is the cheapest, DTG is the most versatile, DTF is the easiest. The quality of each reflect that. Some people will love it, some people will hate it, some people will sink thousands into it and decide to use something else just like everything else new that pops up in this market.
Do the transfer right, lightly powdered, and proper ink levels and it can come out very soft and smooth as well. The larger the print, the more noticeable it will be though. I have managed to do a few that are hardly discernible from each other compared to DTG.
DTF uses much less ink( about 1/3rd for me, plus the ink is almost half the cost of DTG ink at the moment) no pre-treatment. But to offset that, your spending money now on film and powder. depending on your print size and film cost, DTF may be a bit more expensive. Time wise, they take about the same amount of time.
DTG offers next to no hand feel, DTF can be thin or thick, soft or plastic-y depending on how you press it.
DTF is using the same aspect, if it were only ink, like the above two methods, it would be as equally as soft. However, your basically adding plastic to the wet ink in a layer on the back. Then that plastic is pressed into the shirt as an adhesive. So now, instead of the ink adhering itself like the other two methods, it now has a layer of plastic under it.
There are many T-shirt heat transfer technology in the market, such as direct to film (DTF) printing, screen printing, direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, etc. However, there is no accurate answer to which technology is better. Every craft has its own value and the suitable one is the best.
