The printing industry has experienced rapid growth in recent times, with more and more organizations moving to DTF Printers
The use of Printer Direct to Film or Printer DTF allows you to obtain simplicity, convenience, consistency in performance with a wide range of colors. In addition, DTF Printers are now a reliable and cost-effective machine to own.
So, let us get into the meat of it and find out what Direct to Film Printer can do for you.
What is 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 method, which only works on cotton fabrics, the Printer DTF method can work on cotton and poly blends.
What is a Printer DTF?
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 the printer DTF is gaining prominence is the freedom it gives you to choose almost any surface for printing.
The 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 to press on expensive A & B paper.
How DTF Printer Works?
First, printer DTF implementation in your printing business does not require a heavy investment. Whether you are new to the printing business or wish to adapt your DTF printing to expand your business, taking a closer look at these printers is worth your time.
DTF Modified printers typically come with multiple colored ink tanks. These tanks allow the printers the convenience to operate using CMYK settings. The DTF printer ink is specifically designed for use with this process.
Additionally, the DTF process eliminated the use of rollers that previously caused the page to slide. This rectifies the appearance of any linings on your white layer prints. 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.
The Direct to Film Printer Films
A DTF printer uses PET films as these are different from the ones used in screen printing. PET films have a thickness of approximately 0.75mm, making them better-transferring characteristics. 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.
Software for DTF Printer
Software is an integral part of DTF printers. This is because software influences the color performance, print characteristics of the inks, and final print performance. For DTF printing, you will require specialized RIP software to handle your white and CMYK colors.
It is essential because software governs the color profiling, drop sizes, ink levels, and several critical factors contributing to print quality.
Hot-Melt Adhesive Powder
The Direct to Film printing powder is a white granular product and works as an adhesive material. This helps bind the colored pigments in your printer to the surface you are printing on. However, there are several grades of this STF hot-melt specified in microns.
DTF Printer Inks
The inks used in Printer DTF are unique pigments designed in Cyan, Yellow, Magenta, White and Black colors. The white ink forms the foundation of your print, while the colored pigment prints the design on the film.
Automatic Powder Shaker
This Direct to Film printer component is more common for commercial use (where DTF printer applies the powder) in an even fashion. Plus, the powder shaker also removes excess powder.
Curing Oven
This is a small industrial oven to melt the printer’s hot melt powder, which then goes on the transfer film. Alternatively, you can also use a heat press machine to carry out this function. However, it would help if you used the heat press machine in a no-contact mode.
Heat Press Machine
This piece of equipment helps transfer the printed images on your film onto the desired surface or fabric. You can also use this machine to melt powder on your DTF film.
Pros and Cons of Printer DTF
So is it worth investing in a Direct-to-Film Printer? First, let us look at the merits and demerits of this exceptional piece of technological advancement in the printing industry.
- PROS
- It does not require any pretreatment
- You can use it on almost any material or fabric
- The material it is printed upon will still have a slight hand feel to it when you touch. After the printing, the fabric will exhibit excellent wash resistance.
- The process is less tedious and quicker than other printing methods such as DTG.
- CONS
- The printed area is slightly more noticeable than subliminal printing
- The color vibrancy is somewhat lower than sublimation printing
Why DTF Printers
You can get premium-quality printing with DTF Printers and the specialty ink they use. If you wish to bring out the brightness and delicacy of the color tones in both dark and light fabrics, DTF printers can help.
Find information about ColDesi DTF Printer here.
So, you can say that DTF printers practically help you lift all restrictions of the traditional commercial printing processes. Moreover, since you do not require any treatment in most cases, DTF printers offer you savings on the overall printing costs. This can provide high-profit margins to your organization.
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 fabric at an economical price with efficiency, a DTF printer is the way forward.
