You’ve ‘outgrown’ white toner printing.
Now what?
Well, if you’ve made it to this article, DTF is probably already on your mind.
And probably has been for a while.
But you haven’t quite made up your mind yet.
Should you upgrade to DTF, or not?
Is now the right time to do it?
Or… should you stick with white toner printing a little longer?
There’s a bit to think about there.
So, while we have you here, let’s spend some time on it.
On this page, we’ll look at whether moving from white toner to DTF makes sense for you, what you should expect from that move, and plenty of the stuff that comes up in between.
Then take a closer look at two DTF printers we think are worth considering if you decide DTF is right for you.
Let’s get into it.
Have You Actually Outgrown White Toner?
Right. Where do we start?
Well… how about we start by figuring out whether you’ve ACTUALLY outgrown your white toner printer?
Because maybe you have. Then again, maybe you haven’t.
So how can you actually tell? Surely there must be some evidence to look for!
And, well, there is.
For one, look at your orders.
Are they getting BIGGER? More FREQUENT? Are you spending more and more of your day just trying to get them out the door?
That’s usually a pretty good clue.
Another one?
The process itself is starting to get on your nerves.
Take marrying your A-sheet and B-sheet.
You’ve probably got this step down to muscle memory by now.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with it. It’s simply part of the white toner workflow.
But it IS another step.
It takes time. It takes material. It takes your attention.
And every now and then… a sheet doesn’t marry quite right and you have to do it again.
And then there’s the WAITING.
Typically, you’re working your way through one sheet at a time.
Print a sheet. Then another. Then another. Again, nothing unusual there. That’s simply how white toner printers work.
But when you’ve got dozens (or hundreds) of the same transfer to produce, you start wishing you could fit more into each run and just keep things moving.
That’s when you start wanting a little more throughput.
We could keep going.
There are plenty of other little frustrations that start making themselves known as your production grows.
But those are some of the BIG ones.
And if you found yourself nodding along to more than a few of them, well… you may already have the answer to the question we started with.
Maybe you really have outgrown your white toner printer!
Is Direct-to-Film printing worth the investment? Click here to learn more before you invest in DTF.
Why DTF Is Often the Next Logical Step After White Toner
Well, let’s say you HAVE outgrown white toner.
What next?
You could go in a few different directions.
But for a lot of white toner users, DTF ends up being the most natural one.
And there’s a pretty simple reason for that; it isn’t some completely foreign way of doing things.
There are new things to learn, sure. New equipment to get familiar with.
But the basic idea is already FAMILIAR.
You’re making full-color transfers and pressing them onto garments, just as you were before.
The difference is in how DTF gets rid of some of those little bottlenecks we just talked about.
There’s no A-sheet and B-sheet to marry, for one. And instead of printing your transfers one sheet at a time, you can print them continuously on a roll.
And you can make pretty good use of that roll, too.
Instead of leaving a bunch of empty space around every design, you can pack different designs, sizes, and quantities together to squeeze more out of the film and get more transfers through in the same run.
What else?
Hmm.
There’s the range of garments you can work with.
For the most part, you can comfortably press onto cotton, polyester, blends, and plenty of other fabrics without having to change much about the way you work.
And because DTF lays down its own white ink underbase, you’re not limited by garment color either. Whether it’s black, white, or somewhere in between, the basic process stays the same.
Now, we could probably sit here for the next ten hours picking apart every little advantage DTF has over white toner.
But we’d rather keep this thing manageable.
So, for now, those are some of the BIG ones worth knowing about.
And really, that’s the appeal of DTF.
You’re getting more production capacity and a workflow better suited to bigger orders, without wandering too far from the kind of printing you already know.
Which DTF Printer Should You Start With?
Right then.
If you’ve made it this far, there’s a decent chance you’ve already decided DTF is where you’re headed.
The only question left is…
Which printer do you actually buy?
There are quite a few to choose from. Enough that it’s easy to spend hours reading spec sheets, comparing features, and watching reviews…
…only to realise you’re no closer to making a decision than when you started.
So let’s narrow things down a bit.
We think there are two that make a particularly strong starting point for someone moving on from white toner; the ColDesi 12H2 and the ColDesi 19H2.
They’ve got a lot in common, but they’re built for slightly different kinds of businesses.
So let’s look at each one in turn.
ColDesi DTF 12H2
(Best For: Startups & Home-Based Businesses)
Not everyone needs a large production machine, would you agree?
In fact, if you’re just getting started with DTF printing, buying more printer than you need can end up costing you money without adding much value.
That’s exactly where the new and upgraded DTF 12H2 comes in.
The 12H2 is designed for startups, side hustlers, home-based businesses, shops with limited space, and anyone looking for an affordable way to get into DTF printing without making a massive upfront investment.
It gives you the ability to create professional-quality DTF transfers while keeping your equipment costs manageable.
For many customers, it’s the perfect first step into the world of DTF printing.
And as your business grows, you can always move up to a larger machine with greater production capacity.
What Makes the DTF 12H2 Unique?
For starters, it comes in two different configurations, The Basic Starter Package ($7,995), and the Standard Package ($9,995). Both feature the exact same printer and include the printer stand.
The core difference lies entirely in the additional equipment bundled with each package.
For the price, it’s hard to find a DTF printer that will do more. To give you a high-level overview of its features and technical specifications.
From a visual standpoint, it’s the smallest printer in the ColDesi lineup. All things combined, it measures in at just 39.5″ x 65″, and can easily fit through a standard shop doorway (something you can’t always say about its bigger brothers (a.k.a. our flagship models).
Now, just because it’s the smallest in the range, doesn’t mean that it compromises on function or experience. While it is a more ‘’trimmed down’’ version of those models, it still packs a punch with its print speed of around fifty 8”x10” transfers an hour, dual print head, and a generous 12’’ wide print field.
We’re talking full-color transfers that can be applied to a wide variety of garments with as little as a 10-second initial press time.
If you choose the Basic Starter Package, things get even more compact since the package does not include the shaker/dryer unit found in the Standard package. As a result, the footprint is significantly smaller, with the printer itself measuring just 28.5″ x 39.75″ and weighing only 165.4 lbs.
It’s small enough for a desk and, again, slim enough to fit through a standard doorway. So, perfect for home offices, small shops, or tight spaces.
Plus, it comes with an optional stand for those who want a dedicated workspace.
The 12H2 is also quiet, runs on a standard 110V outlet, and arrives fully assembled. Combined with the included training, it makes getting started much less intimidating for first-time users.
And did we forget to mention that another standout feature of the upgraded DTF 12H2 is its expanded color system? Yes, by adding Orange and Green inks to the standard color set, the printer can now produce a 27% wider color range and approximately 100,000 more printable colors. That translates into smoother gradients, richer colors, and more vibrant, eye-catching transfers.
And that’s really what makes the DTF 12H2 unique.
Its size, simplicity, and ease of use make it a true desktop DTF printer. One that’s designed to help new businesses get started, learn the process, and begin generating revenue before making the jump to larger equipment.
ColDesi DTF 19H2
(Best For: Growing Businesses Ready for More Capacity)
What if the 12H2 feels a little too small, but you’re not quite ready for a large production system?
That’s exactly where the DTF 19H2 comes in as a solution. In fact, it may be the machine you’ve been looking for all along.
As the newest addition to the ColDesi DTF lineup, the 19H2 was designed to fill the gap between entry-level DTF printing and larger production equipment.
It offers both more print width and more speed than the 12H2, while still maintaining a footprint that’s practical for many small and mid-sized shops.
For businesses that have moved beyond the startup phase and are looking to increase output without making the jump to a full-scale production machine just yet, the 19H2 often hits the sweet spot between size, performance, practicality, and investment.
So, what do you actually get with the DTF 19H2?
Quite a bit, actually.
For starters, you get a generous 19-inch print width, giving you more room to fit larger graphics and gang multiple designs together on a single sheet. That means less wasted film and more productivity from every print run.
It may seem like a small upgrade on paper, but when you’re trying to squeeze a few more transfers onto each sheet, those extra inches start paying for themselves.
Under the hood, you’ll find two Epson i1600 print heads working together to deliver fast, consistent output. The result is production speeds of around fifty 8″ x 10″ transfers per hour, making it well-suited for growing businesses with increasing order volumes.
The 19H2 also features an automatic tension (dancer) system that helps keep the film feeding smoothly throughout the printing process. It’s one of those features you may not think about at first, but after you’ve dealt with a few feeding issues, you quickly realize just how valuable it is.
This system plays an important role in maintaining consistent print quality and reducing the chances of feeding issues during longer print runs.
And despite the added capability, the 19H2 remains surprisingly manageable from a space standpoint. The complete system has a footprint of approximately 48″ x 108″, allowing it to fit comfortably into many small and mid-sized production environments.
It’s also worth noting that the complete system weighs roughly around 800-900 lbs. That’s not unusual for commercial printing equipment, but it’s probably not something you and a friend are carrying into the shop on a Saturday afternoon.
So it’s something you’ll want to think ahead about before delivery day.
Another nice bonus? Like the 12H2, the 19H2 runs on standard 110V power and requires a 20A circuit. In other words, you won’t need specialized electrical work just to get the printer installed and running.
In many ways, that’s what makes the 19H2 so appealing. It delivers more print width, more production capacity, and more efficiency without dramatically increasing the space or infrastructure requirements.
For additional peace of mind, the printer also comes backed by a one-year warranty, including six months of coverage on the print heads.
In many ways, it’s the printer customers graduate to when they’ve proven their business model and are ready for the next step.
Why Buy from ColDesi?
At this point, you’ve got enough information to choose between the DTF 12H2 and the DTF 19H2 (or any other DTF printer you’re considering).
The only thing left is deciding WHO you buy it from.
Now, we know there are plenty of companies that will happily sell you a printer (and everything that goes with it).
But there is a bit of “but” here.
You see, anyone can take your order. The real test starts after that.
That’s when you’ll find out what kind of supplier you’ve chosen.
Will they answer the phone? Will they have the parts you need if something goes wrong? Will they still remember your name six months from now?
Those questions are exactly what shaped ColDesi!
So here’s what you can expect from us:
Training
First up, on our list, is training.
We don’t expect you to figure out your new DTF printer on your own.
We’ll TEACH you how to set it up, use it, and maintain it, so you can hit the ground running as they say.
And because everyone learns differently, we’ve created training in every format imaginable.
Whether you prefer videos, quick-start guides, step-by-step walkthroughs, practical demonstrations, podcasts, or articles, you’ll find a format that works for you.
U.S.-based technical support
When you need help, you don’t want to wait days for a reply.
Our U.S.-based technical support team is just a phone call or email away. Whether it’s a simple question or a technical issue, you’ll be talking to people who know these printers inside and out.
Financing
We offer flexible financing options, so you can get the printer you need today and pay for it over time.
That means you don’t have to put your business plans on hold while you save up for the full purchase price.
Thousands of successful customers
Over the years, we’ve helped thousands of customers get started with DTF printing. (or, for that matter, just about every other decoration method, too)
We’ve seen just about every question, challenge, and situation you can imagine.
And every new (or existing) customer benefits from that experience.
So whether you have a question, a concern, or run into a problem, chances are we’ve seen it before and can help!
Real Customer Reviews
Of course, you don’t have to take our word for it.
Our customers are our best proof.
Take a look at our reviews and see what our customers have to say. We think their experiences are the best reflection of WHO we are and HOW we do business.
Their success is what motivates us every day, and we’re proud of the relationships we’ve built with them.
There are plenty of other reasons our customers choose to work with us, but they all come back to the same thing: we’re here for you before, during, and long after the sale.
And who knows… maybe, a few months from now, you’ll be the one leaving a review that helps another business owner decide to choose ColDesi.
We certainly hope so.
Now there’s only one thing left to do.
Decide whether today’s the day you get started.
If it is, click the button below or give us a call (877-297-4123)
