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DTF printing, or Direct-to-film printing, consists of applying a design onto a piece of PET film with a special coating that aids in transferring the design. This process uses water-based inks and a unique adhesive powder to create a custom printing solution.
The design on the PET film is then heat-transferred onto fabric with a heat press machine. This method is known for its durability and results in detailed and vibrant designs. DTF printing is the perfect solution for quickly customising clothing and garments. Typically, DTF printing is used to add graphics to garments, but most commonly DTF printing is used to add names, numbers, and logos to sports kits.
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How Does DTF Printing Work?
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If you're curious about Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing and how to create stunning custom designs, this guide breaks it down step by step in easy-to-understand terms.
1. Prepare The Design
Start with graphic design software like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or CorelDRAW. Create or tweak your design and save it as a high-resolution PNG (300 dpi or higher) with a transparent background. This ensures your artwork looks sharp and is compatible with DTF printing.
2. Print The Design on Film
Load the special PET film into a DTF printer, which uses unique inks (CMYK and white). The design is printed in reverse, and then a base colour on top, usually white.
3. Add Adhesive Powder
Right after printing, DTF adhesive powder (a special bonding agent) is spread over the wet ink. This powder sticks to the printed design.
4. Cure the Adhesive
The film is heated which melts the adhesive powder and prepares it for transfer. This is usually done in a curing oven
Transfer the Design to Fabric
Once the curing is complete, cut out your transfer from the sheet and apply using a heat press. Immediately after pressing, remove the PET film and reveal your design.
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What are the Benefits of DTF Printing?
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One of the most significant advantages of DTF printing is that it can be printed on various fabrics, including textile materials such as cotton, polyester, and blends, as well as non-textiles such as wood and metal. DTF can also handle fine lines, gradients, and complex designs.
Compared to other methods, DTF produces minimal waste. The process is efficient because you only print what you need. Moreover, many DTF inks are water-based, which is a more environmentally friendly option.
DTF printing allows for easy customisation, which is perfect for in-store promotions.
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Screen Printing transfers a stencilled design onto a flat surface using a mesh screen, ink, and a squeegee. It is primarily used for fabrics, paper, plastic, glass, and metal.
The designs can be one or several colours; however, each different colour has to be applied in individual layers, and separate stencils must be used for each.
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DTF Printing vs Screen Printing?
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Colour Options and Vibrancy
Compared to screen printing, DTF allows you to print full-colour designs, including gradients, photorealistic images, and intricate details. Unlike screen printing, you do not need to apply each colour separately, which increases setup time and cost.
Production Speed and Cost
Each DTF print job requires low setup costs, making it much more cost-effective. For ongoing projects, adhesive powder and film costs should be considered. Screen Printing setup is more costly due to the time, effort and costs to create each stencil.
Fabric versatility
DTF offers a wider variety of fabrics to print on, including challenging fabrics such as nylon and textured fabric, which can prove challenging for screen printing. On the other hand, screen printing allows you to print on ceramics and glass as heat is not used.
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How Do Our Customers Use DTF Printing?
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- Customisation booth at events, for quickly adding graphics to garments in minutes.
- Adding team numbers, names and logos to sports kits.
- Promoting a new fashion release or event by offering customisation in-store.
- Marketplace sellers: Keeping low stock of garments and printing them as required.
If you’d like to learn more or have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out via email or phone. Alternatively, order your DTF Gang Sheets today from Aspinline for the highest quality and convenience with our trusted DTF Transfer Printing Services.
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