DTF Printing Technology: A New Era in Textile Decoration

DTF printer

DTF or Direct-to-Film refers to a printing technique using special DTF CMYKW inks on thermal or cold release PET film, approximately 0.75 mm thick. In order for the colors to be visible on darker fabrics, white ink is needed, which serves as a base.

After the design is printed on the film, a heat-melting powder adhesive is applied to the still-wet ink. In smaller production processes this is usually done manually, while in industrial plants automatic solutions with vibrating machines are used. The powder must be applied as evenly as possible, and the excess is removed before the film enters the drying oven or heat press, where it is processed at around 160 degrees Celsius. In the case of using a heat press, it is recommended that the top plate does not touch the glue, but that a distance of 4 to 7 mm remains.

The film with the fully colored and pre-glued motif is then transferred to the pre-pressed fabric. This step, known as "fixing", takes about 20 seconds at a temperature of 160 to 170 degrees Celsius. Most manufacturers recommend using silicone paper on top to protect the print.

When the fabric reaches room temperature again, the cold release film can be removed, leaving only the printed motif behind. Heat release film for DTF is less common, but more efficient because it can be removed immediately after opening the heat press. You can order through our website high-quality DTF PET foil that can be removed when warm, and we use the same foil during production our DTF transfers. With both types of films, it is not necessary to remove excess material (so-called weeding), because only the printed part is glued to the fabric.

As a final step, a brief placement in a heat press is recommended to improve resistance to washing and rubbing. The DTF process works equally well with natural fibers such as cotton or silk, as well as with man-made materials such as polyester or blends. Thanks to the white ink layer, DTF prints look just as good on dark fabrics as they do on white or pastel textiles. The print is elastic and resistant to cracking.

Cutting DTF transfers

Specially designed printers with two or more print heads that can print on PET DTF films using pigment ink

Special pigment inks adapted for printing on DTF films.

Buy inks

Specialized films on which patterns are printed before being transferred to fabric.

Buy hot peel transfer rolls

A key component that allows the design to adhere to the fabric.

Buy powdered glue

Standard thermal press for applying the imager to t-shirts/fabric.

For beginners or those without design software, the DTFprint.hr online DTF Gangsheet designer is the perfect solution. With a user-friendly interface and a range of customization tools, creating DTF transfers has never been easier.

Upload one or more pdf print ready files, enter dimensions and order DTF transfers for textile products with automatic price calculation depending on the ordered length. More meters – more savings!