The DTF Printing Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

(DTF) Direct-to-film printing is one of the most popular digital printing techniques that has become the talk of the town because it has taken the custom apparel printing industry by storm. After all, who wouldn’t enjoy the benefit of transferring designs onto various surfaces, from garments to promotional products, within the blink of an eye?

You checked the compatibility of things required for DTF printing, you have the essentials, now comes the printing process. Let’s understand each step in detail.?

Step 1 - Digital Design Creation

Utilize graphic design software such as DesignO to design the desired design. Make sure the design has a high resolution and is suitable for printing.

Step 2 - Fabric Preparation

Choose the appropriate fabric for your project. The fabric should be compatible with DTF printing and pre-treated with a special coating that allows the ink to adhere properly. Apply a pre-treatment solution to the fabric for it to accept the ink better and enhance the color vibrancy and wash resistance of the print.

Step 3 - Printing On The Film

Load PET film into the printer trays. Begin by printing the entire image in white onto the PET film. Subsequently, adjust the printer settings to the desired colors and print the required image on top of the white layer. It is crucial to note that the image printed on the film must be a mirrored version of the final design intended for the fabric.

Step 4 - Powdering

In this step, a hot-melt powder is applied to a film that has an image printed on it. Remember to apply it evenly when the ink is wet and remove the excess powder carefully. You can either do it yourself by sprinkling ink on the print and then seesaw back and forth until the wet ink is covered with ink and shake off the excess or seek the help of an automatic powder shaker.

Step 5 - Melting the Powder

The next step is to melt the spread powder which can be done in various ways. You can either directly put the film with the printed image and applied powder in a curing oven and bake for 2 minutes which is the most common way to melt the powder or place it inside the heat press and bring the top of the press very close to the film but not touching it i.e. keep about 4 to 7 mm gap between the film and heat press top plate and heat for 2 to 5 minutes with the temperature around 160 to 170 degrees Celsius.

Step 6 - Pre-pressing

Pre-pressing fabric is an important part of the DTF printing process because any wrinkles in it will show up in the print. So, the fabric is kept in the heat press and pressurized under heat for about 2 to 5 seconds to flatten, smooth, and de-humidify it to make sure the image is transferred correctly from the film to the fabric.

Step 7 - DTF Transfer

One of the most crucial moments is when the print is transferred to the fabric. The PET film with melted powder is placed on the pre-pressed fabric in the heat press for a strong adhesion between the film and the fabric. The whole process is also called ‘curing’ which is carried out at a temperature of 160-170 degrees for 15-20 seconds approx., which causes the film to attach to the fabric firmly.

Step 8 - Cold Peel

Allow the heated fabric and film to cool down to room temperature and peel the film from the fabric.

Step 9 - Post-pressing

Although an optional step, it is recommended if you want the best results and high-performance parameters like wash and rub fastness. The final fabric with the transferred design is pressed in the heat press for around 10 to 15 seconds to produce a pretty amazing transfer.

Step 10 - Final Touches

The printed fabric is inspected for color accuracy, sharpness, and overall quality. Any defects or issues should be addressed before further processing. After the quality inspection, it can be cut and sewn into the final product, such as garments, home textiles, or promotional items. Perform a final quality check on the finished products to ensure that the printing has been successfully transferred without any flaws. The finished products are then packed appropriately for distribution and shipped to customers or retailers.

Want to explore the inside out of DTF printing, everything from the basics, process to advanced techniques??

Find everything here: https://www.designnbuy.com/blog/dtf-direct-to-film-printing-business-guide/

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