Quality Matters
Not all DTF prints are equal. There are several key components that have to work together to achieve the highest quality print. Film, ink, powder, and proper curing are some of the most important ingredients to this recipe. Each one can make the difference on a print that WOWS or one that is just BLAH. We will break down each components and explain what you should look for in each.
Inks
DTF ink is not the same as inkjet ink or sublimation ink. It is a formulated waterbased ink. There are two key points to DTF ink. Your ICC profile has to be written for the ink you are using and the film you will be printing on. If you try to use an ICC profile that was not written for either of these, your colors will be off. You want a profile that gives you the most accurate colors that replicates what is on your computer screen. This ensures a seamless process between your artwork and rip program. The second is viscosity. There is a fine line between how thin the ink is and still keeping opacity. This is super important on your white ink. NOT ALL INKS ARE THE SAME!! Too thick and it will clog your printheads. Too thin and it will not block the color of the garment. You want the thinnest formula with still keeping blocking properties. Our inks provide the most color vibrancy while still keeping a soft hand and stretchability. We will touch on stretchability later when we discuss powder.
Films
Cold peel. Hot Peel. Matte. Glossy. There are many different options to choose from. Trust us, we have been in the DTF market since the beginning, and we have tried them all. We were looking for the best hot peel film we could find. Production is key to staying profitable. If you have to remove the garment from the heat press, let cool, peel, put back on heat press, then post press, you have just doubled and tripled your production time. Our hot peel film allows you to peel as soon as your heat press comes up and immediately do your post press while the shirt is still on the press. It is a buttery, smooth peel on press. Couple this with a post press using uncoated butcher paper, it will provide a matte finish that has a slight texture to it. This helps to ensure a soft hand that does not feel like heat press vinyl.
Powder
DTF powder is what provides the adhesion and stretchability that is essential for a wide range of fabrics. Cotton, blends, 100% polyester. No problem. No need to change your formulas for each. Our powder recipe delivers both. Knowing your powder will adhere to multiple different fabric types is key, while still offering a soft buttery hand is extremely important. This will ensure no color degradation and your print will stay on the shirt wash after wash. We do at least 10 test washes periodically to make sure we are still getting the best adhesion possible. If properly cured, our prints will last 50+ washes with no degradation. It WILL outlast screen printing. Next point is stretch and rebound. The powder dictates how much stretch the print can withstand and rebound back to original shape. This is most important when dealing with 100% polyester materials. Since poly is a much more stretchy fabric, being able to have the print stretch and rebound ensures no cracking, like you see in screen printing.