DTF is the next best thing in textiles

Discussion of direct-to-film (DTF, white ink digital heat transfer) printing vs. DTG (direct-to-garment, direct-to-garment) printing leads to the question: "What are the advantages of DTF technology?" While DTG printing can produce High quality full size prints that are very soft to the touch, but DTF printing definitely has some advantages that make it the perfect addition to your apparel printing business.
Direct film printing involves printing the design onto a special film, applying and melting a powder adhesive onto the printed film, and pressing the design onto the garment or merchandise. You'll need transfer film and hot-melt powder, as well as software to create your prints—no other special equipment required! Below, we discuss seven advantages of this new technology.

1. Applicable to a variety of materials

While direct-to-garment printing works best on 100% cotton, DTF works on many different garment materials: cotton, nylon, treated leather, polyester, 50/50 blends, and both light and dark fabrics. Transfers can even be applied to different types of surfaces such as luggage, shoes, and even glass, wood, and metal! You can expand your inventory by using DTF to apply your designs to various items.

2. No need for preprocessing

If you already own a DTG printer, the pre-processing process (not to mention drying time) is probably very familiar to you. The hot-melt power applied to the DTF transfer bonds the print directly to the material, meaning no pre-treatment is required.

3. Save white ink

DTF requires less white ink - about 40% white compared to 200% white for DTG printing. White ink tends to be the most expensive as it is used more and the pigment is titanium oxide, so reducing the amount of white ink used for printing can save a lot of money.

4. More durable than DTG printing

There's no denying that DTG prints have a soft, almost no-hand feel because the ink is applied directly to the garment. While DTF printing doesn't have the soft hand that DTG touts, the transfer is more durable. The direct-to-film washes well and is flexible - meaning they won't crack or peel, making them great for heavy-duty items.

5. Ease of application

Printing onto film transfers means you can place your designs on hard-to-reach or awkward surfaces. If the area can be heated, you can apply a DTF design to it! Since only heat is required to adhere the design, you can even sell the printed transfers directly to your customers and allow them to place the design on any surface or item of their choice, no special equipment required!

6. Faster production process

Since you can eliminate the steps of pre-treating and drying the garments, you can significantly reduce production time. This is great news for one-off or low-volume orders that have traditionally been unprofitable.

7. Helps diversify your inventory

While it may not be feasible to print a bunch of your most popular designs on every garment size or color, with DTF printing you can print popular designs ahead of time and use very little space for storage. Then, you can always have your best seller ready to apply to any outfit as desired!

While DTF printing still isn't a replacement for DTG, there are many reasons why DTF can be a great addition to your business.