Direct-to-film (DTF) is a revolution in the garment printing industry. This technology has transformed fashion design. Today, anyone can design a piece of garment such as t-shirts, tops, skirts, hoodies, caps, and pants with complex designs. It all starts with a DTF printer. The designs are printed on a thin film called PET and transferred to garments using a heat press.

Let’s discuss the direct-to-film printing in detail

1. Printing designs

You are allowed to select designs from the web and download them for printing. The design is printed on a PET film for transfer. The printer employs water-based inks that give sharp and crisp prints. It is the first step in design transfer and hence important. Having a quality printing machine is an added advantage for direct-to-film transfer. You get sharp prints for transfer.

2. Transferring designs

Designs are transferred from PET films to garments using the heat-and-press method. It is a simple process: The design is curated for transfer and placed in a heat-and-press machine. The transfer takes place under heat and pressure. The design is curated under heat and transferred under pressure. The design is pressed on fabric for a specific time.

How does direct-to-film printing work?

DTF printers are specialized machines designed to print PET films. These machines can download complex designs from the web and print those designs on PET films. In other words, you can choose designs for garment printing. They can be set anywhere for working. Another advantage of these machines is they don’t have any formal training for operating.

How to choose a direct-to-film printing machine?

Direct-to-film printing machines come in a wide range of designs. Depending on your needs, you can choose a compact or a large machine. For example, if you work from a small shop or home, you should invest in a compact-size machine that you can set up anywhere in your shop or home. Since you don’t need any training for the machine, you can operate it in a hassle-free manner.

What are the maintenance requirements of a direct-to-film printing machine?