DTG (Direct to Garment), printing is being debated. DTG printing can produce high-quality full-size prints with vivid colors and an incredibly soft feel in the hand, but DTF printing has certain benefits that will make it a great addition to your garment printing business.

Ricoh states that DTF doesn’t replace DTG, but does provide significant benefits.

Direct to film printing is the process of printing a design on a special film and then applying and melting a powder adhesive. Finally, the design is pressed onto the merchandise or garment. You will need transfer film and hot melt powder, as well as the software to create your print – no other special equipment is needed! Here are seven benefits to this new technology.

1. You can use a variety of materials

Direct to garment printing is best for 100% cotton. DTF can be used on many other garment materials, including nylon, treated leather and polyester. It also works well on 50/50 blends and light and dark fabrics. You can also apply the transfers to luggage, shoes, glass, wood and metal. DTF lets you apply your designs to many different merchandise.

2. Pretreatment is not necessary

If you are familiar with DTG printing, the pretreatment steps and drying time will be much easier. Because the DTF’s hot melt power bonds the print directly with the material, there is no need to pre-treat.

3. Use less white Ink

DTF requires less white ink – about 40% white versus 200% white for DTG printing. White ink tends be more expensive due to the higher amount of it used. Also, the pigment Titanium Oxide is the most expensive. This means that reducing the amount used for printing can help you save money.

4. DTG prints are more durable

There’s no denying that DTG prints have soft, barely-there hand feel because the ink is applied directly to the garment. While DTF prints don’t have the same soft hand feel that DTG can boast, the transfers are more durable. Direct to film transfers wash well, and are flexible – meaning they won’t crack or peel, making them great for heavy-use items.

5. Simple application

You can print onto a film transfer to place your design on difficult-to-reach surfaces. You can also apply DTF designs to any area that can be heated. You can sell your printed transfers directly and let your customers lay the design on any surface or item that they desire. All it takes to stick the design is heat!

6. Production process faster

You can reduce the time it takes to dry and pretreat your garments. That’s great news for one-off or small-volume orders that traditionally wouldn’t be profitable.

7. Helps keep your inventory more versatile

DTF printing can be used to print popular designs on a variety of sizes and colors. While this might not be possible, it is possible to store the prints in a small area. This allows you to keep your top-sellers ready to go on any garment.

While DTF printing still isn’t a replacement for DTG, there are lots of reasons why DTF can be a great addition to your business. You can easily add this technology to your business with the RICOH Ri 1000 DTG printers. With a simple software update, you can add DTF printing to an existing DTG printer.

Ricoh has provided information on DTF.

www.ricoh.com.au