What is DTF Printing

Direct-to-film or DTF in a textile context means printing with dedicated DTF CMYK inks onto a hot or cold peel PET film with app 0.75 mm thickness. White ink is required as a foundation to ensure the colours also stand out on dark fabrics.

The printed film gets covered in a hot-met adhesive powder while the ink is still wet. In smaller operations, this is usually done manually. For industrial scale productions, automated shaker solutions are available. The powder needs to be applied as evenly as possible, with any excess being removed. Then the film is processed in a curing oven or heat press at about 160 degrees Celsius. In a heat press, the top plate may not touch the glue in the process, a 4 to 7 mm gap is recommended.

The film with the full-coloured, pre-glued motive is then transferred to the pre-pressed fabric. This process is also referred to as “curing”, and it takes about 20 seconds on a 160 to 170 degrees heat press. Most vendors recommend a silicon sheet on top to protect the print.

When the fabric has reached room temperature again, a cool peel film can be removed, leaving only the printed motive behind. Hot peel film for DTF is less common, but this is more efficient, as it may be peeled off immediately after opening the heat press. With either film, weeding is not required, as only printed parts have been glued and therefore adheres to the fabric.

As a last step most experts recommend spending a few seconds post-processing in the heat press to enhance washability and rub-fastness. The DTF process works with natural fibres like cotton or silk just as well as artificial materials like polyester or rayon. With its white ink layer, DTF prints look just as good on dark and strong coloured fabrics just as on white and pastel textiles. The print itself is stretchable and does not crack easily.