What is the DTF?
DTF (Direct To Film) is an innovative textile personalisation technique which aims to produce colour prints on a film and then transfer them directly onto fabric. Whether it is polyester, cotton, silk or synthetic fibres, the DTF printing technique can be adapted to all your materials. Since its release in 2020, this innovative process is a real revolution in the textile personalisation market!
Requirements for printing in DTF
As with any textile design and printing process, you will need equipment to get started. We offer you complete DTF solutions with all the necessary equipment.
We offer training as well as installation on the purchase of a DTF Kit!
The DTF printer You will obviously need a DTF printer. There are several models of printers that you can choose from depending on your monthly quantities and needs.
Logiciel : Pour imprimer, il est nécessaire d'avoir un logiciel comme Acrorip ou digitalactory pour gérer votre visuel et pour l'importer dans l'imprimante. Via le logiciel, vous contrôlerez également le niveau des encres, la taille du visuel, ainsi que tous les paramètres vous permettant un résultat d’impression optimal.
DTF inks: These are pigmented inks, specially designed for DTF printing. The result? Bright, vivid colours, a fine, soft feel, excellent resistance and washout properties, and stretchy, crack-free printing. Our inks are compatible with a wide variety of DTF printers and films.
DTF film: DTF film is essential for printing your graphics. It serves as a "transport" to transfer your visuals onto your textile supports.
Hot melt powder : DTF printing powder is white or black in colour. It acts as an adhesive material that binds the colour pigments of the print to the fabric fibres. Black powder is mainly used on dark textiles to avoid the appearance of slight traces of adhesive residue.
Curing oven : This allows the visual to harden once it has been powdered. After this step, your hardened visual will be ready to be transferred to the textile support.
heat press The heat press is used to transfer the visuals from the film to your textile support.
Not sure if you want to invest? Order the DTF Ready to Press! Send us your files, we take care of everything. All you have to do is press your visuals onto the media of your choice!
Retrouvez le Prêt à Presser sur notre site internet !
Print DTF in 4 steps:
Step 1: Set up and start printing. The printer takes care of everything, the colours will be printed first and then a layer of white will be applied on top.
Etape 2 : Appliquez de la poudre thermofusible sur le visuel imprimé.
The application of the powder can be automatic if you have a powder applicator connected to your DTF printer. If this is not the case you must apply the powder to the film evenly while the print is still wet.
/Do not touch the ink while it is still wet.
Step 3: In this step the aim is to harden the hot melt powder by heating the film with your visual on it. To do this you only need a curing oven that you can connect directly to your printer (depending on the model) so that it is automatic.
Tip: If you do not have an oven, you can use the heat press. Without putting the top tray in contact with your film, heat it for 2min at 160-170°C with a gap of 4 to 7mm.
Etape 4 : Dans cette dernière étape vous pouvez procéder au pressage du visuel sur votre support avec des conditions de pressage différentes selon la matière du textile que vous utilisez :
- - Cotton, 8 to 12 seconds at 160°C
- - Polyester, 20 secondes à une température de 130°C
Press and then let your textile cool down to peel.
The Benefits
Le DTF dispose de nombreux avantages par rapport à ses concurrents comme le DTG, le flocage ou encore la sérigraphie. Le procédé est plus rapide et plus simple que ces différentes techniques. Vous verrez ensuite disparaître les étapes de découpe et d'échenillage (Flocage) l'étape de pré-traitement (DTG).
L'impression DTF reproduit également les photos, dessins en qualité photographique avec des couleurs lumineuses et éclatantes avec un résultat très professionnel.
Vous constaterez également une réelle différence au niveau du toucher par rapport aux autres techniques d'impression. Le DTF offre en effet un rendu fin et beaucoup plus léger, proche du rendu obtenu en Sérigraphie ou en Sublimation. L'élasticité est également un point fort sur les visuels DTF, vous pourrez étirer votre textile sans craindre que le visuel ne craque ou se déchire.
Créadhésif currently offers quality DTF inks that are compatible with most DTF printers. Our inks are known in particular for their effectiveness in bringing out the most delicate colours on light and dark coloured fabrics. The white provides the appropriate density for the printed colours with optimum ink consumption.
Generally speaking, it can be said that DTF printing allows us to free ourselves from most of the constraints that are often encountered in other textile printing techniques. The versatility of the textile materials on which it is possible to work is a real advantage. The cost of DTF printing is the lowest on the market (0.50 € ex. VAT for an A4 format) thus offering a higher profit margin. In conclusion, DTF printing can be considered as the best solution for textile marking.
Retrouvez nos fiches coût de revient sur notre site !
Need more information on DTF? We offer free online training (webinars) and exclusive videos on Youtube :
- - Webinar - The DTF Technique
- - Webinar - DTF Ready-to-Press
- - Créa’TV – Le transfert DTF, c’est quoi ?
- - Créa’TV – Présentation Kit DTF 4 têtes format 30cm
- - Créa'TV - Interview : Le DTF en 13 questions
- - Créa’Express – 1 min & 4 étapes pour personnaliser en DTF !
- - Créa’Tuto – Réalisation d’un marquage en transfert DTF
Pour vous inscrire aux Webinars, formations en ligne !
Pour accéder aux tutos Youtube
Pour accéder à nos Podcasts
Please contact us if you have any questions about customisation in DTF on 01 34 33 01 55.
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See you soon,
The Team Créadhésif