What is DTF Printing?
Direct-to-Film (DTF) is a relatively new technique in the printing industry that enables you to print artwork on special films for transfer. These films are then transferred with heat onto multiple surfaces, including cotton, polyester, blends, and even hard surfaces like wood or metal. The method is appreciated for its multi-material capability because it can be applied to a variety of fabrics.Advantages of DTF:
1. Wide Material Compatibility: DTF can be applied to nearly any fabric type, including natural, synthetic, and blended fabrics, offering greater material flexibility compared to sublimation.2. Sharp and vivid colors: The colors in DTF prints are bright, and it can handle small details with high fidelity.
3. Durability: DTF prints are made to last, standing up to multiple wash sessions without showing cracks or fading.
4. Simple process: DTF does not require pre-treatment, making the process faster and easier for high-volume orders.
Limitations of DTF:
1. Expense: DTF printing has a high startup cost due to specialized tools, which can make the upfront cost more expensive.2. Feel on Fabric: The film used can result in a stiffer feel and bulkier compared to sublimation.
What is Sublimation Printing?
Heat sublimation uses heat application to apply dye directly into synthetic fibers or polymer-coated items. It works by turning solid dye into gas, which then fuses with the fabric, creating a high-quality, seamless print.Advantages of Sublimation:
1. Natural fabric feel: Since the printing process becomes part of the fabric, the resulting prints do not affect the fabric feel.2. High-resolution, long-lasting images: This method offers high-resolution, colorful images that won’t fade away or peel over time.
3. Affordable for polyester garments: It's an perfect method for polyester clothing or items like personalized items like cups.
Limitations of Sublimation:
1. Restricted to specific fabrics: Sublimation is mainly used for polyester and specialized surfaces or polyester-coated surfaces, making it not applicable to cotton fabrics.2. Only works on light-colored materials: Sublimation only works on light-colored garments since the ink integrates with the material, and dark colors make the sublimation print less effective.
Conclusion:
DTF vs sublimation have their pros. If your goal is multi-fabric capability, DTF is an excellent choice. However, if you're mainly working with synthetic fabrics and desire a softer feel, sublimation is a great option.Find out more on - dtf printer
Contact:
Sublistar
Address: Xinghe World, No. 56, lingzhi Road, Xuanwu District, Nanjing, Jiangsu
Phone: 86-15850596034, 86-25-86628894
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
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