Why direct-to-film printing?
A quick guide to DTF — the advantages, and the kit that makes it work.
Direct-to-film printing produces high-quality, durable prints on almost any fabric without pre-treatment — versatile and cost-effective for short and long runs alike, with low waste and a soft hand feel.
Versatile on any fabric
Cotton, polyester, silk and blends — from fashion to sportswear.
High-quality, durable prints
Vibrant, high-resolution images that resist fading and cracking, wash after wash.
No pretreatment needed
Unlike direct-to-garment, DTF needs no fabric pretreatment — fewer steps, less time.
Fast at any scale
Streamlined for both small and large runs without compromising quality.
Cost-effective
Lower setup costs and less labour, especially for small to medium runs.
Easy to use
A straightforward process and equipment, accessible even with limited experience.
Eco-friendly options
Eco-friendly ink options meet the growing demand for sustainable printing.
Low waste
Uses only the ink and adhesive each print needs.
Flexible design changes
Easy to switch designs between prints — ideal for custom or limited runs.
Soft hand feel
Prints stay soft to the touch, which matters in apparel.
An industrial DTF line is built from seven key components:
Here’s what each one does — tap any item to expand.
DTF PET film
The transparent PET film is the base of the whole process: artwork is printed onto it, powdered, then heat-pressed onto fabric. Films vary by size, colour and coating — and by two key specs, single- vs double-coated and hot- vs cold-peel — so you match the film to your inks and powder.
- Made from PET (polyethylene terephthalate): strong, stable and transparent.
- Acts as the intermediary — designs print on the film, not directly on fabric.
- Holds both ink and adhesive powder cleanly until transfer.
- Works across cotton, polyester, silk and blended fabrics.
- Delivers bright, detailed, wash-durable prints.
DTF printer software (RIP)
Software prepares and manages your artwork and drives the printer for accurate, repeatable output.
- Design preparation: layout, resizing and colour management.
- Colour profiling so screen and print match.
- RIP integration to convert artwork into printer-ready data.
- Control over resolution, ink-drop size and speed.
- Workflow tools such as batch processing and queue management.
- Broad compatibility with printers and fabrics.
Hot-melt adhesive powder
Applied over the wet ink, the powder melts during curing and bonds the print to the fabric.
- Bonds ink to fabric when heated.
- Types vary by particle size, melt point and colour.
- Spread evenly over the ink, then shake off the excess.
- Set in a curing oven or press before transfer.
- Works across cotton, polyester and blends.
- Key to vibrant, sharp, wash-resistant results.
DTF printer inks
Water-based pigment inks formulated for DTF, in CMYK plus white.
- CMYK + white — white is the base layer on dark fabrics.
- High-resolution, opaque and colour-fast.
- Adhere to the film and transfer cleanly to fabric.
- Durable through washing and stretching.
- Cured with heat before transfer.
- Store cool and dry; shake to prevent settling.
Automatic powder shaker
Distributes adhesive powder evenly over the printed film, automatically.
- Spreads powder uniformly for consistent adhesion.
- Automation improves consistency and speed.
- Sits between printing and curing in the workflow.
- Boosts productivity and cuts labour and mess.
Curing oven
Melts and sets the powder and ink on the film before it is pressed onto fabric.
- Cures ink and adhesive together.
- Even, consistent temperature control.
- Much faster than air-drying.
- Available in sizes for small to industrial output.
- Proper curing means durable, vibrant prints.
Heat press machine
Transfers the design from film to fabric with controlled heat and pressure — typically 150–160 °C for around 15–20 seconds — then you peel hot or cold.
- Position the film print-side down on the fabric.
- Apply controlled heat and pressure.
- Heat activates the adhesive to bond with the fibres.
- Peel hot or cold depending on the film.
- Consistent heat and pressure are critical to quality.