Expanded Gamut Inks in DTF Printing: Benefits, Limitations, and Real-World Challenges

Anyone working in DTF printing has encountered artwork or brand colors that simply don’t print the way they appear on screen—or fail to match the selected PMS color. This challenge stems from the inherent limitations of the CMYK color gamut, which restricts the range of colors that can be accurately reproduced.

As a result, many DTF printer manufacturers and RIP software providers promote expanded gamut ink systems, often using 8-color ink configurations (such as RGBO or additional spot colors). On paper, these systems promise improved color accuracy, fewer substitutions, and a wider printable gamut. But in practice, expanded gamut inks for DTF are far more complex than they initially appear.

So, are expanded gamut inks the ultimate solution for DTF color matching—or is the reality more complicated?

Expanded Gamut Inks and Color Profiling in DTF

One of the biggest challenges with expanded gamut ink systems is accurate color profiling. Compared to standard CMYK setups, 8-ink DTF printers require significantly more profiling patches to achieve reliable color accuracy. This increases profiling time, complexity, and cost.

There is also continued skepticism within the industry regarding the overall effectiveness of expanded gamut ink sets—especially when artwork is not properly prepared. In many cases, the most effective use of expanded gamut inks requires pre-adjusting artwork before ripping, rather than relying solely on the RIP to resolve color gaps.

The Importance of Advanced RIP Software

For shops running print-on-demand DTF workflows, tools like Wasatch SoftRIP’s spot color replacement can be extremely valuable. This feature allows operators to remap problematic colors without editing source artwork—an essential advantage when handling files from multiple clients and design sources.

Many newer or lower-cost RIP platforms entering the DTF market lack these advanced tools and intuitive interfaces. While the rise of DTF has introduced numerous RIP solutions, few offer the mature color management capabilities found in top-tier platforms like Wasatch. We are not saying Wasatch is the only one with deep color management capabilities, but if you ask our opinion, this is the best system we've worked with for DTF printing.  In addition Wasatch's support is second to none!

Light Ink Sets vs. Expanded Gamut Inks

There is growing evidence that light ink sets—such as LC, LM, LY, and LK (light black)—can outperform expanded gamut inks in certain DTF applications. Light inks help reduce grain and improve smoothness in low-saturation and pastel color areas, where RGBO inks often provide little to no benefit.

For many DTF printers, light ink configurations may deliver better overall print quality and consistency than expanded gamut ink sets—especially for apparel graphics with subtle gradients and neutral tones.

Optimizing Ink Sets for DTF Color Gamut

Achieving the best possible color gamut in DTF printing depends heavily on the base CMYK ink formulation. The CMYK set defines the foundation of your printable gamut, and simply adding RGBO or spot colors does not guarantee expansion.

• If your CMYK inks are dark or heavy, your color reach may be limited, and expanded gamut inks can help fill those gaps.
• If your CMYK inks are already well-balanced and accurate, expanded gamut inks may provide minimal improvement.

Successful implementation depends on having an experienced color profiling specialist build a precise ICC profile.

Targeting Specific PMS Gaps

Understanding which PMS colors your CMYK set cannot reach is critical. Expanded gamut or spot inks should be chosen to address specific color deficiencies, not added blindly. In short, CMYK ink quality determines whether expanded gamut inks are worthwhile.

Gray Balance, Light Black, and Neutral Accuracy

Gray balance is often overlooked when implementing expanded gamut inks in DTF printing. Achieving cool, neutral grays at low saturation can be difficult when relying solely on RGBO inks.

Adding a light black (LK) channel improves gray balance by allowing higher ink coverage in lighter tones without introducing grain. Additionally, increasing gray-area patch sampling during profiling significantly improves neutral accuracy.

It’s also important to note that many color targets—especially light saturation colors—do not benefit from RGBO inks at all. In these cases, light ink sets often provide superior gamut expansion and smoother output.

Printhead Performance, Maintenance, and Ink Consumption

Printhead longevity and performance—particularly with Epson i3200 printheads—remain major concerns in DTF printing. Over time, ink behavior changes, leading to color shifts that require relinearization and manual ink reduction.

Eight-Color Systems and Nozzle Health

In 8-color DTF systems, nozzle maintenance becomes even more critical. Expanded gamut inks are consumed far less frequently than CMYK inks, increasing the risk of clogs if those channels are not fired regularly.

One of the ways to address this issue is with wider confidence (color) strips, which help maintain nozzle health and consistent ink flow across all channels. This has been real-world tested by Wasatch SoftRIP.  They can pull this off with decades of experience in working with multiple digital printers and successfully managing the expanded gamut inks.

Final Thoughts: Are Expanded Gamut Inks Worth It for DTF?

Expanded gamut inks can offer benefits in specific DTF printing scenarios, but they are not a universal solution. Without proper profiling, advanced RIP tools, high-quality CMYK inks, and diligent maintenance, expanded gamut systems can introduce more challenges than improvements.

For many DTF printers, light ink sets, accurate profiling, and robust RIP software may deliver better color consistency and print quality than simply adding more ink channels.

Choosing the right ink configuration ultimately comes down to your CMYK foundation, target colors, workflow, and RIP capabilities—not marketing promises alone.

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While this article resembles one we published a few weeks ago, we realized that some of the information needed to be corrected or clarified. A few readers pointed this out—especially our friends at Wasatch Computer Technology—whose deep experience with color management and digital printing we greatly respect. We’re grateful for their insight and guidance. We never want to post inaccurate information or mislead anyone.  Feel free if you have insight, please feel free to leave a comment in the form below.

Thank you Wasatch for your support!