How to Eliminate the “Stiff Plastic” Feel in DTF Transfers
One of the most common complaints about DTF (Direct-to-Film) transfers is that they can feel like stiff plastic. Many printers try to fix this by reducing the amount of white ink, but that often comes at the cost of lower white opacity, leaving designs looking faded or less vibrant.
The real solution lies in optimizing your curing process. The goal is to dry the ink as much as possible before applying the adhesive powder—usually by using high printer bed temperatures and, in some cases, additional heat on the guide table before the dryer. The challenge? Too much heat can cause small design details to dry out before powdering, leading to poor adhesion in fine areas.
That’s where Galactic White Powder from Imperial DTF changes the game. Unlike standard TPU adhesive powders that dry clear, Galactic White dries with a bright white finish, increasing white opacity by about 3% on the L scale*. This means you can reduce white ink usage by 20–25% and still maintain an impressive 88 L opacity*.
The result?
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Less powder needed thanks to lower ink coverage
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Softer, more flexible finish that feels closer to silicone or rubber, not rigid plastic
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Consistent vibrancy without sacrificing detail quality
If you want your DTF prints to look vibrant, feel soft, and stand out from the competition, Galactic White Powder offers a simple yet powerful upgrade to your production process. Now with the Galactic, we will tell you that shops with high humidity may not want to use the Galactic, the next best choice is the Starbase DTF Adhesive.