Why DTF Could Be the Right Choice — And What to Watch Out For

In today’s rapidly evolving apparel and promotional products industry, printing technology plays a major role in how brands bring their designs to life. As customer expectations rise and customization becomes the norm, innovative print methods continue to reshape the market. One of the most impactful advancements in recent years is DTF printing. There are many in the industry that are not big fans of the feel of the transfer, but there are print shops that are putting out some really great-feeling and looking prints.  DTF has quickly earned a reputation for versatility, durability, and exceptional color quality. 

In this Imperial Insider article, we break down what DTF printing is, how the process works, and the benefits it brings to businesses of all sizes, helping you determine whether you are ready for a printer and what to look for when choosing the best DTF printer for your workflow.

What Is DTF (Direct-to-Film) Printing ?

Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing is a method where artwork is printed directly onto specially coated PET film using specialized DTF inks, DTF adhesive powder and a dedicated DTF printer. After printing, the adhesive is applied, the print is cured, and then the transfer can be applied to the garment or substrate using a heat press.

This process produces:

• High-resolution, ultra-detailed graphics

• Vivid, multi-colored transfer

• Long-lasting prints and can be applied on numerous materials and substrates.

• Crisp edges and excellent wash durability

Whether for apparel brands, print shops, or hobbyists, DTF printing offers professional-grade results with impressive consistency.

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How DTF Printing Can Help Expand Your Business.

Let’s take a closer look at why Direct-to-Film printing has surged in popularity so quickly.

1. Works on Nearly Any Fabric

A major advantage of DTF transfers is their ability to bond to virtually any fabric—cotton, polyester, spandex, nylon, blends, and more. While materials like polyester or stretchy fabrics can be challenging for methods such as screen printing or DTG, DTF handles them with ease, making it one of the most versatile printing options available.

2. Perfect for Short Runs and On-Demand Printing

DTF is ideal for small-batch customization and quick-turn jobs that are too small for screen printing. There’s no need for screens, pretreatment, or complex setups. Even if you do not have a DTF printer, you can send the small jobs to a local printer and get the prints done economically, saving your shop hours of labor, streamlining your production.

3. Cost-Effective and Fast

With minimal preparation and efficient production steps, DTF offers an affordable print method without sacrificing quality. Turnaround times are quick, making it a strong option for businesses offering on-demand, personalized, or limited-edition apparel.

4. Expand Customization Options for Your Customers

Traditionally, many print shops avoided low-quantity or specialty jobs—like neck labels, names and numbers, hard-to-print items, or one-off athletic bags—because the setup for methods like screen printing was too time-consuming. With DTF, those barriers disappear. The process makes it easy to take on small, detailed, or specialty projects, allowing you to expand your product offerings and provide more customization options for your customers.

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Who Should Use DTF? 

DTF printing is an excellent fit for:

• Small businesses scaling their custom apparel offering

• Local print shops looking for a flexible, all-fabric solution

• Traditional Screen Printers that may have difficulty finding skilled labor, this technology does not require skilled labor to heat-press transfers.

• Fashion brands produce limited drops or seasonal designs, allowing them to purchase less at a time, but more frequently.
  
• Entrepreneurs creating custom merchandise or niche collections

Because DTF makes it easy to switch designs, colors, and styles with minimal downtime, it works especially well for businesses that frequently update their branding or product lines with smaller runs.

 

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Things to Consider Before Buying a DTF Printer

Whether you’re running a full-scale print shop or starting a side hustle, investing in a DTF printer requires careful planning. Here are the key factors to consider before making a purchase:

1. Determine Your Printing Output

Before buying, assess how many DTF prints you expect to produce each week. If you already have an established customer base, estimate your weekly production needs. If you can’t confidently determine a number, it may be wiser to hold off on purchasing a printer and instead work with a reputable local provider for DTF transfers. This approach lets you test the market without a major upfront investment.

2. Set Your Budget

While low-cost hobby printers are available, they often fall short in quality, reliability, and support. Professional-grade printers are built for consistent, high-volume production and come with service options. For production shops, consider allocating at least $25,000 or more for a printer that meets industry standards. Investing in quality equipment upfront can save time, money, and headaches in the long run.

3. Plan Your Workspace

DTF printers require a controlled environment to operate efficiently and maintain longevity. Consider the following:

• Humidity: Printheads need some moisture, but too much humidity can negatively affect DTF inks, adhesive powders, and film. Poor humidity control can shorten the life of your printer components.

• Temperature: Extreme heat or cold can harm printheads and cause water-based inks to freeze or degrade. Maintaining a stable, moderate temperature is essential.

• Power Requirements: Larger DTF production machines may require 30–60 amps of power. Ensure your facility can safely accommodate the printer, dryer, and any additional equipment.

• Ventilation: DTF inks, adhesive powders, and dryers emit fine particles and VOCs. Never operate these machines in a home office or confined space. Use proper 

• ventilation or an industrial exhaust system to keep the workspace safe.

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  Cleanliness: Dust and debris can seriously damage printers. Dust can block airflow, cause overheating, clog printheads, and interfere with sensors, rollers, and moving parts. Keep your workspace clean to protect your investment.(as you can see in this image, this customer did not take care of their printer very well)

By carefully evaluating your output needs, budget, and workspace conditions, you can make a smart, long-term investment in a DTF printer that meets your business goals and ensures consistent, high-quality results.

 

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What to Consider When Choosing a DTF Printer

Choosing the right DTF printer starts with understanding your goals, workflow, and production demands. Here are the key factors to evaluate:

1. Production Volume

Consider whether you're handling high-volume daily orders or smaller custom batches. Your expected workload will determine the printer size, speed, and durability you need. Be cautious of exaggerated production claims—if someone says their two-head printer can produce 200 feet per hour, request a live demonstration. With current print technology, a two-head setup running that fast will not deliver consistent, high-quality results.

If you don’t require heavy production, you may benefit from a slower, lower-maintenance model like the Mimaki or EPSON DTF printers. Just keep in mind that these systems typically lock you into their ink sets, and their output speed is slower than many newer DTF units on the market.

2. Print Quality Requirements

If your brand relies on vibrant colors and crisp detail, choose a printer known for producing sharp, high-definition prints. The most reliable way to judge quality is to ask distributors to print samples using your own artwork. You want to print large color boxes to see if there is banding.  Sure the distributor is going to print things that they know will print well.

Although many manufacturers claim superior results, most DTF printers use similar printhead technology. Find out which printheads a unit uses and how much replacements cost—this can significantly impact long-term expenses.

3. Ease of Use

DTF printers vary widely in setup complexity. Some are nearly plug-and-play, while others require more technical expertise. Select a system that aligns with your skill level and available training resources.

A commonly overlooked factor is the RIP software. Many DTF RIP programs offer limited color control, relying heavily on saturation curves that can distort your overall color accuracy. While most printers use CMYK plus white, newer machines may include additional color channels. If so, make sure you have a designer who knows how to properly prepare artwork to take advantage of them.

Finally, be cautious with newly released models. It’s often wise to wait a few months for early issues to be resolved. In many cases, manufacturers do not thoroughly test new printers in real production environments—which means early adopters often become the testers.

4. Budget and Features

Consider:

• Print width - Larger print area is not always better. Some of the 48" printers have the same printheads as the smaller units, and the DTF ink does not have a long open air time, so the larger units open up some additional challenges. Too small of print width, means slow production and limit your print size.

• Ink configuration: Can you use anyone's inks, or are you subject to their pricing and availability. We've seen in the past some of these larger overseas companies run out of ink, and if you are stuck on their ink, well....you're stuck.
  

• Support: You want to make sure that the company you are buying from will back it up. At Imperial DTF we use DTF Tech Gurus which specialize in DTF printers, and every printer we have sold is still in production.  

We don’t believe in speaking negatively about other printers or manufacturers. Our technicians have worked with many different models, each with its own strengths and limitations. What we do want to emphasize to you as a potential buyer is the importance of doing thorough testing before making a decision.

Don't buy the inexpensive units, they just are a waste of time and money. Instead find a good production DTF printer and have them supply your transfers until you are at a level where you can see the return on your investment and buy a production DTF printer (we really like ours! X5 we think you will too)

Test the actual production speed, have your artwork printed on the machine, and talk to existing customers who own the same model you’re considering. Make sure they’ve had their printer for at least six months—most machines operate smoothly during the initial period, but true reliability becomes clear over time.

It’s a lot like buying a car: you don’t really understand its quality until it’s been driven for 50,000 miles.