Imperial DTF X5: Lower Cost of Ownership, Higher Long-Term Profitability

In the competitive world of Direct-to-film (DTF) printing, long-term cost of ownership matters just as much as the upfront purchase price. For production-focused print shops, ongoing expenses such as supplies, maintenance, replacement parts, and downtime directly affect profitability.

The Imperial DTF X5 stands apart from other DTF printers by dramatically reducing operating costs while giving businesses full control over maintenance and service. Compared to proprietary systems, the X5 is built for flexibility, redundancy, and real-world production efficiency.

1. Lower Ink & Supply Costs = Higher Profit Margins

One of the largest recurring expenses in DTF printing is ink—especially white ink. While all DTF systems rely on pigment inks, the Imperial X5 delivers a major cost advantage. There are also other consumables that the manufacturers try and tie you down on, but Ink is the big one.  They will also blame third-party supplies for problems down the road you may be experiencing issues.  We hear all the time printer manufacturers blaming the film or dryer for issues that might be ink or printer related.

Broader Ink Compatibility

Unlike proprietary DTF printers that require expensive, brand-locked inks, the X5 is engineered to work with a wide range of high-quality, affordable ink options without sacrificing performance.

Imperial DTF's Acolyte and Master Series inks deliver premium results at a significantly lower cost than Mimaki, STS, or Epson-branded inks.

Lower Cost Per Print

Because ink represents a large portion of per-print costs, the ability to source economical, high-quality inks directly improves margins on every shirt, transfer, or decal.

This flexibility also protects your business from:

• Ink shortages
• Tariffs or supply chain disruptions
• Sudden price increases

You are free to choose the ink that best fits your budget and production needs. We hope that you will purchase our inks, but we know we have to earn that right not rely on a computer chip in a cartridge to force you to buying our ink.

2. Affordable Epson i3200 Printheads — Easy to Replace

Printhead replacement is often the single most expensive maintenance cost in digital printing. 

Lower Printhead Costs

The X5 uses Epson i3200 printheads, which can be purchased from Digiprint Supplies for approximately $900 per head. We know there are some distributors that will charge $2000 for the same printheads - that's excessive. In fact when we referred a customer to Digiprint Supplies a competitor told our customer that they were knock-off printheads, or refurbished printhead - simply not true!!  Digiprint Supplies, from our experience, has always been a very reputable company and has always done us right!

Lower Total Cost of Ownership

With the X5, operators can replace printheads and numerous other parts themselves using step-by-step video guides and phone support. Most of the time eliminates:

• Technician labor fees
• Travel costs
• Extended downtime
• Markups on replacement parts

By handling maintenance in-house, shops save time, money, and frustration while keeping production moving.

3. Industry-Leading Technical Support for Printer, Shaker & Dryer

Imperial DTF takes a fundamentally different approach to customer support.

Full User Empowerment

In partnership with DTF Tech Gurus, we have developed over 60 training and maintenance videos covering the complete DTF workflow—printer, shaker, and dryer (an area many manufacturers ignore). We empower the operators to service their own equipment, including:

• Printhead alignment and printhead replacement
• Headboard, and motherboard replacement
• Damper and filter replacement
• Pump, sensors, auger motor, belt, and part replacement
• Routine printer, cap station, filtration system, and dryer maintenance

Fast, Reliable Support When You Need It

• Included service ticketing system
• Access to a technician— most often within a couple hours
• One full year of technical support included with the X5 purchase
• Optional ongoing support via affordable monthly plans after your 1 year has expired.

This support model minimizes downtime and eliminates the weeks-long wait times common with restricted service contracts.

4. Built for Production: Five Printheads = True Redundancy

The Imperial X5 DTF system comes standard with five Epson i3200 printheads, and this matters for one key reason: redundancy.

How DTF Printing Speed Really Works

Increasing print speed isn’t about pushing a single printhead faster on the X-axis—it’s about increasing coverage on the Y-axis (film width).

With five printheads, the X5 DTF:

• Distributes ink more efficiently
• Adds additional CMYK channels compared to less printhead models
• Maintains print quality at higher speeds

Compared to 1-, 2-, or even 3-printhead systems, the X5 delivers higher throughput without sacrificing detail or consistency.

5. Better Print Quality Through Higher Saturation

Some manufacturers claim superior quality due to different printheads their system uses—but when comparing printers with Epson i3200, the quality differences come down to ink saturation and nozzle density. You also have to remember virtually all of us our working in CMYK (we'll leave the 8 color systems for another discussion)

With more channels and nozzles:

• Colors reach higher saturation levels
• Difficult hues are easier to achieve
• Banding is reduced
• Overall print consistency improves

The X5’s multi-head configuration allows for richer color reproduction and smoother gradients—especially on demanding designs.

6. Filtration System built into the dryer - Cleaner Work Environment

The X5 comes equipped with an integrated exhaust filtration system, eliminating the need for external hoses and connections. This internal setup offers a more efficient and cleaner solution directly within the dryer unit. 

The built-in filtration system is designed in two parts to enhance safety in your work environment. The glycol trap is specifically designed for use after the dryer has finished its cycle. Once the dryer cools down, any vaporized glycol is captured as liquid in the dryer lid. Simply raise the lid, and the liquid will flow downhill into the waste reservoir on the side. 

Conclusion: The Smart DTF Investment for Long-Term Success

If your goal is to maximize ROI and minimize operating expenses, the Imperial DTF X5 delivers unmatched value:

• Lower consumable costs (ink, film, powder, dampers, filters, fluids, and parts)
• Lower maintenance costs through self-service design
• Reduced downtime with fast technical support
• Greater control over production and profitability
• No dependence on expensive service contracts

For print shops serious about scaling DTF production while controlling costs, the Imperial DTF X5 offers a clear competitive advantage.