Is DTF Printing Killing Dye Sub?

Sublimation printing vs DTF: Being the latest technology in a long line of turns and twists in customization technology, you would think that DTF Transfer Printing (direct to film) would be sending sublimation firmly into the industry’s rear view mirror.

But of course that is NOT the case.

Because while DTF Printing certainly has some real, profitable advantages over sublimation, that’s only in one sliver of the venn diagram of overlapping applications.

In several areas, sublimation still rules. But DTF may still be the right choice, depending on the business you’re in.

What is DTF Transfer Printing

Anyone that picks up this publication is likely very familiar with dye sublimation, so there’s no need to define that here. But DTF is a bit newer option.

Direct to Film printing is an inkjet printer that applies CMYK and WHITE ink directly onto a transfer film.

An adhesive powder is applied to the wet ink, sometimes using a manual process but far more often this is done with an automated “shaker” system.

The transfer is then cured, without pressure, to create a transfer.

Normally this is done on a roll to roll system with an inline tunnel dryer. So functionally, once you hit print on a DTF printer a roll of finished transfers will be the result without any manual effort in between.

After that you’ll just need to trim the transfers and heat press them onto the fabric of your choice.

About UV DTF Printing

There IS an even newer version of DTF printing that uses UV light instead of a tunnel dryer to instantly cure the ink. The end result of this process is to produce decals or labels at some scale.

Rather than a roll of t-shirt transfers at the end of our first version of DTF you’ll be producing very high quality digital images that you can apply to hard surfaces WITHOUT and heat pressing.

Where Sublimation Printing Wins

If you are in the cut and sew or fabric roll printing business, sublimation is probably the best technology available. Beautiful, vibrant, permanent images bonded to synthetics. (list)

In the custom apparel world, that’s how you get the all over prints – everywhere you see them.

Making a dye sublimation transfer is also a great way to decorate light colored, 100% polyester tees for full color, photographic quality prints.

The same goes for specially treated promotional products like coffee mugs, etc. If you are firmly in that business, and that’s what you want to stick too, sublimation is clearly the best choice.

Where DTF Transfer Printing Wins

DTF fulfills the promise of white toner transfers. That technology promised transfers you could apply to any fabric, any color.

Including 100% cotton.
Including black (and red).

But while the t-shirts white toner printers produced looked great, the feel and longevity is less attractive.

Limitations of Sublimation Printing

A DTF printed t-shirt transfer wins over sublimation because you CAN apply it to dark or light colors, on almost any fabric, and..

It feels like screen printing (or better), and it gets even better over time.
It lasts as long as the fabric on your t-shirt does.

So in the end you can say YES to far more potential clients – both wholesale transfer customers and retail custom t-shirt buyers because it hardly matters what kind of apparel they want to apply it to.

You can do higher volumes of transfers because of the roll to roll technology too.

Let’s face it, if you’re business is not printing on big rolls of fabric for commercial use, you’re probably using a 1-sheet-at-a-time sublimation printer. So while it’s not necessarily an apples-to-apples comparison, even a 12” roll to roll DTF printer is going to skyrocket you production of transfers.

UV DTF vs Sublimation Printing on Hard Goods

This is really a comparison between producing labels or direct printing.

The strength of a UV DTF printer is in printing very high quality peel and stick style adhesive labels you can apply EASILY to almost any surface. Any shape.

That peel and stick application means that you can sell the labels on sheets on a wholesale or retail basis in addition to the finished goods. And there are a lot of commercial applications here as well.

Is sublimation or DTF better for your business?

No technology does it all – and does it all well.
Dye sublimation printing has some very clear advantages, and DTF printing offers some attractive options to a growing business.

Luckily, you may not have to choose at all. Because small sublimation printers are very inexpensive and the newest DTF roll to roll transfer printers offer a stunning ROI.

Do both! You’ll say YES to more clients and have a better business because of it.

Find Out More / Request a demo today.

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