DTF Printing for Your Branded Merch: What Are the Advantages?

Digital printing has been around for years, but techniques significantly improved with newer technologies. DTF (direct-to-film) printing has emerged as one of the most innovative ways to customize products with your own brand. The method involves pressing a design onto a film or foil to bring out the best of the ink’s qualities, resulting in opaque whites, vibrant colors, and fine and sharp edges. The film absorbs DTF printing ink more effectively to produce more detailed designs with accurate colors.

The printed film then gets an adhesive layer and is pressed onto the merch (such as a shirt or a cap). A pressing device applies the design to the product. This makes DTF printing ideal for dark and light products. It's just as resistant to tearing and expanding as the fabric.

Benefits of using DTF for branded merch

One of the biggest challenges in creating custom-branded merch is ensuring that the print is durable and won’t chip, crack, peel, or fade with frequent use, sun exposure, and washing. This is not a problem when you use high-quality formulations like DTF ink for Epson, which are proven to deliver durable, vibrant, and long-lasting results. Using the best DTF ink, equipment, and film to experience these advantages:

1. Versatility

DTF printing offers versatility as it lets you use various fabrics, including leather, cotton, silk, polyester, nylon, and rayon. The fabric does not require treatment, allowing you to reduce costs and streamline operations. Overall, the process isn’t labor-intensive and is quicker than direct-to-garment (DTG) printing.

2. Increased productivity and savings, plus reduced maintenance

DTF printing ink is made of water-soluble and glycol-based pigments, making it runnier and unlikely to clog print heads. Printing on film transfer allows you to place the design on awkward or hard-to-reach surfaces, making it possible to print designs on items like baseball caps and reusable water bottles.

 

The printing method requires minimal white ink (around 40% white, unlike the 200% required in DTG printing). White ink tends to be pricier, so minimizing its use could mean savings. And as for maintenance, DTF printers are easier to maintain. It is also easy to find OEM print heads.

3. More product offerings

DTF printing is suitable for many fabrics and materials, allowing you to quickly expand your merchandise offerings from T-shirts to water bottles, hats, totes, backpacks, and textured mugs.

4. Print any design

There are no color restrictions in DTF printing. Transfers go well with light- and dark-colored fabrics, making them great for athleisure and sportswear. With DTF ink for Epson, you can use the transfers to make multicolor and vibrant designs that may otherwise be challenging to produce with traditional heat transfer methods.

5. Durability

One of the concerns about DTG printing is that the fibers of the garment push through the print. This is not a problem with DTF. High-quality films and the best DTF ink allow you to produce durable designs that won’t peel, crack, or split. The custom design on your merch will survive frequent washing because it is extremely stretchable. This makes DTF printing ideal for heavy-use merchandise.

Make DTF printing work for you

Success in DTF printing depends on various factors, including the inks you use. Get high-quality DTF supplies from Bink Inks. We carry an array of reasonably priced replacement inks for well-known printers like Epson, in various sizes (from 250ml to 1 Liter).

Bink Inks is a fresh inkjet ink brand for customers who want to save money on DTF ink for Epson without compromising on quality. Our inks are made in the US and follow the strictest quality assurance standards. You can be confident that we only sell the best DTF ink.