What Are The Pros And Cons Of DTF Printers?

The way printed garments are flooding the market shows the popularity of garment printing. It has the advantage that it allows quick and cost-effective customization. For example, you can easily customize plain garments with your company logo with DTF printing.

What is DTF?

It stands for Direct-to-Film and it involves a heat press method. The design is pressed on a heated surface for a specific duration to allow the design to get printed on the fabric. The best thing about Direct-to-Film is it works on all types of fabrics. It is a simple process that gives amazing results. The designs printed with the heat and press method last longer.

Here we will discuss the reasons that make Direct-to-Film a popular method of garment designing

1. Easy to learn and setup 

Today anyone can set up a garment printing business with the help of the Direct-to-Film process. While critics can argue that it initial cost of a Direct-to-Film machine is high, they will agree that it is a one-time investment that can give a huge return in the long run. You can print garments in bulk and make a good profit every month.

2. Hassle-free preparation

The process simplifies garment printing with features like CMYK and RGB management. It requires minimum preparation and ensures that the design doesn’t break down. You will get the print you need in a hassle-free manner. It will save you time and give you peace of mind as DTF printers do the entire job.   

3. Low production cost

The production cost with Direct-to-Film is much lower in comparison to other garment printing methods, especially screen printing. The production cost could be as low as $0.75 to $1 per square foot. You can easily bag bulk printing jobs at this cost. It will save your clients much money in the long run.  

Like any other thing, Direct-to-Film has some cons

1. High equipment cost

Direct-to-film requires a fully functional setup of a quality printer equipped with the necessary hardware and software. Also, you need a reliable heat press machine to get final prints. It takes the initial cost of the equipment up and makes it difficult for small printers to manage Direct-to-Film service.

2. High maintenance

DTF printers need regular maintenance. For example, the print heads need to be cleaned regularly to prevent clogging. But there is little to worry about as the latest machines can be cleaned in a hassle-free manner.