What Is The Purpose Of DTF Powder?

Direct-to-film (DTF) is a relatively new textile printing method. It involves printing a design directly onto a piece of garment. It isn’t a difficult process, however, it involves several steps. Here we’ll discuss an important component of DTF printing and its functions. It is a DTF shaker and its role is to spread adhesive all over the designs to be printed.    

What adhesive is used for direct-to-film printing?

The direct-to-film printing process involves printing the design onto a specific paper. After the design is printed, the paper is spread with a specific adhesive. It is a powder that helps the colors in melting and fixing the design on the garment on coming into contact with heat and pressure. It is a necessary process because the design won’t be fixed without the use of adhesive.  

The powder is spread evenly over the design before the design is fixed on a heat press. It is an automatic feature of a DTF printer. Also, the machine removes the excess powder to prevent any residue formation on the garment. The advantage of the automatic function is that it prevents waste of expensive adhesive powder.

How is the adhesive spread on the design?

A component called a DTF shaker spreads the adhesive all over the design. Since it is an automatic function of a direct-to-film printer, the operator doesn’t have to worry about this function. The component ensures uniform application of the adhesive. Also, it is necessary to spread the adhesive powder evenly over the design. It is the adhesive that improves the quality and durability of the design.

Also, the component removes the excess powder from the design. In this way, it does a complete job. Even the application of the powder is necessary and the application completes with the removal of excess adhesive from the design. The excess powder could form a residue on the garment.

Adhesive application is the last step in the preparation of the design for printing. The design is placed face down on a heat press and pressed onto the garment. The powder melts on coming into contact with heat and allows the design to get transferred to the garment.

A DTF shaker is an automatic component of a direct-to-film printing machine. It ensures precision and consistency in the design transfer from the paper to the garment. For this reason, its role in maintaining quality in design becomes extremely important.