7 Tips for Achieving High-Quality Prints with Direct to Film Printing: A Step by Step Guide

Have you just started DTF printing and want to master this art quickly? Or maybe your prints are not coming out perfectly. If so, you have come to the right place. In this blog, we will discuss tips for achieving high-quality prints with direct-to-film printing.

So, whether you're an experienced printer or a beginner looking to improve your printing skills, these tips will help you produce remarkable results. Let’s start.

What is Direct-to-Film Printing?

Direct-to-film, or DTF, is a technique that uses a heat-press mechanism to transfer prints onto fabric or other substrates. The direct-to-film printing (DTF) process is a specialized printing technique primarily used in screen printing. 

The process involves creating a film directly from a digital image or design file and then using this film as a stencil for transferring the design to the screen mesh. After making the screen, ink is applied to various surfaces, including textiles, paper, and other materials. 

As the ink passes through the open areas of the screen (where the design is), it creates the final image or design.

DTF printing is considered the future of screen printing due to its cost efficiency, reduced wastage, better print results, durability, versatility, and sustainability. 

Step-by-Step Guide to Achieving High-Quality Prints 

After shedding light on introducing this revolutionary artwork, let’s look at some steps to help you achieve high-quality prints. 

Step 1: Choosing the Right Film 

First, assess and select the best film available in the market. Remember, the type of film you choose will determine the image quality and color accuracy. Choose the correct PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) film from various options, including (color negative, color slide, black and white, and specialty). 

It is always an excellent choice to buy movies from prominent brands like Kodak, Fujifilm, and Ilford, which have been in the market for a long time. Likewise, consider other important factors like resolution and grain. Assessing these factors will be enough to select the perfect film that will meet your requirements.

Step 2: Preparing Your Artwork 

You have brought in the best film that was available to you. But what about the artwork that will be printed on it? Yes, preparing your artwork is equally important as choosing the film.

While preparing the artwork, focus on the resolution, which should be around 300 DPI (dots per inch). Lower resolution will lead to blurry or pixelated images. Be sure to set your color mode to CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black), as it is the standard color mode for printing. 

Moreover, save your design in Tag Image File Format(TIFF) or Adobe Illustrator (AI) to ensure high image quality. Finally, if it is possible to reduce image size without compromising the design quality, do it as it can significantly reduce printing time.

Step 3: Screen Exposure 

The quality of your prints is significantly influenced by screen exposure. It involves creating your design on a photosensitive emulsion-coated screen. The screen will then be applied to transfer the ink to the printing surface of your choice. With proper exposure, the print will be reproduced precisely and crisply. 

Always start with a screen covered in a photosensitive emulsion that is clean, dry, and ready to use.  Since the emulsion is UV-sensitive and will harden when exposed, your design will appear as a stencil on the screen.

Create a transparent or translucent sheet with your design imprinted in black ink, with the black parts blocking UV light during exposure, to prepare the film for screen exposure. To avoid misalignment concerns, ensure the film positive is precisely registered onto the screen. 

Finally, place the screen and film positive in an exposure unit that equally emits UV light, with the black ink on the film positive blocking the light and hardening the emulsion to create a stencil on the screen. 

(Note: The proper exposure period is essential and is determined by emulsion type, screen mesh size, and UV light intensity. Use exposure calculators, exposure testing, or applications as a guide.)

Step 4: Printing Setup

Setting up your direct-to-film printer and other equipment is one of the most crucial processes in achieving high-quality prints in the DTF printing process. Moreover, you must set up and configure the equipment as required. Here is a list of things you should check before starting the print.

• DTF Printer: You need a good printer compatible with your designs and customizations. For instance, you can choose brands like Epson SureColor P-Series or Canon PIXMA Pro, which can be helpful for an extended period. 

• DTF Film: Choose premium inkjet transparency film created especially for direct-to-film printing. The film needs to be appropriate for your printer type and have a unique coating to hold ink successfully.

• Printer Calibration: Your printer should be calibrated to achieve proper color reproduction. For this purpose, most printer manufacturers offer calibration equipment or software. Pay close attention to the manufacturer's directions or contact an expert to do it for you.

• Setting Printer: This is one of the most essential parts of printing setup. First, set the print resolution to the highest available setting (usually 1440 DPI or higher) for optimum definition and depth. Second, select the proper media type setting in the driver program for your printer. 

Ensure the printer settings are in RGB mode if your design is in that design. Keep the printer in CMYK mode if your plan is in CMYK. Lastly, check the ink density, mirroring, and test prints for utmost quality.

• Print and Store: After setting up your printer, print your design on the transparency film, giving the ink enough time to dry completely to avoid smudging or damage. Finally, to prevent fading or deterioration, store your printed film in a cool, dry location out of direct sunlight.

Step 5: Printing Process

Start your printing process by setting up your workspace, paying particular attention to cleanliness and organization. Next, select and blend the ink colors you want for your design. 

After preparing the ink, arrange the screen, which includes placing the emulsion stencil securely on the printing station and aligning the substrate precisely by positioning it using registration guides. 

The printing process involves placing the screen onto the substrate, using a squeezer (squeegee ) to provide even pressure to the ink during a printing stroke, and repeating as necessary to achieve the required area level. 

Check the print for any errors or misalignments after lifting the screen to see it, and if required, make the necessary corrections. 

Step 6: Drying and Curing

The drying and curing procedure is crucial to getting high-quality prints in any type of screen printing. The ink on your printed films binds firmly to the substrate thanks to proper drying and curing, producing bright and long-lasting results. There are generally two drying processes: air drying and forced air drying.

Air drying involves drying the prints naturally at room temperature. This drying process is ideal for water-based inks and is essential for preventing smudging. Similarly, forced air drying uses equipment like fans and air dryers and is usually applied when dealing with a considerable number of prints. 

Similarly, curing is also very crucial for ensuring the perfect print. Plastisol ink requires heat curing to maintain longevity; this is commonly done with a conveyor drier or heat press while adhering to the manufacturer's suggested temperature and time limits. 

Plastisol ink is also treated with infrared (IR) curing systems, which provide energy-efficient and quick curing due to precise and consistent heat delivery.

Step 7: Quality Control

Achieving high quality prints does not end after printing the design on the appeal. There is one more step to ensure that all the prints in the future are produced as intended. 

An accurate assessment of color correctness, clarity, resolution, registration, and ink coverage is required to make sure that each print accurately captures the intended design. There can be some common printing issues including ghosting, ink leakage, streaks, or color discrepancies. 

These issues can be solved and the required degree of quality maintained by making adjustments to exposure times, printer settings, ink types, and routine maintenance. Direct-to-film printing produces higher outcomes when print quality is consistently monitored and problems are taken care of quickly.

Viola, you now have reproduced some of the best DTF designs. 

If you are still having issue in your prints then you can check our blog: Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Direct-to-Film Printing to address these issues. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, using our seven-step guide will help you learn direct-to-film (DTF) printing for high-quality outcomes. These pointers address film selection, artwork preparation, screen exposure, printing setup, the printing process, drying, curing, and quality control. They apply to both novice and experienced printers. 

DTF printing is a promising process since it is economical and environmentally friendly. You can unleash the power of DTF printing and produce stunning designs with commitment, diligence, and regular maintenance.

Direct-to-Film Printing at trydtf

At trydtf, we transfer your plain and straightforward substrate and material to a fully customized piece of art. 

Bring your t-shirts, mugs, caps, and more; we guarantee to return these items with versatile and high-quality direct-to-film transfers at the most competitive prices.

So, if you want to start your journey with DTF printing but are still considering if it is worth it, Trydtf has brought a solution for you. We offer free samples to get you started and make the process more convenient!

Please visit our site or contact us at trydtf to learn more about us and start your journey in the DTF printing industry.

FAQs

1. Can I use DTF printing for both light and dark-colored fabrics?

Yes, DTF printing is suitable for both light and dark fabrics. You may need to adjust your printing process for dark substrates.

2. What is the average lifespan of DTF prints?

When properly cured and cared for, DTF prints can last for years without significant fading or wear.

3. Are there any specific maintenance requirements for DTF printers?

Regular cleaning and maintenance are essential to keep your DTF printer in optimal condition. Consult your printer's manual for guidance.

4. Can I use DTF printing for promotional products other than clothing?

Absolutely! DTF printing can be used on various promotional items like bags, caps, and more.

5. Is DTF printing environmentally friendly?

DTF printing can be eco-friendly using eco-solvent or water-based inks, which have lower VOC emissions than other printing methods.