Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Direct-to-Film Printing

Are you tired of making mistakes while using direct-to-film printing? Do you want to be perfect in creating your custom-made clothes through direct-to-film printing? If so, you have come to the right place. Here we will cover some common mistakes to avoid when using Direct-to-Film printing. 

This blog will help you to provide everything that you need to understand so that your work can be flawless. It will serve as a guide for avoiding the mistakes that will probably be made if it is your first time using direct-to-film printing.

What is Direct-to-film Printing? 

Direct-to-film printing or DTF printing, in the simplest terms, is a process of transferring designs into clothes, apparel, or any other items. It starts with transferring designs into a transfer film, covering it with thermo-adhesive powder, then printing it into an actual product with the help of heat transfers. 

DTF printing has changed the printing industry as we know it, challenging even the likes of vinyl and sublimation printing. With cost-effective, long-lasting prints and low wastage, DTF offers it all, which has made it an ideal choice for everyone.

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Benefits of Direct-to-film Printing

In the traditional methods of garment printing, the process was lengthy, wasteful, and required excessive labor. However, direct-to-film DTF printing has brought various positive impacts to the printing industry. The following points reflect the importance of direct-to-film printing. 

1. Minimal Waste and Cost Saving

Since the printing is only done by directly transferring the design into films and then into the garment, there will be minimal waste. In this environmentally conscious world, having minimal waste is an important thing to consider because of its impact on all of us. 

Moreover, it is excellent from a business point of view as it helps in cost saving. Lastly, customers can also benefit from this as they get services at a better price.

2. Easy to use

DTF printing is quite simple and does not require much training as compared to other forms of printing. Moreover, the equipment used in this process, like dtf printers, is not too sophisticated, making it ideal for any user. Other printing methods like sublimation printing include equipment like sublimation printers which can be a little more challenging to use.

3. Accuracy

Since direct-to-film printing has only limited accessible features, there will be utmost accuracy. This way, you won’t have to waste more of the films or designs. The digital accuracy allows you to have extraordinary designs in just one try. 

These are some of the most common benefits of DTF printing; now, let’s move on to the common mistakes to avoid while using this process. 

Common Mistakes of Using Direct-to-film Printing and How to Avoid Them? 

Sometimes, the details we overlook or dismiss as unimportant are the ones that determine the outcome of the print. Most of us have experienced it in one way or another. Similarly, some of us might have been in a situation where direct-to-film printing doesn't seem to work. We have identified such mistakes and pointed out the ways how can we avoid them.

1. Improper Artwork Preparation

When preparing the artwork, most of us need to prepare better for the designs. In such cases, there is a high chance that the image will be inaccurate and bring unwanted results. Therefore, we must first ensure the image is of high resolution.

Likewise, ensure that the artwork is of the right size and color. The most desirable color choices for DTF printing would be cyan, magenta, yellow, and key (black) (CMYK). Sometimes, white ink can also be great for customization. 

1. Incorrect Film Transparency

You might wonder why there are low-quality prints and registration issues while using direct-to-film printing. It must be due to the low quality of films being used or using films appropriately. 

So we must use a high quality adequately aligned film for the accurate depiction of the image in the print.  If you are using a good quality film, check if the film is adequately placed or not. 

1. Inadequate screen exposure

The exposure time of the printer must be followed accurately. Both underexposure and overexposure would only bring poor-quality of designs to your print. Check the user manual or contact someone expert for the best results.

1. Poor Screen Cleaning and Maintenance

Cleanliness and maintenance of the equipment is the other major factor to consider if you want flawless quality in your prints. Forgetting to clean up would increase the ink buildups in the device, which would mess up the quality of designs and lack of consistency. 

To prevent this problem, cleanup of inks after every use is recommended. After that, ensure the equipment is carefully stored and maintained in a dry and cool place. 

1. Wrong Selection of Inks

One of the significant things to consider in printing is the ink selection. You must be aware of the correct and compatible ink type to use for proper prints of designs. Most of us give less attention to the ink used in our printers, which leads to color bleeding and washout issues. 

Therefore to prevent that, choose the type of ink suitable for the kind of fabric or any product that you are printing on. 

1. Neglecting test prints and quality checks

The final prints might have unexpected issues when the test prints and quality checks are skipped. Therefore, regular inspection and maintenance of the printer is a crucial aspect of accuracy and efficiency. We must conduct routine checkups and also fix things that need fixing. 

Best Practices for Successful Direct-to-film Printing 

Now that we have covered the common mistakes let’s move on to the best practices for a successful printing process. 

1. Artwork Guidelines and Preparation 

Firstly you must prepare high-resolution images so the design quality stays maintained. Secondly, Having a proper alignment of the paper is a must. Likewise, be sure that the color of the print is in the correct color mode, i.e., CMYK. 

1. Film Transparency Tip

Next on the list, we have a film transparency tip. Using suitable quality materials is highly recommended for accurate print. As mentioned above, the film must be properly aligned, and the ink must be qualitative for a sharp transfer of images in print. 

1. Screen Exposure Technique

The image's exposure must be accurate, as suggested in the paragraphs mentioned earlier. It should neither be less or more because that would cause a mess while printing your designs and won't be as expected. 

1. Screen Cleaning and Maintenance Routine

If you need excellent print quality, cleanliness is another essential element to remember. Forgetting to clean up would result in more ink buildups in the machine, affecting the consistency and quality of the designs. 

1. Selecting Inks Effectively

The choice of inks is one of the most crucial factors to consider. For accurate printing of designs, you must know the suitable and compatible ink type. Choose an ink that is appropriate for the sort of fabric or object you are printing on to avoid this from happening. 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, mastering direct-to-film printing requires avoiding common mistakes and embracing best practices. This process offers efficiency, accuracy, and eco-friendliness. Proper artwork preparation, film quality, exposure, maintenance, ink selection, and testing are critical. By adhering to these principles, you can achieve impressive results in creating custom clothing and products.

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 a competitive price.

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.