DTF Printing.

[Earl Smith]

DTF printing seems to be advancing in leaps and bounds. I did a quick search of firms in Germany offering this service and loads turn up. Prices are an incredible 15 Euro for half a Sq mtr.

Those of you that know of me will know that I have sold my business on and they are now asking me about DTF. I'm wondering how durable are these prints compared to screen printing transfers? I dont want to recommend DTF to them if they wash off after the first wash.

Thanks.

[pw66]

The prints are good, and they work well on polyester as well. Properly printed and applied they will outlast the garment.
The problem commes with the ongoing costs of the printer. You need to be able to get your money back and well into profit within the length of the warranty. After the warranty expires the ongoing costs of replacing printheads outweighs the annual cost of buying a new machine on finance (a bit like DTG). Run it until it breaks and then buy a new one.

The way to go is to buy in transfers unless you have a very high turnover. The machines need to be used daily.Let someone else have the worry.

Definately the future, but not yet. Within a couple of years the machines will be printing onto paper and adhesive will be applied by the machine so no need for a shaker.

[Earl Smith]

The prints are good, and they work well on polyester as well. Properly printed and applied they will outlast the garment.
The problem commes with the ongoing costs of the printer. You need to be able to get your money back and well into profit within the length of the warranty. After the warranty expires the ongoing costs of replacing printheads outweighs the annual cost of buying a new machine on finance (a bit like DTG). Run it until it breaks and then buy a new one.

The way to go is to buy in transfers unless you have a very high turnover. The machines need to be used daily.Let someone else have the worry............





Definately the future, but not yet. Within a couple of years the machines will be printing onto paper and adhesive will be applied by the machine so no need for a shaker.

Hi and thanks. They do not have a high turnover so the way to go is to buy in.
DTF World | DTF Transfers | Textildruck für Wiederverkäufer (dtf-world.de)
This is an example of the cost so even if they/you had a high turnover I would still use an online service. Why have the machines that have to be maintained, staff to run them and pay rent for the room cost. LFM means 56x100cm so you get a lot for this price. And I have better things to do with my time.

[pw66]

Those are good prices.

I am buying in dtf prints as and when needed. I have had the budget for a printer set aside for over a year now, but still don't want to pull the plug. To me the nunbers don't add up. What worries me is that I will end up swopping production from other machines/processes that are all bought and payed for - just to make the dtf pay for itself, which seems to be a false economy to me. I have a solvent printer that is more than acceptable for most of the workwear prints I do, and also offer screenprint, htv and sublimation. What worries me is that I could get lazy and use dtf to replace other more cost effective methods.

It is more cost effective to buy in prints when needed. The only time it is a bit pricey is for volume orders of large size t-shirt prints, I only get six out of a linear metre, so a 100 shirt job works out at 17 metres. However the customers seem to be happy to pay the price, so far.

Don't believe the hype that it is always quicker to print than any other transfer method. It takes time to cut out transfers from gang sheets, and the printing process is slower if you use cold peel film.