Are you interested in our printing of cotton bags or T-shirts using DTF transfer technology? Or do you want to order just the DTF film with your print and try your own application on textiles, but don't know how to prepare the data? No problem, here at EasyBag group we'll guide you through it step by step.
What is DTF transfer, actually?
The abbreviation DTF stands for Direct To Film. It is a modern, digital and incredibly precise technology.
DTF under the microscope: From pigment to the finished print
- Printing: The design is printed by a special digital printer onto a transparent PET film using pigment inks.
- Polymer application: A powder thermoadhesive glue (polyurethane powder) is applied onto the fresh ink.
- Gelification: The film passes through a heat tunnel (oven), where the glue is baked and a homogeneous layer ready for transfer is created.
- Heat transfer: The finished design is transferred onto the textile base using heat and pressure.
Main advantages: The technology ensures high opacity and color saturation. Thanks to the white underprint, the graphics remain color-stable even on dark or strongly colored materials, without the base material's color showing through.
The result? The colors are vivid, the print is beautifully smooth, and best of all – white stays truly white even on a dark T-shirt or colored bag.
I want to try it myself! (DTF film for home and professional printing)
We also offer standalone DTF transfers. Just send us the data and we'll print sheets in A4 or A3 size, or a roll with a DTF print.
DTF transfers are a complete lifesaver for anyone who needs to print a smaller quantity of T-shirts or fabric bags, without having to meet high minimum order limits.
DTF transfers are also the king of corporate branding – a logo printed on film can be applied to any company textile, whether it's a T-shirt, hoodie, or pants. There's no limit to your imagination. Looking for a way to personalized textiles? DTF films are the answer for everyone:
- Athletes: Durable jerseys and team kits that can withstand even a demanding match.
- Companies: Unified and representative branded textiles for employees.
- Seasonal events: A fast and quality solution for kids' camps, parties, bachelor/bachelorette parties, or birthday celebrations.
DTF printing simply won't get lost in the crowd, but watch out for the technique: for a perfect result, we recommend a professional heat press. It ensures even pressure and stable temperature across the entire surface. Unfortunately, an ordinary iron cannot guarantee uniform pressure, which can lead to the print starting to peel after a few washes. A properly applied DTF transfer has a long lifespan – it doesn't crack and holds on tight.
What data is the "right" one for DTF?
Even though DTF is the technology of the future, it has its own rules. To ensure a sharp result and vibrant colors, follow these points:
- Watch out for colors: We print in CMYK + white mode. This means we cannot yet print metallic (gold, silver) or neon shades.
- Curves are a sure bet: Vectors (curves) are ideal. If you only have an image (raster), it must be in high resolution, otherwise the print will be "jagged".
- Forget about fade-to-nothing shadows: This is the most important point! DTF needs a layer of glue for transfer. Semi-transparent shadows or gradients that "fade to nothing" (gradually disappearing into the textile) cannot be printed. The edge would look dirty or unpleasantly jagged. All objects should have 100% coverage and sharp edges.
- The 1.5 mm rule: The minimum thickness of lines and details must be at least 1.5 mm. Why? Not enough fixing powder can adhere to a smaller area. Such a detail would then simply peel off during the first wash (or even when peeling off the film).
Tip: Does your logo have thin font? Try to slightly thicken it or add a thin outline in the color of the design.
Not sure? Leave it to us!
If graphics are a "great unknown" to you and color spaces mean nothing to you, cast your worries aside. At Easybag we have a team of experts who will advise you, check your data and recommend the best solution – whether you want a few T-shirts for classmates, or thousands of bags for your company.
Together we'll "iron it out" to perfection!