The DTF printer is pretty simple to use from where I stand, even if you are a new one. Before printing, you may need to create the graphic you want to present to prepare. Today I will show you how to use the DTF printer, let’s look at the following steps.
Step1: Printing on the film
You need to insert the pet film into the printers and then click ” print “. Next, the DTF printer will print it directly, and you will see the image transferred onto the pet film. Especially, keep the print clean when you remove it from the tray!
Step2: Spreading the power
In this step, you should apply the hot-melt powder on the film with the printing image on it when the print is still wet! There is no doubt that the power needs to be spread evenly. Usually, you should keep a tray near the printer and spread the power onto the print. It’s necessary to hit it back and forth until it covers the wet ink. Then shake off the excess carefully.
Step3: Melting the power
The next step is melting the power, as the description pointed out. The most common way is putting the film DTF transfer in an oven for about 20 minutes. In addition, if you have worked in a custom t-shirt business doing DTG or white toner printer transfers, you may use the heat press. It’s important to make sure that you’re not giving any pressure or that the top of the press is not in contact with the transfer at all. And if you want to know the time and temperature for curing DTF heat transfer, you are recommended to ask the manufacturer!
Step4: Pre-pressing the shirt
Of course, it may not be a shirt. But whatever you want to apply, your DTF transfer must be completely smooth. We cannot let any wrinkles in the print! This is important!
And the most important is that it will dry the material completely. You’d be amazed to find out how much moisture fabric can absorb from humidity in the air. And that would affect print quality.
Step5: Applying the DTF transfer
Once you have made a DTF transfer, you don’t need to use it immediately. Like most other transfers, you can save it well. The pet film with the image and the melted power are put on the pre-pressed material in the heat press. And then you can heat press the transfer onto the shirt just like any other thing. Just follow the current manufacturer’s instructions.
Step 6: Peeling the DTF transfer
DTF usually uses cold peel. Therefore, after heat pressing your shirt, set it aside until the fabric and transfer material cool completely. If you are making several shirts, heat presses them one by one and start peeling them off when they have all cooled down. As the hot melt cools, it acts as a bonding agent to bind the colored ink pigments to the fabric fibers. Once the film has cooled, remove the transfer and leave the desired design!
Step 7: Directing to film finishing press
This is an optional step, but you may see it in all garment applications. As with transfers using a white toner printer, the DTF film printer also extends the life of the printer by a final embossing. This significantly improves the washout resistance. This final step usually takes only 10 to 15 seconds.
