Welcome to the first installment of our Before You Buy a DTF Printer guide. With the release of the DTF Station Prestige A4 desktop printer (and it’s low cost price tag) we are sure to see an influx of new users diving into direct to film printing. Coming from other decorating methods such as heat transfer vinyl, sublimation or white toner laser printing there may be some getting used to as far as opening procedures, operation, maintenance and end of day closing. We want to dive into these arenas with you as your guide to ensure a positive experience and set reasonable expectations. What sets DTF apart from the aforementioned production methods? Well first of all there’s the white ink element.

White ink is going to be the biggest difference from the other methods of custom apparel making by far. But let's talk about color. It’s easy to get color accuracy if you are only printing onto white garments - but what about other colors? If you put blue onto a white shirt you get blue. If you put blue directly onto a yellow shirt it may come out more of a green- UNLESS it has a white base layer underneath. Layering color and white ink results in near Pantone level matching and allows your designs to print and press vibrantly no matter what color the garment. This is a specialty of DTF that is unique from say sublimation or inkjet transfer printing and it is worth mentioning white ink is scientifically different from CMYK ink.

White ink is thicker and more opaque and to get this particular pigment titanium dioxide is used. Think of when you paint a kitchen and the ‘skin’ begins to form on the top of the can - this is an example of separation of the titanium from the actual ink. This should give you an idea of what can happen to a printer turned off and left idle for extended periods of time. A good DTF printer will have means of keeping the white ink and the titanium dioxide smooth and flowing well. A system needs to be in place to to keep the ink well mixed so it can flow through the lines properly, print correctly and NOT CLOG OUR MACHINE. That’s where White Ink Management System comes into play(WIMS).

The WIMS function is to continuously circulate the ink to keep it active and well mixed as well as stirring the ink reservoir itself through motorized agitation. Between the ink being moved through the lines and constantly stimulating the titanium and pigment don’t have time to separate thus preventing “sedimentation” that can clog printheads like these. It is important that if the machine is to be left idle that proper closing procedures and maintenance is performed at the end of everyday so that we may return to a fully operational printer.