Impressions - October/November 2022 - 44

Above
An in-line system prints, polymerises and
cures the ink and glue layer required for heat
transfer application onto a broad range of
natural and synthetic fabric types, including,
cottons, polyesters, poly-cotton blends, tri-blends,
Spandex and Nylon. Photo courtesy
of DTG Digital
Smoother Learning Curve. Once
ColDesi off ers the DigitalHeat FX DTF24H4
high-volume DTF printer with four
print heads. Photo courtesy of ColDesi
You certainly don't want to turn customers
away. Still, it's not always as profitable to set
up and print that order for family reunion
T-shirts as it would be for the corporate
client who wants 150 shirts for the company's
next company event. DTF transfers
offer a simple solution for those one-off
orders, so you can still take care of your
smaller-volume customers without it being
a hindrance to your bottom line and
labor costs.
Suppose you're in the crafting business
in marketplaces like Etsy. In that case, DTF
transfers are an economical way to run
special-edition, printed goods to your
store.You can also test out different designs
without having to run a large quantity to
make sure the product will sell. Think about
how many " prototype " designs you could
experiment with to test the waters and
show your customers your range of talents!
P.44
Considering Outsourcing
If your business only does small-run print
jobs and only has the occasional largescale
job, then DTF transfers may not be
something you want to bring in-house.
Instead, you can order DTF transfers from
companies like Supacolor. You can upload
your artwork and have printed transfers
shipped through this outsourcing service
instead of investing in the equipment and
technology right away.
Benefi ts of Using DTF Transfers
We talked about how DTF technology
can be a great solution when looking for
a decoration method to meet tight turnaround
times and small quantity orders.
Well, that's not all! Here are some other
reasons why these transfers can benefit
both you and your customer:
IMPRESSIONSMAG.COM OCT./NOV. 2022
you've gotten a handle on printer operation,
the overall decoration process with
DTF transfer isn't as complicated as some
disciplines. This means if you're a small
staff, you can divide and conquer more
easily. For example, if you're in charge of
running the DTF printer, you can assign
other employees to cut and press transfers,
which doesn't require as much training.
Plus, if you and your employees are already
trained on processes like heat transfer vinyl
and sublimation, you'll find similarities in
the process, making it an even smoother
transition.
It's durable. The prints with DTF
transfers hold up well even after multiple
washes on fabrics like polyester, cotton,
cotton/poly blends and tri-blends. Outside
of washing, the prints hold up to extra wear
as well. The prints typically don't crack or
peel, which means you won't see fabric
fibers pushing through the print if the
garment or substrate is pulled.
Easier maintenance. Printers don't
have to work in a tight space with larger
DTF systems, making routine maintenance
less challenging. Most DTF systems also
use OEM print heads, so it's not a proprietary
technology in which it's hard to find
replacement parts.
More product offerings. DTF transfers
work with cotton, 100-percent polyester
and cotton/poly blends, making them
a versatile transfer for apparel. They're also
an excellent option for dozens of other
product types, like textured crowlers, water
bottles and hats.
No color restrictions. DTF transfers
http://www.IMPRESSIONSMAG.COM
Impressions - October/November 2022

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