Let’s start with a brief primer on direct-to-film transfer printing.

Direct-to-film (DTF) transfer printing involves printing designs onto PET film using water-based pigment inks with inkjet technology. Once inkjetted, the wet print is powdered with a hot melt (polyamide) adhesive and cured in a post-print system that can be manual or automatic, inline or nearline. Once cured, the image can be transferred onto a textile-based product using a standard heat press. Because the ink sits on top of the fabric, the image can be applied to pretty much any fabric, or even 3D items like shoes. This Epson video explains the DTF process albeit with an earlier printer model.

Film can used immediately or can be stored for later application. For example, prepared film might be used during a trade show or event to apply images on demand to textile-based or other promotional items. This is in contrast to direct-to-garment (DTG) printing where designs are printed directly onto the garment or other item. It’s roughly analogous to transfer-based dye-sublimation, where you print on a special paper and then transfer the image to the final fabric or other substrate using a heat press or calender.