How To Become a Contract DTF Printer for Promo Distributors

In the last few years, perhaps no other decoration technique has been more talked about in the promo world than direct-to-film (DTF) heat transfers – following a similar growth trajectory to the direct-to-garment (DTG) printing boom of the early 2000s.

“DTF is kind of the hot buzz trend,” says Estevan Romero, brand marketing lead at All American Print Supply. “It’s opening up opportunities to work with any kind of fabric, from cotton to tricky things that are sensitive to high heat, like polyester, leather, nylon and more.”

The Epson SureColor G6070 wide-format direct-to-film printer.

With all the excitement around DTF, there’s also an opportunity for commercial printers to break into the promo space by selling DTF decoration services – or even just the completed transfers to promotional products distributors. “We’ve seen entire business models built on the sale of DTF,” Romero says, “because if I have a heat press and your DTF transfers, I’m basically a full-blown print shop without owning any equipment.”

Before diving headfirst into DTF, however, it’s important to create a production game plan and determine how your printshop will differentiate itself from other players in the market.

“Being a contract DTF provider is about more than printing,” says Marc Vila, director of marketing at ColDesi, an equipment supplier for custom apparel decorators. “You’re offering value to distributors who may not have this capability in house. Promote your speed, reliability, color options and special features like fluorescent ink to position yourself as a premium service provider.”

What is DTF printing?

Direct-to-film printing is a method of transferring digital designs onto fabrics and other substrates – a “cousin,” in a way, to more established heat transfer technology like screen-printed transfers. Whereas screen-printed transfers typically use plastisol ink and are usually only one- or two-color designs, DTF uses water-based inks in a virtually unlimited color range with higher dots per inch (DPI) than a typical transfer, allowing for photorealistic images and fine details, though the adhesive powder often leaves a heavier, “plasticky” hand feel, compared to decoration methods like screen printing or DTG.

DTF began catching steam in the early 2020s – with Chinese company Polytech demonstrating a DTF printer back in 2018. In fact, many of the earliest DTF printers came from China, often as modified Epson printers or platforms using Epson printheads, according to Johnny Shell, director of Keypoint Intelligence’s functional and industrial printing consulting service.

Printers use an inkjet printer to print onto a special transfer film – either onto sheets or a roll – then apply a powder adhesive to the wet ink before curing it with heat. Production-friendly models tend to have built-in auxiliary shaker units to add the powder, and some include conveyor dryers for curing the adhesive to further streamline the process.

Once the film is cured, the design can be transferred to a substrate, using a heat press to melt the adhesive and bond it to the fabric. After pressing, the film is peeled away; originally, films had to be cold-peeled, but film and ink manufacturers have also been developing warm- and even hot-peel solutions to help speed up production flows.

What should you consider when buying DTF equipment?

1. Do your research. It’s crucial that commercial printers find a reputable dealer who understands the technology and can supply them with all the components needed to create a DTF print, according to Lily Hunter, product manager, professional imaging, at Epson America. “A trusted dealer will not only offer reliable, compatible products, but also deliver training and troubleshooting support to help customers build and maintain a reliable and productive [DTF] setup,” she adds.

Also look for established equipment manufacturers that have dependable maintenance, warranties and support. “With reputable brands introducing dedicated [DTF] solutions, commercial printers now have access to reliable [DTF] hardware that enhances workflow and provides peace of mind,” Hunter says.

2. Invest with growth in mind. “Entry-level setups are great for getting started, but if your goal is production-level output for distributors, you’ll need a reliable, wide-format DTF printer paired with an automatic powder shaker and curing unit to keep up with demand,” Vila says.

Brad Belk, sales director at Arcus Printers/Axiom America, suggests starting out with a two-head, four-color DTF system that can output 110 square feet per hour.

Don’t forget to leave room in your shop to scale. “Many customers start with one printer and quickly outgrow it,” Vila says. A good rule of thumb, he adds, is to buy no less than 70% of your capacity – so if you need to print 700 transfers a week, make sure the printer you buy can do at least 1,000.

3. Set your space up for success. A clean production environment, climate-controlled to around 70 degrees Fahrenheit with roughly 35% to 65% humidity will give you the best results with DTF production, Belk says. He also recommends having your first DTF machine installed in your location by a qualified technician, rather than trying to figure it out on your own. “Make sure you learn the operations and maintenance during the installation,” Belk adds.

4. Don’t wait too long to buy. “Tariffs will affect the pricing and costs within the market,” Belk says. “The sooner you get into the business, the better off you’ll be in the long run. DTF isn’t a fad and will soon be the benchmark of the printed apparel industry.”

How can you ensure success with DTF printing?

1. Always buy quality supplies. It’s essential to understand your ink and consumables and to use manufacturer-recommended or certified materials, Vila says. “DTF relies heavily on proper ink flow and high-quality powder and film,” he adds. “Cutting corners here can result in clogs, bad transfers or failed prints. This is the key. Almost every time I hear about someone disliking their prints, they’ve offloaded to a nonmanufacturer-recommended ink to save a few dollars.”

2. Test, test, test. “Make sure you consistently test your output to confirm that what is going out is top quality,” Belk says. Regular testing will help printers get a handle on print profiles and ink densities for various substrates, whether it’s cotton, polyester, nylon or acrylic, as well as the colors of these materials, he adds.

It’s also crucial to remember that not all garments are created equal, Vila says, especially when dealing with high-volume or low-cost promo products. “Do sample transfers on cotton, polyester and blends so you can confidently stand behind your product quality,” he adds.

3. Don’t skimp on maintenance. Make sure your production crew is fully trained on the equipment, including machine maintenance. “Regular nozzle checks, cleaning cycles and environment control for temperature and humidity are critical for uptime and print quality,” Vila says.

4. Consistency is key. Promotional products distributors rely on repeatable results – often operating under strict color guidelines from the brands they’re creating merch for – so it’s essential that they can trust that the quality of your DTF prints will remain the same. “Set up clear quality control procedures, use the same film and powder combinations consistently, and standardize your print settings to ensure every transfer performs the same,” Vila says.

That’s another reason quality supplies are crucial, Belk adds, since switching to the cheapest inks and consumables “will alter your output color and the performance of your transfers.”

Taking all of these factors into consideration at the beginning of your journey into DTF printing is sure to help set your shop up for long-term success.

The preceding content was provided by a contributor unaffiliated with Printing Impressions. The views expressed within may not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of the staff of Printing Impressions.