DTF & UV DTF, What's the Differences?

There are so many digital printers that focus on different fields of printing in this market. Among all of them, DTF printers and UV DTF printers have a similar name, but they are totally different technologies. Beginners in digital printing will usually feel confused by these 2 types of solutions. If you are hesitating about what kinds of printing solutions you are looking for, this blog might help you clarify them.

So what are the main differences between them?

Let's explain by the concepts of them:

• DTF (direct to film) is a garment printing solution.

Use DTF textile inks, print to PET films, shake powder and heat, then use a heat press on the garments.

The DTF printers are especially good for the printing of garments with different textile materials, for example, sports wear, hoodies, T-shirts, jeans, etc.

Compared with the small business-use desktop DTF printer, the 3 in 1 DTF printers allow highly automatic powder shaking and rolling up, and higher your efficiency.

• UV DTF printing is a non-textile transfer printing solution.

  It uses UV curing inks as a UV flatbed printer does, prints to UV DTF A films, laminates A film with B transfer film(can be done by hand or by a laminator), then cuts them into pieces to stick to items where you want images to be. The usages are beyond imagination, e.g. mugs, tumblers, books, phone cases, golf balls, etc... For materials has large size, not easy to move, irregular, or items with big high drops, UV DTF crystal lables printing can help a lot.

  UV DTF printers mean the machines that only focus on the UV DTF stickers(we also call them crystal labels). With printing and laminating system build together to the machine, UV DTF printers have an amazing efficiency in the stickers printing. You can sell just the stickers to your clients, or transfer them to the products to sell the finished products. Combined with our clients' feedback, a piece of stickers can usually be sold at around 2.8 USD. If stick to the products, it can greatly higher the value of your goods.

  Note: UV DTF printers can not print directly to materials. If you are looking for both solutions in one printer, let's look at the UV flatbed printer: it can not only print various items directly, but also make the crystal labels to transfer to non-textile materials.

  So now, do you have an idea about the differences between DTF and UV DTF?

• Let's lead to a simple conclusion:

1. Applying fields are different. DTF printers focus on garments printing, but UV DTF printers focus on the non-textile materials' transfer printing.
2. Ink are diffrent. DTF printers will use the DTF textile ink, UV flatbed printers or UV DTF printers will use the UV curing ink.
3. Working flows are different. DTF printing will have a heat press process, and UV DTF printing will have a laminating process manuelly or by laminating machine.

If you are still not sure what machine might be the best choice for your business plan, just feel free to write our consultant and they will give you the most professional advice!