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Factors Influencing the Printing Effect of DTF Transfer Printers

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Factors Influencing the Printing Effect of DTF Transfer Printers

What Factors Will Influence the Quality of DTF Transfer Patterns?

1. Printing Head

Do you know why DTF transfer printers can print multiple colors? The four CMYK inks can be combined to produce a wide range of colors, but the printhead is the most critical component of any printing operation. Because the type of printhead employed has a considerable impact on the project's ultimate results, the condition of the printhead is critical to the printing process's quality. The printhead is made up of multiple tiny electrical elements and nozzles that may hold different colors of ink. The inks are sprayed or dripped onto the paper or film in the printer.

The Epson L1800 DTF print head, for example, has 540 nozzle holes in total and 6 rows of 90 nozzle holes each. In general, the print head with the most nozzle holes will print the most quickly and with the best results.

However, if part of the nozzle holes are clogged, the printing results will be faulty. Because the ink is corrosive and the print head's interior is comprised of plastic and rubber, the print head's surface may become tarnished with ink and dust when it is used more frequently. If the test strip is insufficient, you must immediately replace the print head because its lifespan might range from 6 to 12 months.

You can print the test strip from the software to inspect the print head's condition. If the lines are complete and uninterrupted, and the colors are exact, the nozzle is in good condition. The print head must be replaced if a considerable number of lines are inconsistent.

2. Computer settings and the printing curve (ICC profile)

Aside from the print head, the software settings and printing curve selection will all have an effect on the printing outcome. Set the ink dot to medium and choose the proper scale unit in the software, such as cm, mm, or inch, before printing. The printing curve must be selected as the last step. For the printer to deliver the finest results, all parameters must be properly configured. Because CMYK inks are used to create a wide range of colors, different curves or ICC Profiles correspond to different mixing ratios. The printing result will also vary depending on the printing curve or the ICC profile. The connection between the curve and the ink will be discussed more below.

The number and quality of ink drops applied to the substrate during printing will affect the final output. Smaller drops will produce increased resolution and definition. This works best when producing easy-to-read text, especially language with fine lines.

Greater drops are preferable when printing fast across a large area. Huge drops are preferred for printing on larger flat items, such as large-format signage. We recommend using our ink for printing because it has a printing curve built into the printer software and was calibrated by our technical staff for optimal color fidelity using our inks. To print, you must first import the ICC profile into another RIP software. This process is time-consuming and inconvenient for beginners.

3. Image's Pixel DTF curve

The printed pattern is also linked to your original image. If your image has been compressed or the pixels are few, the end outcome will be poor. Because the printing program cannot optimize an image that is not very clear. As a result, the higher the image resolution, the better the output result. Because it lacks a white backdrop, the PNG format graphic is better suited for printing than other formats, such as JPG. Printing a DTF transfer design with a white background will appear weird.

4. DTF Film Transfer Printer

The DTF market has a diverse assortment of films. In general, more opaque film gave better results since it typically contains a larger ink absorbent layer. However, some films had a loose powder coating, resulting in irregular prints and other regions that just refused to receive ink. Handling such film was difficult, with powder constantly being brushed off and hands leaving fingerprint smears all over it. Some films began beautifully, then twisted and bubbled throughout the curing process. This particular type of DTF transfer film seems to have a lower melting temperature than DTF powder.

We eventually succeeded in melting the film before the powder at 150°C. Perhaps powder with a lower melting point was meant for it. However, this would surely have an impact on the ability to wash at high temperatures. Because the other type of film was so twisted, it dragged itself up 10 cm and adhered to the top of the oven, the heating components were damaged. Our transfer film is made of superior polyethylene, has a thick texture, and is covered in a frosted powder coating that aids ink adhesion and fixation. The thickness ensures the transfer effect as well as the printing pattern's stability and smoothness.


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