DTF Printing Supplies: What You Need and When to Buy Transfers

Quick Answer - DTF printing uses special ink, transfer film, and adhesive powder to move designs onto fabric with heat and pressure. With the right printing supplies, you can manage the production smoothly. However, ready-to-press transfers can save you from having to buy and maintain printing equipment. 

DTF supplies are the materials, such as DTF ink, transfer film, and adhesive powder, that you need to print a design on film and transfer it onto fabric. The ink forms the image, the film holds it, and the adhesive powder helps it bond to the fabric when heat is applied. To complete the process, you also need a compatible printer and heat press.

At High Quality Transfers, we offer DTF ink, powder, and 24-inch film rolls for people who print their own transfers. Also, we offer custom DTF transfers, so you have another option if you would rather skip some of the printing work.

You must be wondering now - what should you choose?

The choice comes down to how you work. If you regularly print designs, keeping supplies on hand may suit your business. But if you only need a few designs at a time, ordering ready-to-press transfers is a wise decision. 

Why Are DTF Supplies Important?

Running a custom apparel business isn’t limited to keeping track of what your customers want. Besides considering the designs your customers desire, you also need to consider materials, production time, and the cost of each order. 

The last thing you want is to run out of film halfway through the printing job. That’s why keeping track of your supplies is important to avoid any delays.

That said, buying too much can also cause problems. If you run a printing business, you already know how much space DTF printing supplies take. And let’s not forget about the money that you need to put toward other business needs. 

There is also the question of time. Printing transfers means handling every stage yourself, from preparing the artwork to getting the design ready for pressing. A good alternative is to buy ready-to-press transfers, which let you spend less time on those steps and more time on your business and your clients’ needs.

Neither option is right for every business. What’s important is to look at the full cost of each method.

Common Types of DTF Printing Supplies and Other Options

Before you place an order, it helps to go through your DTF printing supplies checklist:

Benefits of Choosing the Right DTF Supplies

When you have all the right materials in stock, it becomes easier to plan your work and track the cost of each order. Let’s look at the benefits of investing in the right DTF printing supplies:

• Keeping essential materials in stock helps you avoid having to stop a job halfway through.

• Tracking how much ink, film, and powder you use makes it easy to estimate the supply cost

• Printing in-house gives you control over when you prepare designs and print them.

• Knowing what each job requires helps you avoid spending money on supplies you may not use.

• You can print your own transfers, or order finished ones, depending on the size and needs of the job.

Besides keeping required materials in stock, you also need to keep an eye on your equipment, its maintenance, wasted prints, and the time you spend preparing designs.

Buying DTF Supplies vs. Buying Ready-to-Press Transfers

One of the most common questions we hear from our customers is which they should choose: DTF supplies or ready-to-press transfers. Perhaps you have the same thing in mind.

Both approaches have a place, depending on how much work comes through your business.

When is it Cheaper to Buy Ready-to-Press Transfers?

Buying ready-to-press transfers can make more sense when you have limited space or only print a few designs. Instead of investing in a printer and ongoing supplies, you simply pay for the transfers you need. 

Printing in-house, on the other hand, is a good choice if you prefer to handle the printing yourself or when orders come in regularly. 

A simple way to decide is by comparing both options:  

• In-house cost per transfer includes materials, equipment costs, maintenance, wasted prints, and labor.

• Purchased transfer cost per design includes the transfer price and shipping costs.

Besides the overall cost, you should also consider the time you spend preparing and printing each batch. 

And if time is not of the essence, consider how many designs you need. When you choose ready-to-press transfers, you can easily arrange several graphics on DTF gang sheets and use the available space effectively. For hard-surface products, the UV DTF gang sheet builder lets you arrange multiple UV DTF designs on a sheet. 

How High-Quality Transfers Can Help

If you print regularly, our DTF ink, powder, and film rolls give you materials to consider for your setup. If you prefer to leave the printing stages to a supplier, you can use our custom gang sheet builder to arrange your artwork and order transfers instead.

We have UV DTF transfers for tumblers and hard-surface projects. With our UV DTF gang sheet builder, you can arrange several designs for hard-surface decoration. Also, we offer dye-sublimation transfers that are designed for compatible sublimation applications. 

All you have to do is choose what works for your orders, budget, and available time.

We suggest making a list of the designs you need and the number of items you plan to decorate before placing your order. 

If you decide to print your own designs, check your ink, film, and powder before you consider restocking. 

FAQs

Is UV DTF better than DTF?

A standard DTF transfer is used on compatible fabrics, while UV DTF transfers are intended for suitable hard surfaces, such as tumblers. So, your choice depends on the item you want to decorate.

How do you transfer UV DTF?

Unlike standard DTF transfers that use heat pressing, UV DTF transfers generally use an adhesive application process. You can follow the instructions that come with your transfer and ensure that the surface is suitable before applying it.

What is DTF printing made of?

DTF printing uses ink to create a design on transfer film, along with adhesive powder that helps the design bond to fabric. With a compatible printer, you can create the image and use a heat press to apply the prepared transfer to the garment.

Ready to Shop the Right DTF Printing Supplies?

Choose the materials or transfers that suit your next project. Browse our DTF printing supplies or use our custom gang sheet builder to arrange your artwork and order your transfers.