A call to expand the digital printing paradigm
How DTF printers can amplify product variety and unleash new choices for signal store homeowners
By Ginny Mumm
Including custom-made attire can present a high-margin extra income stream for store homeowners. Photographs courtesy Roland DGA
It’s no secret the market demand for customized attire is continuous to rise. In reality, in response to Grand View Analysis, the adorned attire market globally hit $28.98 billion (C$36.2 billion) in 2023, and is predicted to develop at a compound annual development fee (CAGR) of 13 per cent from 2024-2030.1
One of many quickest rising manufacturing strategies for customized attire printing is direct-to-film (DTF) manufacturing. DTF provides quick, high-quality manufacturing of one-off or short-run custom-made attire merchandise. As soon as the province of attire producers and mall kiosks, these units are actually being built-in into signal retailers as a method to broaden product ranges and create customized attire in-house.
To search out out extra about this common textile manufacturing methodology, we talked with Roland DGA utility specialist Mike Davis.
Why ought to print service suppliers (PSPs) contemplate bringing attire manufacturing
in-house?
Mike Davis (MD): Signal store homeowners right this moment are sometimes requested if they supply customized shirts, hats, jackets, and tote luggage. Many are outsourcing this manufacturing to a different store, dropping the chance to offer what could be high-quality, high-margin merchandise themselves. Right this moment’s DTF expertise permits store homeowners to carry full-colour, on-demand customized attire manufacturing in-house.
Display screen printers are additionally making the most of DTF expertise to print smaller runs or samples. Superior Raster Imaging Processor (RIP) software program can produce the identical color choices as display screen printing, together with half-tones, with a lot much less setup time.
How are producers addressing the market’s rising want for on-demand customized attire manufacturing?
With manufacturing orders, it’s attainable to realize a a lot greater hourly output with right this moment’s DTF units.
MD: Producers are responding with environment friendly, reasonably priced DTF options that may sustain with the wants of retailers for high-quality on-demand manufacturing. First-tier producers additionally provide glorious service and assist that guarantee constant up-time for these units.
Fashionable DTF printers are compact and straightforward to make use of, and don’t require customers to pre-treat materials. The fundamental workflow has only some steps. For instance, in case you are printing one 304.8 mm x 304.8-mm (12 in. x 12-in.) picture onto a tee-shirt, the method of printing the graphic onto switch movie, coating it with shaking powder, melting the powder underneath a warmth press for the really helpful time on the really helpful temperature, after which warmth urgent the graphic onto a garment and eradicating the movie backing could be as fast as 10 minutes.
With manufacturing orders, it’s attainable to realize a a lot greater hourly output with right this moment’s DTF units.
What kinds of attire and textiles can DTF print on?
MD: DTF is a remarkably versatile manufacturing platform. Whereas most individuals are printing on merchandise product of 100 per cent cotton, DTF may also be used to print on 100 per cent polyester in addition to poly blends, denim, and on some kinds of nylon.
The commonest utility is on tee-shirts; nevertheless, DTF works equally nicely on tote luggage, aprons, caps, and sports activities shirts. It provides PSPs the prospect to increase their product line for shoppers. As an alternative of simply providing sports activities banners, decals, and yard indicators, with DTF, a store proprietor can present jerseys, father or mother shirts, hats, and different kinds of workforce attire.
As an alternative of simply providing sports activities banners, decals, and yard indicators, with DTF, a store proprietor can present jerseys, father or mother shirts, hats, and different kinds of workforce attire.
What ought to PSPs search for in a DTF printer?
MD: It’s necessary to search for a producer offering strong gear that may ship constant color and high-definition output over time. It’s additionally key to discover a firm that stands behind their units with guarantee. You wish to guarantee your machine will carry out optimally for so long as attainable, and that ought to you want an element or service, your producer can have elements and assist out there.
Some DTF printers provide extra options to assist guarantee vibrant, detailed graphics. For instance, Roland DG’s DTF printer—the VersaSTUDIO BY-20—boasts developments that not solely maximize color richness and accuracy, but additionally make this compact but highly effective desktop machine extremely easy to function. The BY-20 may also be used for conventional print and lower purposes in addition to for warmth switch graphics. Moreover, some producers provide the opposite DTF system parts wanted—the inks, switch paper, and powder—to offer customers with a whole resolution.
What kinds of software program are producers providing for this market?
MD: Most DTF producers are actually together with RIP software program with their units. Extra software program is required to create the artwork.
Roland DG’s VersaSTUDIO line is particularly designed to be straightforward to make use of. The BY-20 features a license for a model of FlexiDesigner in addition to RIP software program. This can assist with creating vector photographs which might then be despatched for outputting and permits for customers to import their design from different software program.
What position does sustainability play in DTF manufacturing?
Whereas most individuals are printing on merchandise product of 100 per cent cotton, DTF may also be used to print on 100 per cent polyester in addition to poly blends, denim, and on some kinds of nylon.
MD: The flexibility to print on-demand helps with sustainability. With DTF manufacturing, you don’t must inventory your prints or cope with massive inventories that won’t promote. You possibly can produce precisely what your shoppers need, when they need it.
What do you see forward for DTF printing? What improvements are within the pipeline?
MD: I believe the marketplace for DTF will proceed to get stronger. It’s an accessible and reasonably priced method for store homeowners to broaden their product choices and meet extra of their shoppers’ wants in-house. The printers themselves will bear minor tweaks to additional enhance print speeds. There may additionally be a motion towards a four-printhead machine moderately than the present commonplace of 1 or two printheads.
There can even be enhancements coming with the manufacturing parts, together with inks, powders, and movies. Sizzling peel movie is changing into common now.
Specialty movies corresponding to glitter movies and glow-in-the-dark movies are being launched as nicely, so I anticipate to see enhancements in these kinds of supplies as they mature out there. I’ve additionally come throughout samples of textured impact movies, which we must always begin seeing extra of going ahead.
Ginny Mumm is a contract advisor for digital inkjet printer/cutter supplier Roland DGA. For extra info, go to www.rolanddga.com.
Notes
1. Learn the Market Evaluation Report by Grand View Analysis right here: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/decorated-apparel-market