How DTF printers can amplify product range and unleash new choices for signal store homeowners
By Ginny Mumm
Including custom-made attire can present a high-margin further income stream for store homeowners. Images courtesy Roland DGA
It’s no secret the market demand for customized attire is continuous to rise. In actual fact, based on Grand View Analysis, the embellished 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 gives 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 gadgets at the moment are being built-in into signal retailers as a strategy to broaden product ranges and create customized attire in-house.
To search out out extra about this well-liked textile manufacturing methodology, we talked with Roland DGA utility specialist Mike Davis.
Why ought to print service suppliers (PSPs) think about bringing attire manufacturing
in-house?
Mike Davis (MD): Signal store homeowners at this time 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 supply what might be high-quality, high-margin merchandise themselves. Immediately’s DTF know-how permits store homeowners to deliver full-colour, on-demand customized attire manufacturing in-house.
Display printers are additionally benefiting from DTF know-how to print smaller runs or samples. Superior Raster Imaging Processor (RIP) software program can produce the identical color choices as display 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 doable to realize a a lot increased hourly output with at this time’s DTF gadgets.
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 wonderful service and assist that guarantee constant up-time for these gadgets.
Trendy DTF printers are compact and simple to make use of, and don’t require customers to pre-treat materials. The essential workflow has only some steps. For instance, if you’re 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 beneficial time on the beneficial temperature, after which warmth urgent the graphic onto a garment and eradicating the movie backing might be as fast as 10 minutes.
With manufacturing orders, it’s doable to realize a a lot increased hourly output with at this time’s DTF gadgets.
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 made from 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; nonetheless, DTF works equally nicely on tote luggage, aprons, caps, and sports activities shirts. It gives PSPs the possibility to develop their product line for purchasers. As a substitute of simply providing sports activities banners, decals, and yard indicators, with DTF, a store proprietor can present jerseys, dad or mum shirts, hats, and different kinds of staff attire.
As a substitute of simply providing sports activities banners, decals, and yard indicators, with DTF, a store proprietor can present jerseys, dad or mum shirts, hats, and different kinds of staff attire.
What ought to PSPs search for in a DTF printer?
MD: It’s vital to search for a producer offering sturdy tools that may ship constant color and high-definition output over time. It’s additionally key to discover a firm that stands behind their gadgets with a very good guarantee. You wish to guarantee your machine will carry out optimally for so long as doable, and that ought to you want a component or service, your producer can have components and assist out there.
Some DTF printers provide further 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 in addition make this compact but highly effective desktop system extremely easy to function. The BY-20 may also be used for conventional print and minimize functions in addition to for warmth switch graphics. Moreover, some producers provide the opposite DTF system elements wanted—the inks, switch paper, and powder—to supply customers with a whole resolution.
What kinds of software program are producers providing for this market?
MD: Most DTF producers at the moment are together with RIP software program with their gadgets. Further software program is required to create the artwork.
Roland DG’s VersaSTUDIO line is particularly designed to be simple to make use of. The BY-20 features a license for a model of FlexiDesigner in addition to RIP software program. This may help with creating vector pictures which might then be despatched for outputting and permits for customers to import their design from different software program.
What function does sustainability play in DTF manufacturing?
Whereas most individuals are printing on merchandise made from 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 need to inventory your prints or take care of giant inventories that won’t promote. You possibly can produce precisely what your purchasers need, when they need it.
What do you see forward for DTF printing? What improvements are within the pipeline?
MD: I feel 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 purchasers’ wants in-house. The printers themselves will bear minor tweaks to additional improve print speeds. There may be a motion towards a four-printhead machine somewhat than the present customary of 1 or two printheads.
There may also be enhancements coming with the manufacturing elements, together with inks, powders, and movies. Sizzling peel movie is turning into well-liked now.
Specialty movies equivalent to glitter movies and glow-in-the-dark movies are being launched as nicely, so I count on 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 data, 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