DTF printing and sublimation printing are two advanced printing technologies belong to heat transfer. They both can transfer the designed patterns to garment. Therefore, people are often confused by this question: DTF printing or Sublimation printing, what are the differences? Which is more suitable for my printing business?

 

In a word, the key differences between DTF printing and Sublimation printing is: DTF printing can print onto all types of fabrics with vivid color and touch-feeling layer while Sublimation printing can print on only light-colored polyester fabrics with photo-realistic quality and no touch-feeling layer.

 

Key Differences: Compare DTF Printing vs. Sublimation Printing

The following table presents major differences between the printing technology from perspective of: application material, print process, print quality, touch feeling, market.

	DTF Printing	Sublimation Printing
Application Material	Can print onto almost ALL types of fabrics, both dark and light-colored items	Can only print onto light-colored or white polyester fabrics
Print Process	5 steps including: refine, print, cure pattern, heat press and tear off film	3 step including: design, print, transfer
Print Quality	Vivid color with finest details	Photo-realistic but colors are not very vivid. Cannnot print white color.
Touch Feeling	Customer can feel layer (image) in addition to the material (such as feeling a layer on cotton or fabric T-shirt)	Without touch feeling, just like the image is merged into clothing
Market	All kinds of clothing (T-shirt) printing. Applicable to a wide variety of materials, such as cotton, polyester, and blends. Open up endless possibilities.	Fantastic technique shines when used on white or light-colored polyester materials. Popular in the world of sportswear for creating eye-catching banners, flags, jerseys and home textile.

 

Definition of DTF Printing, Sublimation Printing

What is DTF Printing?

DTF printing is a new type of printing technology, easy to operate. The printing process needs DTF printer, shake powder machine and heat press machine. Firstly, DTF (Direct To Film) printer prints patterns to DTF film, then it uses heat press machine to transfer the pattern on DTF film to the fabrics. DTF printing is an efficient method to transfer patterns to various fabrics.

 

What is Sublimation Printing?

Sublimation printing is a digital printing technology that uses full color artworks, using sublimation printer to print the patterns to sublimation paper, then transfer the pattern to clothing or items that made by polyester and polymer coatings with the help of heat press machine under specified temperature and pressure. This technology is usually used for decorative clothes, logo and banner. It is also suitable for pillows, plaques, coffee cups and other small items that are easy to sublimate. This technology uses sublimation science to print the dyes of the gesture (without passing the liquid stages) through pressure to print the surface of solid objects.  

 

Pros & Cons of DTF Printing, Sublimation Printing

Pros & Cons of DTF Printing

List of advantages of DTF printing:

 

Can be used on any fabric

Use for dart and light garment

The pattern is high-precision, vivid and exquisite

List of disadvantages of DTF printing:

 

The feel of the printed areas is not as soft as that of sublimation printing

Pattern printed by DTF printing is less breathable than that printed by sublimation printing

Suitable for partial decorative printing

 

Pros & Cons of Sublimation Printing

List of advantages of Sublimation printing:

 

Print on rigid surfaces like mugs, photo slates, plates, clocks, etc.

Printed fabric is soft and breathable

The ability to manufacture a variety of all over print cut and sew products using large format printers on an industrial scale

List of disadvantages of Sublimation printing:

 

Limited to polyester garments. Cotton sublimation can only be achieved with the help of sublimation sprays and transfer powders, which adds an extra layer of complexity.

Limited to light coloured products.

 

DTF printing and Sublimation, Which is Better?

As detail explained in above content, choosing DTF printing or sublimation printing depends on the specific needs of user, customer requirement and the industry your printing business in. Both printing methods have their own features.

 

Usually, sublimation printing is best for photorealistic print on bright color items such as in sportswear, DTF printing is ideal choice for vivid color printout on all types of fabrics with both dark and light color substrate (such as cotton T-shirt printing).

 

If you are still choosing between the powerful and cost-effective DTF printer and Sublimation printer, the experts (from world leading manufacture: Zhongliqi) are ready to offer professional advices to your printing business for the excellent (T-shirt) printing performance, gorgeous color to satisfy your customers.