Does DTF Work on Cotton?
Fan of cotton? Appreciate its softness, durability, and breathability? Want to stylize your plain tees through printing?
You may have heard about a versatile printing method (DTF) that’s known to work on most fabrics. But is cotton included in that list?
Direct-to-film (DTF) transfer, unlike other digital printing methods, doesn’t discriminate based on material. It works exceptionally well on cotton and its blends. That said, if you try it without the proper knowledge of supplies and techniques, you won’t be able to achieve those stellar results.
Continue reading to discover why DTF is so effective on cotton and learn the step-by-step method to successfully apply DTF on cotton fabrics – the right way.
In This Article
- Why Does DTF Transfer Work Well on Cotton?
- How to Apply DTF Transfers on Cotton?
- DTF on Cotton: FAQs
Why Does DTF Transfer Work Well on Cotton?
Cotton is made from cellulose, a natural polymer with hydrophilic (water-attracting) properties. It can readily absorb water-based inks, making it best for layered/surface printing options (like DTF and screen printing).
At the same time, cotton is not ideal for some digital printing methods like sublimation, where the ink needs to vaporize and bond with the fabrics. However, you can sublimate cotton, but you’ll have to apply a polymer coating before it accepts sublimation dyes. Digital printing (DTG) also works on cotton but the fabric requires pretreatment to accept dyes.
DTF is one of the most effective methods to directly print on cotton without any pre-treatment or coating. That’s because the DTF design stays on the surface (similar to screen printing) where no deep fibrous bonding is required. However, a special adhesive powder is used in DTF that helps the inked design bond with the fabric.
How to Apply DTF Transfers on Cotton?
Want to try DTF on cotton, perhaps to decorate your everyday Tee with a unique design? Here’s what you need to do.
Step 1: Gather DTF Printing Supplies
You'll need the typical DTF supplies: a DTF printer, DTF inks (CMYK + white base), DTF transfer film, adhesive powder, and a curing oven. We don’t recommend converting your existing inkjet printer to a DTF printer. It won’t provide you optimal results, will likely clog, and require frequent maintenance.
A dedicated printer like the xTool Apparel Printer is the best option. It keeps inks circulating and performs self-maintenance, allowing for hassle-free printing without clogs. Thanks to its dual Epson heads, the xTool DTF printer can print at 720 x 1080 DPI. It’s quick too; a full-scale design of 14 by 18 inches is ready within 2 minutes.
Things reach the next level with the Shaker oven unit, which integrates perfectly with the printer and can create a DTF film that’s adhesive-applied and cured in just one command. This eliminates the manual powdering process.
Step 2: Create a Digital Design
With the DTF supplies in hand, you need a design to print on the fabric. There are multiple options: create a design from scratch via any graphic design software, download one from the Internet, or use a modern AI generator.
Currently, AI Make is one of the finely-tuned software for all types of graphic printing designs. Simply describe your design through a prompt, and a design reflective of your thoughts is created.
Step 3: Prepare the DTF Transfer Film
Import your design into the RIP or the printer control software (XCS in our case). This software converts the image into CMYK format, which the printer understands, and makes adjustments for the white base ink.
After printing, you need to apply adhesive powder and cure the design in an oven. If you’re using the xTool Apparel Printer with the Shaker oven combo, the whole process can be completed with a single command.
Step 4: Heat Press the Transfer Film
Place the film on the cotton fabric or shirt and heat-press it. We recommend using the xTool Smart Heat Press – a portable press that you can easily handle and place over the transfer film.
The settings depend on the exact fabric blend. For 100% cotton shirts, you need to heat press between 280 to 300°F for about 10 seconds.
Step 5: Cooling and Sheet Removal
Allow the transfer sheet to cool, then rub it with a cloth and perform a secondary press for another 10 seconds. You may place a parchment paper over the fabric during heat transfers. Finally, peel off the film to reveal the design.
DTF on Cotton: FAQs
Can you use DTF transfers on 100% cotton?
Yes, DTF works on 100% cotton or any of its blends. The reason is DTF’s unique film and the adhesive powder that helps in bonding with cotton's natural fibers.
How long and what temperature to press DTF on cotton?
That depends on the specific blend. For pure cotton garments, we recommend heat pressing at 280 to 300°F for about 10 seconds.
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