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« Last post by Atownsend on April 08, 2024, 09:20:26 AM »
Came across this over the weekend in my YT feed. Correlation doesn't imply causation they say... but damn. Cant help but feel bad for this guy regardless. Make sure to have ventilation and PPE if you're going to mess with this stuff. Should be common sense. If you're not going to use PPE, just outsource the transfers. Not worth the risk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBi9uAT8EHo
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« Last post by OhNoPrinting on April 08, 2024, 08:45:07 AM »
I guess normal wear is ok, but i don´t need to stretch too much to see these cracks..
The ink is from a local distributor - my guess is, he is rebranding it and it could be AMEX MANOUKIAN, but that is really just a guess and i don´t want to write, so i don´t bad mouth anybody because i can print :-)
Also the ink might just be old? I read, that waterbased ink gets funky?
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Just pressed a sample from the Quatro that my M&R rep left. I'm pretty impressed by the hand. Anyone else tried prints off it?
can you describe it please?
thanx,
pj
It feels like a heat pressed screen printed image. Zero plastic feel, no crinkle. I stretched the large section of the print and no sign of splitting. I got a lot of samples in from other companies and none of them come close to this. Next I'll bring it home and throw it in the wash with every load to see how it holds up. I pressed it onto a G500, I have one more sample and might put it on a 3001. I would imagine you can get samples from M&R, I'd recommend it if you're looking at these machines.
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« Last post by Maxie on April 08, 2024, 02:05:40 AM »
Not all DTF is the same, like screen printing, one printer will get a soft smooth finish, another thick and rough
Depends a lot on the ink and TPU glue. Also how you apply it and the garment.
I don't do a second hit in the press, I put the garments through my oven. This dulls them a bit and the ink seems to melt into the fabric giving a much softer feel and amazing wash tests.
We have a heavy weight cotton sweatshirt that print really well with DTF. A full front on a TS does I agree feel like plastic. It's amazing for pocket prints, hats, sleeves, small orders with lots of colors.
If you want to be a artist stick with printing, if you want to make money add DTF. Just be careful what you buy, there is a lot of junk on the market.
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« Last post by Rockers on April 07, 2024, 08:34:07 PM »
well, after I couldn´t get super reliable white with discharge, i switched to waterbased ink. Was a bit nervous about opacity, but: preflashed the shirt and first stroke already very nice white, then flash, print again. I flash again to take the shirt savely from the pallet to a drying rack and later to send them all in one go through the conveyor dryer.
I let the shirts go 2 times, each 160 degree C for around 1.20 min. After that I stretched it: cracking. Decided to send them two more times: this run with 180 degree C and 1.20min. still the ink cracks. Pressed them in a last effort with the heat press for 30 sec at 160 degree. still cracking. (did 99 sec on a test-shirt: still same outcome)
I read that I can:
- overheat the ink (but after 2 runs in the dryer it was already cracking?)
- use too much ink?
- not getting the ink deep enough? (i already used a 43t and a lot of force)
Is there anything else I can try now? or is it learning experience and I have to do it again?
What ink are you using? Permaset?
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« Last post by Rockers on April 07, 2024, 08:28:24 PM »
so.. gave it another try. Mixed results again.
Look at this photo:
Now the bummer is:
the right one I printed with discharge ink after i mixed the ink and left it for 2 hours to rest. I took it from the pallet directly to the conveyor dryer for 3 runs each 1.20 minute / 160 degree C. Came out super vintagey.
The left one I did a day later with the same ink still in the same screen. Same shirt brand. But this time: i flashed it three time for each 3 seconds and ... voilá: white.
I guess I will contact the seller of the ink and ask for advice on how long the ink should "rest" and if this is a bug or feature :-)
What ink are you using?
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« Last post by Frog on April 07, 2024, 06:11:45 PM »
I have jumped into and use a lot of DTF, and every one of the jobs has been well recieved. That said, because of its hand, it is better suited for fleece and heavier garments, and with designs containing a generous amount of empty space. If I have a hand in creating or tweaking the art for a DTF job, I try to follow Colin Chapman's philosophy “Simplify, then add lightness.”
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« Last post by zanegun08 on April 07, 2024, 04:56:00 PM »
The way a DTF feels is an ambigram of how of it's named.
F = Fabric
T = To
D = Diaper
Feels like putting a diaper on your apparel, it's plastic and cheap feeling.
I've started to notice people on instagram say "stay away from DTF" and the public consensus seems to be starting to shift back to back to screen print is king and DTG being perceived as better quality due to the hand feel.
The only reason people like DTF is because it's "Cheap" and Easy (Lazy?) it is, and that it gets the job done, but it's not actually that great of quality unless you like wearing a sticker on your shirt. I've been selling more DTG and only reserve transfers for totes and truckers, or small / light coverage images, neck labels. The challenge I have now is that DTF can hold much higher detail than DTG but at the sacrifice of hand feel.
If you think it's a replacement for screen printing I think you are going to be disappointed, just another tool that should be used in a limited amount of situations. I'll bet in 15-20 years all DTF prints will be in the landfill, and screen printed from the same tees will still be sold in vintage shops. The D in DTF = Disposable Transfer Facsimile
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« Last post by Hemi on April 07, 2024, 02:27:41 PM »
The cost to operate gas equipment in my area is expensive. It’s around 2 bucks a therm. What’s the typical gas dryers daily usage of therms?
Yeah maybe it’s a more effective way to cure your prints but is it more energy efficient at that rate? Obviously depends on what electric dryer you would be comparing it to
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« Last post by screenxpress on April 07, 2024, 01:52:40 PM »
The first thought in my mind is how STRONG are you stretching? Any ink will crack given enough force unless you have also used a stretch additive (not used that often but I have on girls stretchy shirts). I guess stretch the shirt close to or a little more than it would stretch when worn.
I'm sure there are others here to chime in with lots better answers but that was my first thought.
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