Digital printing glossary

Plain definitions of the processes, components and consumables used in DTF, UV DTF, DTG, sublimation and eco-solvent printing.

DTF (Direct to Film)

A digital process that prints artwork onto a PET transfer film, coats it with hot-melt adhesive powder, then heat-presses the transfer onto fabric. It works on cotton and blended garments without pre-treating the fabric.

UV DTF

A DTF variant that prints UV-curable ink onto AB transfer film. The cured transfer is adhesive-backed and applied with hand pressure or a cold laminator instead of heat, so it can decorate rigid and heat-sensitive items such as glass, metal, plastic and finished products.

DTG (Direct to Garment)

Printing water-based pigment ink straight onto a garment, usually a pre-treated cotton T-shirt. Suited to short runs and detailed full-colour images.

Dye-sublimation

Printing disperse dye onto transfer paper, then applying heat so the dye turns to gas and bonds into polyester or polymer-coated material. The print adds no surface feel, but works only on polyester or coated substrates.

Eco-solvent

A printing process using mild solvent inks that cure by evaporation. Common for outdoor signage on vinyl, banner and coated media because of its UV and weather durability.

UV-curable ink

Ink that cures instantly under ultraviolet light instead of drying by evaporation, which allows printing onto heat-sensitive and non-porous materials.

Printhead

The component that ejects ink droplets. Common heads in this equipment class are the Epson I3200 and XP600 series; the number and model of heads drive speed, colour channels and cost.

Pass count

How many times the printhead passes over the same area. Lower pass counts print faster with lower ink density; higher pass counts print slower with smoother gradients and greater density.

PET film

The polyester transfer film used in DTF. Standard garment DTF uses single-sided film; UV DTF uses AB film.

Hot-melt powder

Thermoplastic adhesive powder applied to the wet DTF print before curing. It becomes the adhesive that bonds the transfer to the fabric during heat pressing.

Curing and fixation

The step that sets a print. In DTF the powder is melted; in sublimation the dye is gassed into the substrate; in UV printing the ink is cured by ultraviolet light.

Heat press

A machine that applies controlled temperature, pressure and dwell time to bond a transfer to a substrate.

White ink circulation

A system that keeps the white ink channels moving, because titanium-dioxide white pigment settles faster than colour inks.

RIP software

Raster image processor. Converts artwork into the raster data and ink separations the printer needs, and applies the ICC colour profile.

Roll-to-roll

A printer format that feeds media from a roll and rewinds it, suited to long banners, flags and textile rolls.

Flatbed

A printer format with a fixed horizontal table on which the substrate is placed. Suited to rigid boards and objects.

CMYK + White

The standard DTF ink set. CMYK builds colour, while white lays an opaque base so the print reads correctly on dark garments.