Sublimation VS Direct to Film Transfer Printing
Channel: Kim and Garrett Make It!
Date: 2022-09-09

THIS WEEK! We went head to head with Sublimation VS Direct to Film Printing. We have get a lot of comments about the differences between the two, so we did a 1 to 1 breakdown of both systems. 

TOOLS
Both are converted Epson Inkjet Printers
DTF Transfer Printer A3 L1800 Printer: https://amzn.to/3B14dep
DTF Transfer Film PET: https://amzn.to/3qoY86v
DTF Powder Digital Transfer Hot Melt Adhesive: https://amzn.to/3QsCF7j

Sublimation Epson EcoTank ET-2760: https://amzn.to/3qqBDhF
A-SUB Sublimation Paper 8.5x11: https://amzn.to/3eERCG3
Printers Jack 400ML Sublimation Ink: https://amzn.to/3RTXCJl

DTF – CMYK + W ink, Heater, Heat Press
Sublimation – CMYK – no white, Heat Press

WHAT IS IT?
DTF Process
Print CMYK + White ink onto a PET film Polyethylene Terephthalate
Adding powder adhesive to the back
Melt powder adhesive
Heat Press dtf film onto chosen Substrate

Sublimation Process
Print sublimation CMYK ink onto sublimation paper
Heat Press onto chose substrate.
Ink transitions from solid to gas and adheres to fabric at a molecular level


SET UP
DTF
Set Up Printer
Fill Inks, Pull Ink Through Nozzle
Install RIP Software
90 Minutes

Sublimation
Set Up Printer
Fill Inks
30 Minutes

TRANSFERS
DTF
PET Film – Polyethylene Terephthalate - $80 for 100 Sheets  11 x 17
DTF Powder Adhesive - $25 for 17.5oz or 500g
Store – 1yr in dry, dark, sealed package
Sublimation
A-Sub Sublimation Paper - $20 for 110 sheets
Store – 1yr in dry, dark, sealed package

MATERIALS
DTF
Cotton, Canvas, Linen, Fleece
Will do wood, metal, plastic, acrylic

Sublimation
Restricted to synthetics like poly & nylon
Will do cotton, wood, metal but must be pretreated


TEXTURE
DTF
Soft Vinyl feel
Not as thick as Cricut
Will last 50+ washes

Sublimation
Ink bonds to fibers so only feel the shirt
Will last lifetime of the shirt

COLORS
DTF
More vibrant
More Detail
Light & Dark Fabrics

Sublimation
Less vibrate
Loses detail

MAINTENANCE
DTF
Daily Head Cleaning
Weekly Nozzle Flush
White Ink Separates, If it sits for a few days pull new ink through nozzle

Sublimation
Periodic Head Cleaning

QUANTITY
DTF
More steps per transfer so it takes a little longer
Quick press time of 10 seconds
Large 11 x 17 size

Sublimation
Can create transfer in one easy print step
Can print more faster
Press times vary from 1min to 5min depending on substrate
Limited to 8 ½ x 11 size

COST
DTF
Higher cost of entry - $2800 for printer, heater & ink
Cost of ink about the same for both
~ $1.50 per print

Sublimation
Cheaper cost of entry - $250
Limited size 8 ½ x 11
~ .60 per print

CONCLUSION
Both are great
Depends on the business and purpose
If we were doing mostly koozies, tumblers & ceramics, we’d use the sublimation printer
But we wanted to print on wood, t-shirts and the ability to wholesale prints for our customers, so we’ve purchased the DTF printer to meet those needs. 
But we are happy we have both so that we can use the best tool for the job.

Stuff We Used:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/kimandgarrettmakeit

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FYI: We are not professionals, and we don’t claim to be. This is what we found worked for our project. Yours may need a little different approach. We have just enough woodworking skill to make some basic furniture. Safety first! 


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