How to use

1. Select your textile printing technology: DTF (Direct-to-Film), sublimation, heat transfer vinyl, or screen printing.
2. Enter print zone dimensions in cm or select a standard preset (A4, A3, A5, A6).
3. Enter total garment run count and estimated artwork ink coverage percentage.
4. Select the film or paper roll width (30 cm desktop or 60 cm industrial).
5. Receive calculated total print area, estimated CMYK + White ink volume, and linear film meters for the full run.

Textile Printing Technologies Compared

Each textile printing technology delivers different results depending on fabric composition, required production volume, and garment color.

• DTF (Direct-to-Film) — prints on PET film, transfers to any fabric color or composition via heat press;
• Sublimation — gas-phase dye transfer, exclusively for white or light polyester fabrics (70%+ poly content);
• Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) — plotter-cut colored or metallic vinyl films heat-pressed onto garments;
• Screen Printing — most cost-efficient for high-volume runs of 50+ units with consistent artwork.

DTF Ink Consumption: CMYK & White Underbase

DTF printers consume both CMYK process inks and a white underbase layer. On dark-colored fabrics, white ink consumption often exceeds CMYK combined, significantly affecting per-print cost.

• 20–30% coverage: linework, text, and outline graphics — minimal ink draw;
• 50% coverage: balanced full-color illustrations and branded artwork;
• 80–100% coverage: full photographic print with solid white underbase on dark garments;
• Typical DTF ink consumption: 8–12 ml/m² for light garments, 18–25 ml/m² for dark garments.

Sample Calculation: 50 Dark T-Shirts A4 DTF

Consider an order of 50 dark T-shirts with a standard A4 chest print (21×30 cm) using DTF at 70% artwork coverage.

• Single print area: 21 × 30 = 630 cm² = 0.063 m²;
• Total run area: 0.063 × 50 = 3.15 m²;
• On a 60 cm DTF film roll with 1.5 cm gutters: ~5.4 linear meters of film required;
• Estimated CMYK ink at 14 ml/m²: ~44 ml total;
• Estimated White ink at 20 ml/m² (dark fabric): ~63 ml total.

Heat Press Temperature & Time Settings

Precise heat press parameters determine transfer adhesion, color vibrancy, and wash durability.

• DTF Cold Peel: 150–165 °C, medium pressure, 12–15 seconds, peel after cooling;
• DTF Hot Peel: 145–155 °C, medium pressure, 10–12 seconds, peel immediately;
• Sublimation: 195–210 °C, light-medium pressure, 45–60 seconds;
• HTV Vinyl: 140–150 °C, medium-firm pressure, 15–20 seconds.

Choosing the Right Technology for Your Order

Selecting the optimal printing method maximizes quality, throughput, and margin for your production scenario.

• DTF — best universal choice for 1–100+ units on any fabric color or blend;
• Sublimation — ideal for all-over print sportswear, mugs, and mouse pads on polyester;
• HTV Vinyl — efficient for 1–4 color logo applications on corporate or uniform apparel;
• Screen Printing — lowest per-unit cost for 50+ identical units with spot-color artwork.