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Are you almost ready to go all-in on DTF printing, but feeling unsure about which printer to choose or where to start?
If that sounds like you, don’t worry, you’re not alone. In fact, you’re in the perfect place, and we’re here to clear up all the confusion—once and for all.
Let’s start by asking you a quick question: What’s most important to you right now?
• Is it selecting the right printer model?
• Is it understanding exactly how to use it and what you can do with it to make serious money?
• Or maybe it’s discovering the industries and niche markets that are just waiting for someone like you to jump in and take advantage?
If you answered yes to all of the above, this article is meant for you, so please read on.
We’ll answer all of these questions (and more) in this article.
On this page, we’ll walk you through our full lineup of DTF printers here at ColDesi, and help you find the perfect match for what you’re looking to do.
But, we won’t just leave you hanging after you pick your printer. Oh no.
Once you choose your printer, we’ll show you how to maintain and maximize its performance to get the most out of your investment!
And to top it all off, we’ll share educational videos from our workshop and link you to complementary articles to reinforce your learning.
So, put your phone down. Close those distracting tabs. And read something that’s actually going to make a difference for you.
Let’s do this.
Chances are, you’ve already done some research online and pieced together bits of information from all over—some reliable, some not.
As a result, you might not be 100% sure where you stand right now.
So, let’s start with a quick refresher on what DTF is. Don’t worry, the good stuff is on the way! First, we just need to make sure we’re all on the same page.
Once we get the basics down, everything else will fall into place, we promise.
Let’s start with a simple question: What is DTF printing (and printers)?
Let’s break that question down into two answers.
The abbreviation DTF stands for “direct-to-film” printing.
As the name suggests, this printing method involves printing your artwork (with water-based pigment inks) onto a special PET (polyethylene terephthalate) transfer film, which is then transferred onto the garment (or other substrates) using a heat press mechanism.
Imagine you want to put a design, like a logo or a picture, onto a t-shirt, hoodie, or any other item. There are many ways to do this, but DTF printing is one of the newest and most exciting methods.
The way these printers work is remarkably simple and straightforward.
Here’s a brief overview of the process:
1. Design Creation: First, you create your digital design on a computer using graphic design software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or GIMP, just like you would with any other print job.
2. Printing onto Film: The design is then printed onto a special film in full color using a DTF printer, which is equipped with specialized water-based pigment inks that are OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT certified. Typically, a DTF printer uses the CMYK color gamut, which means it prints using four ink colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black).
3. Film Preparation: Additional steps may include applying adhesive or powder to enhance adhesion to the fabric.
4. Transfer to Fabric: The film with the design is placed onto the item (like a shirt), and a heat press is used to press the design onto the fabric.
5. Peeling and Finishing: After transfer, the film is peeled away, leaving the printed design on the fabric.
And there you have it—a simplified version of what DTF printing is and how these printers work.
With this groundwork laid, we bet you’re eager to learn about the industries and niches you can tap into, and which products you can apply these transfers to.
So, let’s deal with that next.
We hope the warm-up paragraph helped ease you in. We put a lot of thought and effort into it, even if it seemed simple.
Hopefully, it came through!
Now, the stage is set for some fun and, fingers crossed, financially rewarding content.
And it starts with us taking a bird’s-eye view of the customization industry to get a sense of its size.
So, how big is it really? What’s its actual size?
Well, that depends on how you look at it. Some might say it’s too big to measure. Thanks, internet.
These days, you can open an online storefront anytime, anywhere, from any device.
But of course, you already know that—it’s practically common knowledge these days. Chances are, you (or someone you know) have tried running an online shop and seen what it can do firsthand.
The sky’s the limit. The whole world is at your fingertips if you want it to be. You can sell your custom creations across oceans and to faraway lands.
And how can you possibly measure the size of it all? It’s nearly impossible. This industry is practically “alive,” almost like a living organism. It grows daily, becoming bigger, better, and more popular with each passing day.
New niches are popping up, and new audiences are forming, showing interest in products we never would have guessed would fly off the shelves. But here they are, thriving. That’s why you need to be in the trenches to stay in tune with the market.
Only then can you start to piece things together: “Oh, I see—they need this and that, and I could do X and Y. And the trajectory of the industry? It’s clearly headed toward Z.
When you think about the planet, all the countries and people on it, and the fact that you can reach them with your products, one thing is clear: the demand for the customization industry is alive and well—and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
But if we zoom in on this industry, we might get a better view of the niches and sub-niches within it, as well as the materials and substrates compatible with DTF printers, and the kinds of things you can create.
This list should give you a good starting point for figuring out which substrates and materials work best with DTF.
It also points out the types of surfaces you can press on and the industries where you could end up making and selling your custom creations.
We hope this list helps you spot opportunities you might not have thought of before, and that it sparks some new ideas for you.
Now that we’ve covered that, let’s put a spotlight on ColDesi’s range of DTF printers, along with their optional powder shakers and dryers.
If you found this helpful, see our guide to DTF 2025 trends.
How do you choose a DTF printer from more than 1,100 makes and models on the market? The answer is simple. There’s only one trustworthy and reliable brand that comes to mind when we think about direct-to-film (DTF) printers, and that’s ColDesi.
That immediately narrows your choices to just three exceptional models in the ColDesi series—the DTF 12H2, 24H2, and 24H4.
The graphic below provides a detailed comparison of all three printers, covering their configurations, included add-ons, warranties, and technical support options.
If you are scratching your head over the decision, start by asking yourself a few key questions:
What’s Your Budget?
As you can see, DTF printers range in price from just over $10,000 to $20,000 and even upwards of $30,000. So, knowing your budget helps narrow your options quickly. From there, you can crunch the numbers, check your wallet, and decide which of the three models best fits your budget.
What’s Your Production Volume?
If you’re a small business or hobbyist, a compact, entry-level 12H2 model might be perfect for you. However, owners of more established businesses with larger operations and higher production volumes will need a model that can handle it all. In that case, the 24H2 or 24H4 would be more suitable options.
How Much Print Speed Do You Need?
Consider how important speed is to you. In other words, how quickly does the printer need to print, and what level of print speed do you require?
To give you a practical example, the DTF 12H2 can print up to 30 linear feet per hour, which translates to about 30 full front transfers per hour. Moving up to the DTF 24H2, the speed increases to 45–55 linear feet per hour, or roughly 100 full front transfers per hour.
Our flagship model, the DTF 24H4, triples that speed to 145 linear feet per hour, which equals about 300 full front transfers per hour. That means that a printing job will be done much faster with the latter.
What Is The Maximum Print Field You Need?
When choosing a printer, one of the first things to think about is the print field—that’s the maximum printable (or usable) area on the transfer film where your designs can be printed.
This field varies from model-to-model.
For example, the DTF 12H2 offers a 12” wide print field, while both the DTF 24H2 and 24H4 provide a 24” wide print area.
These widths determine the maximum size of a single design or multiple designs placed side-by-side for a batch print that you can do at once.
How Much Space Can You Accommodate For The Printer?
Last but certainly not least, ask yourself how much space you have available for a DTF printer. For example, our flagship DTF 24H4 model, combined with the shaker and dryer units, requires up to 124.5″ x 78″ of space. The DTF 24H2 is slightly more compact, with dimensions of 123.5″ x 67.5″. For the most space-saving option, the DTF 12H2 comes in at just 66.5″ x 39.75″.
The graphics, links, and questions above should guide you in the right direction and help you make an informed purchase.
We’ll assume you’ve either made your decision or will be doing so in the next few hours or days. In the meantime, how about we go over some basic maintenance tips? Things like how to take care of the equipment and which products can help extend its lifespan.
You’ve worked hard to get here. You saved up to invest in this equipment, and now that it’s (hopefully) yours, it only makes sense to take good care of it so it lasts for as long as possible.
To help you out, we’ve put together a detailed guide covering everything you need to know—like the best cleaning solutions, must-have products to pair with your DTF printer, and tips for properly storing your consumables.
Just tap or click the thumbnail below to read the guide (and watch the videos) we’ve made for you.
All put together should give you a solid foundation in DTF—or at least the basics. Now that you’ve got the groundwork, you might be wondering: What’s next?
You’ve got two options:
Take the leap and order your DTF printer.It’s easy to get started. Just fill out the form below with your name, contact info, and the printer model you’re interested in. After that, a product specialist will reach out to you directly to answer any questions, go over the details, and help you finalize your order.
Take some time to think it over.Maybe you’d like to sleep on it, talk it over with a business partner, spouse, or friend, or even get some advice from online forums. While you’re deciding, you can keep learning about DTF. Watch more videos, read some articles, and explore everything this technology has to offer. We’ve got you covered with a page that pulls together all the info you need in one place.
