“UV DTF Printer vs DTF Printer: What’s the Difference and Which One Should You Choose?”

The UV DTF printer is a digital printing machine that uses ultraviolet light-cured ink to print images or designs on a special transfer film. It is part of the DTF (Direct to Film) printing process, where the design is printed on a special PET film and then transferred onto objects like glass, metal, plastic, wood, ceramics, leather, and more through heat and pressure. The process is simple: print, apply film, and transfer.

How a DTF Printer Works: The design is first printed onto a special DTF film, then heat and pressure are applied to transfer it onto fabric or other materials.

1. Printing: The image is printed on a transparent film.
2. Powder Application: Special adhesive powder is applied to the printed film.
3. Heat Treatment: The powder is bonded firmly with the ink.
4. Heat Pressing: The design is transferred onto fabric or other materials using a heat press.

UV DTF uses ultraviolet lamps to cure the ink during the printing process, while DTF uses water-based pigment inks, hot melt adhesive powder, and a heat press for printing and transfer.

Main Differences Between UV DTF and DTF Printers:

1. UV DTF printers use AB film and UV inks as consumables, while DTF printers use DTF ink, DTF hot melt powder, and transfer film.
2. DTF printers use hot melt powder and an oven to dry the print, while UV DTF printers use UV lamps to cure and dry the ink.
3. UV DTF is used for printing on hard surfaces, while DTF is used for printing on soft surfaces.

Advantages of UV DTF Printers:

1. Can print directly on the surface of objects or transfer designs onto the surface.
2. Offers diverse printing solutions.

Disadvantages:

• Printing speed is slower.

Advantages of DTF Printers:

• Suitable for soft surfaces.
• Provides a cost-effective solution for small to medium-sized production runs.

Disadvantages of DTF:

• Not ideal for large-scale production.

We recommend the most suitable solution for customers based on their printing needs and product characteristics. The choice between UV DTF and DTF depends on whether the product is hard or soft. The core difference lies in the product’s features, which determines whether to use UV DTF or DTF.