- What is Heat Transfer Print？
You may not know what heat transfer is. Generally, it is a method of using heat and pressure to print patterns onto fabrics. There are other names for heat transfer printing, such as thermal wax transfer or thermal transfer printing. It is a popular fabric printing choice, such as T-shirts, and hoodies, as well as other items, such as bags and cups.
The basic principle of the heat transfer print process is as follows: first, print the digital image onto the PET film. Then sprinkle hot melt adhesive powder on the PET film on the side with the pattern. Put the printed PET film on the fabric, make the patterned side face the fabric, and then heat and pressurize the PET film. Under the action of heat and pressure, the ink is adhered to the fabric by the melted hot melt adhesive powder, finally forming a permanent image.
Heat transfer printing can add a unique personality to many items, and the cost is low. It can help you create unique items, and can also print logos and promotional messages on gifts in your company’s promotional activities. Whether in a home environment or a small studio, you can create unique and beautiful objects through heat transfer print technology with simple equipment.
- DTF Stands for What？
You may not know what DTF is and what is the connection between it and thermal transfer printing. They are two different technologies of digital printing. DTF is based on heat transfer printing technology, and it is short for Direct to Film. In the field of digital printing, it is often compared with DTG, which is short for Direct To Garment.
DTG technology usually has limitations in the materials on which it prints. It only can print patterns directly on the cotton fabric. DTF can be printed on a variety of materials and can print designs on not only white but also dark garments. It makes digital printing more widely applied to more materials.
- What Fields can Heat Transfer Print be Applied to
Heat transfer printing can transfer designs to various materials, which is an excellent way to add unique personality to an item, and also a cost-effective way.
Heat transfer printing is the best choice for customized clothing and other items because it is a fast, cost-effective, and high-quality printing. It is widely used to transfer designs to t-shirts, hats, bags, and other clothing products.
For items requiring a lot of details and colors, such as photos, logos, and complex designs, heat transfer printing is also a good choice. The color is bright and durable, and the production process is relatively easy. It can also be used to transfer designs to promotional items such as mugs, key chains, and mouse pads.
The most outstanding advantage of heat transfer printing is that it can be applied to many materials, which is also the main reason why heat transfer printing technology is widely accepted and promoted. You can print patterns on the following materials with heat transfer technology.
For example：
- Most kinds of fabrics can be printed by heat transfer print, such as cotton cloth, curtain cloth, emery cloth, umbrella cloth, etc.
- If plastic materials are relatively heat-resistant, or some plastics have been surface-treated, thermal transfer printing can also be used for printing on them.
- After surface treatment, various metal materials can also be printed by heat transfer print, such as metal decorative plates, metal ceilings, metal anti-theft doors, curtain guides, metal tubes, various handicrafts, hardware, etc.
- The surface of all kinds of natural leather can use heat transfer print technology.
- The surface of artificial leather such as PU or PVC, or the fabric coated with PU or PVC on the surface, also is printed by heat transfer print.
- Products for Heat Transfer Print（DTF）
You may need the following materials in order to print something with heat transfer print tech:
- Digital printer – It can print designs on PET film.
- Ink – It can create the design by using a digital printer.
- Hot melt adhesive powder – This is a kind of hot melt adhesive product that is made into powder. It sticks the pattern to the printed object
- PET film – This is a special paper that is used to transfer the design onto the items.
- Heat press – This is used to heat the transfer paper and activate the ink, which is then transferred onto the items.
- Items to be printed – This is the material that the design will be printed onto.
- What Can We Offer
(1)Hot Melt Adhesive powder(DTF Powder)
Maybe you have already heard the name of hot melt adhesive powder. It is a kind of hot melt adhesive product. It is different from hot melt adhesive sticks, hot melt adhesive blocks, and other products. It is a kind of product made of powder.
Hot melt adhesive powder is made of thermoplastic materials and is widely used in heat transfer printing, DTF, coating powder, clothing lining, fabric bonding, and other fields. Hot melt adhesive powder has the characteristics of high adhesive strength, no pollution to the environment, and convenient use.
According to raw materials, hot melt adhesive powder is mainly divided into TPU, PA, PES, and EVA adhesive powder.
(2)DTF PET film
PET film is also indispensable in the heat transfer printing process. You need to print the design to a PET film through the printer. The function of the PET film is to carry the pattern and transfer it.
After the design has been printed, you have to sprinkle the hot melt adhesive powder evenly on the PET film. The adhesive powder will melt by heat pressing. So, the design will be stuck to the surface of the object.
- How to Use Our Products
Heat transfer printing is a relatively simple process that can be done at home or in a professional setting. It is important to use the right materials and equipment when you conduct heat transfer printing.
The heat press should be set to the correct temperature and the design should be placed onto the material correctly. It is also important to use the right type of ink and transfer paper for the best results.
For our products, you need to pay more attention to the use of hot-melt adhesive powder. There are mainly two aspects. One is the use method, the other is the use conditions.
The use of hot melt adhesive powder should pay attention to two points, one is the use method, and the other is the use conditions.
(1)Use the method
The use of hot melt adhesive powder varies in different application scenarios, depending on what kind of machine you are using.
Sometimes you use hot melt adhesive powder to make semi-finished products. In this case, you do not need to completely melt the powder, as long as the powder particles can adhere to the surface of the substrate.
When hot melt adhesive powder is used in heat transfer print, the most important thing is to make the hot melt adhesive powder evenly spread on the surface of the substrate.
(2) Use condition
The use conditions of hot melt adhesive powder are still similar to those of hot melt adhesive. Temperature, pressure, and time are the three factors for the use of hot melt adhesive powder.
Different hot melt adhesive powders have different melting temperatures, so you need to use different hot pressing temperatures to operate. In addition, due to the different melt flow rates of hot melt adhesive powder, the time required for them to melt is also different. For this reason, you need to use different hot pressing times and pressures to operate.