FAQ
Printer FAQ — DTF, DTG, UV & Eco Solvent Questions
A：UV printer: uses UV ink and is cured by ultraviolet light. It is suitable for printing hard materials (such as glass, metal, acrylic, stone) and some soft materials (such as PVC, leather). It dries immediately after printing, has strong adhesion, and is scratch-resistant and wear-resistant.
DTF printer (direct transfer film printing): first prints the pattern on the transfer film, and then attaches it to the fabric (cotton, chemical fiber, blended, etc.) or other materials through thermal transfer. It is suitable for small-batch personalized customization without pre-treating the fabric.
DTG printer (direct fabric printing): prints directly on the fabric (mainly cotton or high-cotton content fabric), suitable for pure cotton T-shirts, sweatshirts, etc., and dark fabrics need to be pre-treated (spray white ink for primer).
Eco Solvent printer (weak solvent printer): uses weak solvent ink, suitable for printing soft materials (such as light box cloth, car stickers, wallpaper, canvas), the ink has low volatility and good environmental protection, and needs to be dried naturally or heated.
A：If the fabric is mainly pure cotton and you want the convenience of direct printing, choose DTG;
If the fabric types are complex (including chemical fiber, blended fabric, leather, etc.), or you need to consider non-fabric materials (such as shoes, hats, bags), choose DTF, which has a wider range of applicability.
A：Choose UV when printing hard roll materials (such as PVC boards) or when fast curing and high weather resistance are required (such as outdoor billboards);
Choose Eco Solvent when printing soft roll materials (such as light box cloth, car stickers) and when environmental protection is required (such as indoor use).
A：They cannot be used interchangeably. UV ink contains photosensitizer and requires ultraviolet light curing; DTF/DTG ink is water-based or dispersed, relying on thermal transfer or penetration; Eco Solvent ink is weak solvent, relying on evaporation to dry.
Mixing will cause clogging, print pattern shedding, and equipment damage (such as UV lamp contamination and ink path corrosion).
A：The transfer film needs to match the DTF ink to ensure that the pattern has good adsorption and does not stick during transfer;
The glue needs to be selected according to the fabric type (such as high-elastic glue for elastic fabrics) to avoid cracking or falling off of the pattern after transfer.
A：White ink contains titanium dioxide, which has large particles and is easy to precipitate, so it needs to be stirred regularly (the device's built-in white ink stirring function needs to be turned on);
The nozzle should be cleaned before printing every day, and moisturizing maintenance should be performed when not in use for a long time to prevent the ink from drying up.
A：There may be oil or dust on the surface of the material, which needs to be cleaned in advance;
The ink viscosity is not suitable (it is easy to thicken when the temperature is too low), or the nozzle height is too high, and the UV lamp power is insufficient, resulting in untimely curing.
A：Check whether the lamination pressure between the transfer film and the fabric is uniform and whether the temperature is too high (causing ink diffusion);
Adjust the printer parameters (such as reducing the printing speed and increasing the nozzle accuracy) to ensure that the pattern edges are clear.
A：If the ink is not completely dry, you can extend the drying time or increase the drying temperature;
Choose low-VOCs eco-friendly Eco Solvent ink, or leave it in a ventilated environment for a while, and the odor will evaporate naturally.
A：Printhead: Generally replaced every 1-3 years, depending on the frequency of use and maintenance (UV printheads have a relatively long lifespan, while DTF/DTG printheads require more frequent maintenance due to the ease of clogging with water-based inks);
Transfer film/fabric: Replace as needed, and pay attention to sealing and moisture-proofing to prevent edge curling from affecting printing.