Direct-to-film allows you to print premium designs on sportswear and a variety of promotional textiles.
Marc Verbeem, Supervisor Product Management, Mimaki Europe
Direct-to-film printing is transforming the apparel decoration industry. This process allows for vibrant and dynamic full-colour prints with durable printing. This allows digital print service provider (PSPs), to increase their customer base, as well as their product offering in the textile sector. Thanks to the versatility of this process, they can also print on more fabrics. Mimaki recognized the growing popularity of the textile printing process and the need to provide a high-quality solution that uses our core technologies, as well as our established manufacturer support.
Screen Printing vs. Direct-to film
Direct-to film printing is a process that digitally prints directly onto a transfer sheet. The hot-melt is then heated and applied to the fabric. After the transfer sheet has been cured and dried it can be heat pressed on a wide range of fabrics. It is ideal for creating premium transfers for customised merchandise, sportswear and other promotional applications in the textile industry. The screen printing plate creation is much more time consuming than the traditional screen printing methods. Not only this, but the process does not meet direct-to-film’s ability to produce vivid colours and quality details such as shapes, lettering, and motifs often sought after in the promotional and merchandising space for bespoke textiles.
Why DTF?
Mimaki’s move into direct to film technology is a thrilling venture into a new segment. Why did Mimaki choose this path? We knew that we could provide a leading solution to the market with our core technologies, and the technical expertise of our digital printers. A stable and reliable direct-to film printing solution is also needed by the market. For a print process as complex as this, it is important to have a partner who can provide reliable aftercare. Mimaki’s reputation is synonymous with support, which is what direct-to-film customers can expect every step of the way.
The Mimaki TxF150 75
Mimaki’s first direct-to-film inkjet printer is the TxF150-75, a fitting extension to the 150 series, with a maximum printing width of 80cm. Offering a stable printing plotter, the model’s built-in ink circulation system and degassed ink pack are resolutions to common direct-to-film challenges such as poor ink ejection and white ink clogging. The new printer includes Mimaki’s NCU (Nozzle-Check Unit) and the NRS (Nozzle-Recovery System) to ensure stable and uninterrupted printing. Operating in harmony with the textile printer itself is Mimaki’s ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX® certified water-based pigment textile inks, formulated especially for the TxF150-75. Coupled with Mimaki’s RasterLink7 RIP software, users are offered end-to-end oversight and efficiency from creative design to final product.
In addition, and in line with Mimaki’s collaborative approach to meeting customer needs, Adkins has developed an 80cm wide powder shaker cure unit to complete this ‘A brand’ direct-to-film Printing solution. The 80cm-wide printer and postprocessing unit allows customers to print larger garments, with less waste, faster production times and lower costs.
Mimaki TxF15075 is a great solution for customers in the apparel decorated sector, or those who want to enter the digital textile printing industry.