Plotter, sublimation or DTF? Which technique for which textile
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For a printed T-shirt, mug or bag there are three common routes in your own makerspace: cutting heat transfer vinyl, sublimation and DTF. All three need a heat press in the end. Which technique suits you is decided mainly by the material: sublimation only works on polyester and coated blanks, while vinyl and DTF also work on cotton.
The three techniques at a glance
| Heat transfer vinyl (plotter) | Sublimation | DTF | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Vinyl is cut, weeded and pressed on | Ink turns gaseous under heat and dyes the fibre | Print on film, hot-melt powder, press on |
| Cotton | yes | no | yes |
| Polyester | yes | yes, at least about 75 % according to Cricut | yes |
| Dark fabrics | yes | no, only white or light | yes, thanks to the white base |
| Mugs, tiles, metal | no | yes, if polymer-coated | not usual |
| Colours and photos | one colour per vinyl layer, no photos | any, including gradients and photos | any, including gradients and photos |
| Feel on the fabric | noticeable film layer | no feel, the colour sits in the fibre | light to medium layer |
| Durability | good, can crack with poor pressing | very good, does not wash out | good, can crack at the edges |
| Sensible run size according to Sign Warehouse | 1 to 50 | 1 to 100 | from about 25 to several hundred |
Which technique for which project?
- One lettering or logo in a single colour on a cotton shirt: Heat transfer vinyl. You need a cutting plotter and a heat press.
- Photos on mugs, coasters, mouse mats or polyester shirts: Sublimation. You need a sublimation printer, suitable blanks and a press, and for mugs a mug press or an oven.
- Colourful designs on cotton or dark fabrics, also in runs: DTF. This is the most expensive way in, see DTF printing.
- Colourful designs on glass, wood or plastic: UV DTF is meant for that, and it belongs to UV printing. According to suppliers, UV DTF does not adhere to fabric.
How these three techniques compare with DTG and screen printing, which are mainly used by print shops, is covered in DTF, DTG, screen printing, sublimation and heat transfer vinyl compared.
What getting started costs
A US retailer compared the equipment for getting started: about US$1,100 for vinyl, about US$2,270 for sublimation and about US$7,205 for DTF. With DTF, a powder station, curing, a press and ventilation are added, and the white ink needs daily care. The figures apply to the US market but show the order of magnitude. You will find current machine prices in euros in the device overview.
Sources
- Sign Warehouse: DTF vs. Sublimation vs. HTV (retailer)
- Cricut Help: Infusible Ink FAQ
- Siser EasyWeed: Product page at Swing Design
- Sawgrass: Sublimation Heat Press Settings
- xTool: Curing DTF powder
- Epson: DTF press release
- StickerApp: UV DTF on fabric