DTF Film and Pigment Ink FAQ: Coating Types, Ink Consumption and Print Settings

If you are buying DTF consumables for the first time — or switching suppliers — the questions all sound the same: What film should I use? How much ink does this really eat? What temperature do I press at? Is the ink going to clog my printheads?

We manufacture DTF PET film and pigment ink in-house, so our sales team fields these questions every single day. This FAQ collects the ones that come up most, with the answers we actually give buyers. No fluff — just the practical details that matter when you are comparing suppliers.

Double-Coated vs Single-Coated DTF Film: What Is the Difference?

When you look at DTF film listings, you will see "single-sided coating" and "double-sided coating." The difference is straightforward:

• Single-coated film has one layer of coating (the print side).
• Double-coated film has two coating layers — one on each side.

Why does the second coating matter? Double-coated film feeds through the printer more easily. The extra coating reduces friction and static, which means fewer paper jams and smoother output, especially in humid conditions or on high-speed runs. If your shop prints long batches unattended, the easier paper feed of double-coated film is worth the small price difference.

Glossy vs Matte DTF Film: Which Finish Do You Want?

The coating on the film decides the finish of your final transfer, and this is where buyers often get surprised.

• Glossy film produces a brighter, glossier transfer. Colors look more vivid because the surface reflects light evenly. If your customer's design needs pop — logos, product prints, retail work — glossy is usually the right call.
• Matte film produces a softer, non-reflective finish. The print looks flatter and more muted, which some customers prefer for a premium, understated feel.

Neither is "better." They serve different orders, and a shop that offers both can match the finish to the customer instead of explaining why they cannot.

How Much DTF Ink and Powder Does Printing Consume?

This is the question every buyer asks before committing to a supplier, and the honest answer starts with "it depends on your artwork." Coverage drives consumption. Here is our reference measurement, taken on our own production printer at 70% color coverage with normal photo content:

For reference, our test printed 10 A4-size images at 70% coverage, which came to roughly 7.7 m² of film, using about 143 g of color ink, 314 g of white ink, and 320 g of powder.

A full roll of 33 cm * 100 m film is about 33 m², so you can scale these numbers up to estimate a roll's consumption — but remember, heavy-coverage designs (big white underbase, dense CMYK) will run higher than this baseline.

DTF Printer Settings: White Ink Volume, Transfer Temperature and Time

Buyers often run into trouble not because the consumables are bad, but because the settings are off. Here are the baseline numbers we recommend on L1800-class converted DTF printers:

• Ink limit settings: white ink 90–100%, color ink 13–15%. Different drivers handle ink limits differently, so treat this as a starting point and adjust to your machine.
• Heat press transfer: 160–165°C for 10–15 seconds.

If transfers crack, peel, or feel stiff, go back to these numbers first before blaming the ink or film. Under-curing and over-pressing cause most of the defects we see in customer photos.

Does DTF Ink Clog Printheads?

Every DTF ink supplier hears this one, and the short answer is: a well-formulated pigment ink does not clog when the printer is maintained properly. Our pigment ink is used widely, and repeat-customer feedback on head life is positive.

That said, white DTF ink deserves care regardless of brand. Its main pigment is titanium dioxide, which settles over time. Two practical habits prevent almost all clogging complaints:

1. Do not keep large volumes of white ink sitting static in the tank for weeks — run the printer regularly or agitate the ink.
2. If a head starts showing banding or missed nozzles, clean it early. A fresh clog clears easily; a neglected one hardens.

What DTF Film Sizes Are Available — and How Do I Identify the Print Side?

We stock the standard sizes most DTF shops need, in both sheets and rolls:

• Sheets: A4, A3, A3+
• Rolls: 30 cm * 100 m, 33 cm * 100 m, 43 cm * 100 m, 60 cm * 100 m

For smaller runs and sampling, sheets keep things simple. Once you are producing daily, rolls at 33–60 cm width give you the best per-meter cost.

Finding the print side, fast:

• Roll film: the print side is the outside — the side facing outward when the roll is unrolled.
• Sheet film: our sheets are marked on the print side, so there is no guesswork.
• Quick test (any film): the print side carries the ink-absorbing coating. Drop a little water on both sides — the side that absorbs it is the print face.

A Word on Film Quality: Creases and What We Do About Them

Occasionally a customer receives film with a crease and asks how we guarantee quality. Honest answer: our PET film is produced on large coating machines, and creases are rare, but they can happen during handling. We take these reports seriously — every crease complaint goes back to our QC line, and we keep tightening inspection so the defective rate stays as low as possible. If you ever receive a damaged roll, send us photos and we will make it right.

Can I Customize the Ink Label? (Yes — Here Is the MOQ)

If you sell DTF ink under your own brand, you can have our ink bottled with your custom label. The minimum order for custom-labeled DTF ink is 100 liters. This is how many of our private-label partners start — same ink formulation, their branding, their market.

About FCOLOR

FCOLOR manufactures DTF pigment ink, PET transfer film, hot melt powder, and DTF printers at our own facility in Dongguan, China. We run the same consumables we sell, which is why the consumption figures and settings above come from our production line rather than a marketing sheet.

Need a sample roll or a quote for custom-label ink? Contact us — our team answers every inquiry directly.

FCOLOR — DTF film, pigment ink, powder and printers, factory direct.