- Top Pick: Lancelot M1630 Pro DTF Printer Bundle with Auto Maintenance | Includes oven, preloaded laptop and consumables; white ink circulation, auto cutting, and A3/A4 sheet or roll film support
- Best Value: DXZ 2026 14'' A3 DTF Printer with F1080 Printhead – 200% High Speed DTF Machine for Multi-Fabric, One-Click Print-to-Bake & 24/7 Auto-Maintenance, 2-Year Ink Included
- Premium Choice: VELOZONE A4 L8058 DTF Printer Bundle with Curing Oven, 720 x 1440 DPI CMYK+W Direct to Film Printer, AcroRip for Windows, Ink, Powder and 100 A4 Film Sheets
For a first DTF setup, a roll-fed A3 machine such as the Procolored F13 suits a small shop that wants dedicated direct-to-film output, the Epson SureColor F1070 suits a buyer who wants a compact, maker-supported hybrid that also prints garments directly, and Brother’s GTX line is for shops with real volume. Everything below is based on maker specifications and published reviews, and it is written for a general reader who is weighing a move into custom apparel, not for gamers.
- How direct-to-film printing works
- Best DTF printers at a glance
- Procolored F13: the entry roll-fed choice
- Epson SureColor F1070: the hybrid
- Brother GTX and the premium tier
- Best direct to film printers for small business
- Running cost: what actually adds up
- Where UV printers fit
- Pick the printer that matches your plan
- Alternatives to consider
- Setup and compatibility notes
- Frequently Asked Questions
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How direct-to-film printing works
Direct-to-film (DTF) printing prints a design in CMYK plus white ink onto a clear film, coats it with hot-melt adhesive powder, cures it, and then presses it onto a garment. It works on cotton, blends and many synthetics, and the film can be stored and pressed later. Unlike direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, the printer never touches the shirt, so pretreatment of the garment is not required. The trade-off is a multi-step workflow: print, powder, cure, press, peel.
Most buying decisions come down to four things: print width, whether the machine feeds film from a roll, how the white ink is kept from settling, and what each print costs in ink and film. Those are the points this guide uses.
Best DTF printers at a glance
| Model | Best for | Key stated specs | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Procolored F13 (single head, L1800-based) | Small business or serious hobbyist | 13 in (A3) width, roll film, CMYK plus two white channels, white ink circulation; the maker cites about 10 minutes for an A4 print | Single head is the slowest option here; reviewers describe a learning curve |
| Procolored F13 Pro (dual XP600) | Shops with steady daily orders | Same 13 in width, dual XP600 heads; the maker cites about 4.5 minutes for an A4 print | More ink channels and parts to maintain |
| Epson SureColor F1070 | Buyers who want a supported hybrid for DTG and DTF | 10 x 12 in platen, UltraChrome DG2 ink, 2400 x 1200 dpi, 250 mL ink packs | Platen size caps print area; Epson ink only; not roll fed |
| Brother GTX / GTXpro family | High-volume shops | Industrial hybrid with a dealer network | Highest cost of entry and ink cost; overkill for hobby use |
| Larger Epson SureColor G-series DTF models | Production-scale roll DTF | Epson lists these as dedicated film printers using DTF-specific ink | Business-scale investment and floor space |
Procolored F13: the entry roll-fed choice
Procolored sells the F13 in several bundles. The maker lists a 13 in (A3) print width, a roll feed that allows long prints, a single L1800-based printhead, CMYK ink plus two white channels, and a white ink circulation system aimed at reducing clogs. It also lists automatic head cleaning on a timer and a built-in pre-heating function. The standard kit is described as including 250 mL ink bottles for the colors and white.
The maker quotes roughly 3.75 mL of ink for an A4 print. That is a useful number for estimating cost without any prices: multiply your expected monthly sheet count by that ink figure, then add film and powder, which are the other two consumables. Reviewers such as TechRadar and Hackster have covered the F13 line and generally position it as an approachable machine, while noting that DTF has a real learning curve around powder application, curing temperature and white ink maintenance.
The F13 Pro adds a second XP600 head. The maker lists the faster A4 time and a larger set of ink channels. If you expect to press dozens of shirts a day, the extra speed is the main reason to look at it. If you plan a handful of orders a week, the single-head version is typically enough.
Epson SureColor F1070: the hybrid
The F1070 is a compact printer that Epson positions for both DTG and DTF work. Resellers carrying Epson’s data sheet list a 10 x 12 in platen, a PrecisionCore Micro TFP printhead, UltraChrome DG2 ink in five colors (CMYK and white), and a maximum resolution of 2400 x 1200 dpi. Ink comes in 250 mL cartridge-free packs, and the unit connects over USB, Ethernet and wireless.
The key point reviewers raise is that DG2 is Epson’s garment ink, not the DTF-specific UltraChrome DF ink used on the larger G-series DTF printers. In DTF mode the F1070 prints onto film placed on the platen, so the print area is limited to the platen and film is handled sheet by sheet, not from a roll. It also needs a separate curing step for the powder. For a shop that wants one machine for direct-to-garment and the occasional film transfer, that flexibility is the attraction. For a shop that only wants transfers in volume, a roll-fed DTF machine is a better match.
Brother GTX and the premium tier
Brother’s GTX range is an established direct-to-garment platform with a dealer and service network, and the current GTXpro models are often described as DTG and DTF capable. Published comparisons place it at the top of the cost scale, with Brother ink priced above many third-party alternatives. It makes sense when uptime, local service and consistent garment output matter more than the lowest running cost. For a first purchase it is rarely the right size.
Best direct to film printers for small business
If you are comparing the best direct to film printers for small business use, the practical split looks like this:
- Light volume (a few orders per week): a single-head A3 roll printer, or the F1070 if you also want direct garment printing.
- Daily orders: a dual-head A3 model, plus a shaker or powder system and a proper curing oven.
- Production: wider roll-fed machines and an industrial curing line; at this level, support contracts matter as much as the printer.
Whatever you choose, budget for the surrounding equipment: a heat press, a way to apply and melt the powder, a computer that runs the RIP software, and a space with stable temperature and humidity. White ink is the main source of reliability problems in DTF. Machines with white ink circulation, and a habit of printing something every day or two, tend to give fewer headaches according to reviewer commentary.
Running cost: what actually adds up
- Ink: makers quote per-sheet millilitres, and white ink usually dominates because it is printed as a full under-layer.
- Film: sold by the roll or sheet, usually the largest recurring cost after ink.
- Powder: hot-melt adhesive, used in a thin even layer on every print.
- Maintenance: head cleaning cycles, wiper and cap replacements, and the occasional head replacement.
- Waste: misprints and test sheets in the first weeks.
Where UV printers fit
People searching for DTF printers often run into UV printers, so here is the difference. A UV printer cures ink instantly with LED light and prints directly onto rigid objects such as phone cases, acrylic, wood and metal. Mimaki’s UJF-3042 series is a well-known desktop example; Mimaki lists a 300 x 420 mm (11.8 x 16.5 in) maximum print area, up to 1200 x 1200 dpi, and a tall bed that accepts thick objects. Mimaki also lists the original MkII as end of sale, with newer “e” versions and the UJF200-3042 replacing it. UV printers do not make heat-pressed apparel transfers the way DTF does, and they are priced and sized as industrial equipment. If your plan is T-shirts and hoodies, you want DTF or DTG, not UV. If your plan is personalized hard goods, UV is the better fit.
Pick the printer that matches your plan
| Pick this if… | Choose |
|---|---|
| You want roll film and A3 transfers on a small budget tier | Procolored F13 |
| You will press many shirts a day | Procolored F13 Pro or a larger roll machine |
| You want one machine for DTG and occasional DTF with maker support | Epson SureColor F1070 |
| You run a high-volume apparel business and need service coverage | Brother GTX / GTXpro |
| You print on rigid objects, not fabric | A desktop UV flatbed such as Mimaki UJF series |
Alternatives to consider
- Outsourcing gang sheets: many transfer suppliers print DTF sheets to order. This lets you learn pressing before buying a printer.
- Desktop DTG only: if you only print on cotton shirts in small runs and want the simplest workflow, a garment printer without the film step may suit better.
- Sublimation printers: a different process for polyester and coated items; cheaper to start but limited to light-colored polyester.
Setup and compatibility notes
- Plan for a dedicated table, a vented area for powder and a heat press that reaches the temperatures the film maker specifies.
- Check the operating system and RIP software the maker lists before ordering; some machines ship with their own control software for Windows.
- Follow the maker’s manual for electrical requirements and have an electrician review the circuit if you are adding a curing oven and press on the same line.
- Store films and powders as the maker instructs, away from moisture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DTF better than DTG?
Neither is better in every case. DTF works on more fabric types and needs no garment pretreatment, but it adds powder and curing steps. DTG prints straight onto cotton and cotton-rich fabric, with a softer feel on light shirts, but usually needs pretreatment.
Can a regular inkjet printer make DTF transfers?
Not reliably. DTF needs white ink and pigment-based DTF ink, which standard office inkjets do not use. Some people convert Epson printers, but the conversion changes the machine and can void the maker’s warranty.
How much ink does one DTF print use?
It depends on the design and the machine. Procolored cites about 3.75 mL for an A4 print on the F13. Large solid designs and heavy white underbases use more.
Do I need a heat press as well?
Yes. A heat press applies the cured transfer to the garment. Choose one with even heat across the platen and a size that fits your largest design.
What is the difference between UV and DTF printers?
UV printers cure ink with LED light and print on rigid items such as cases and signage. DTF printers print on film for heat transfer to fabric. They serve different products.
Which is easiest for a beginner?
Reviewers often point to compact, maker-supported machines and bundles that include a RIP, film and powder. Expect a few weeks of practice either way, especially with white ink maintenance.
