Troubleshooting DTF Printing Defects

Registration issues in colors

• Some DTF film coatings have a high amount of silicones, making the rubber gripper slippery.
• Low gripper pressure also leads to slippage issues.

• Clean the rubber gripper with a brush and hand sanitizer for better grip.
• Adjust or increase rubber gripper pressure in the machine.
• Ultranex Film has a very low amount of silicone and does not slip in the gripper.

Ink flow during printing

• DTF films with uneven coating or substandard quality.
• Ink/film incompatibility.

• Use pre & post printer heaters at 50 to 60°C.
• Use compatible ink and film.
• Ultranex DTF Film has a uniform coating and standard coating quality.
  It is compatible with most DTF inks.

Adhesive powder sticking to non-printed areas

• High relative humidity.
• Fine particles & moisture in adhesive powder.
• Powder removal flaps position & speed not right in the shaker machine.
• Static generation on the film surface.

• Maintain relative humidity below 52%.
• Use good quality adhesive powder and add a free-flowing additive.
• Adjust & maintain the loop in the powder shaker.
• Add a static eliminator in the powdering area. 
• Ultranex DTF film has an antistatic coating.
  Use Ultranex Free Flow additive & PU Powder.

Oil on finished DTF labels

• Extra amount of humectants like glycerine & glycols in DTF inks.
• Low drying temperature and time.

• Use inks with less humectants.
• Dry at 110°C to 130°C approx set
  temperature machine. The surface
  temperature of the film should
  reach 160°C to 180°C for 2 to 4 minutes.
• Ultranex Film can be used in high heat
  and for longer periods.

DTF label non-transfer

• Low-quality film.
• Low temperature, pressure, or time of transfer machine.
• No powder adhesive on the printed label.
• Too much oiling on DTF labels.

• Use good quality film.
• Transfer machine settings: Temperature
  140°C to 160°C, Pressure 2 to 4 bars, Time 8 to
  15 seconds. Check for even pressure
  at all corners.
• Check the powder application process.
• Dry or cure labels again.
• Ultranex Film comes with 2-layer transfer
  technology for glitch-free transfers.