In our daily life, we see exquisite pictures printed on clothes, bags or canvas shoes, and we are wondering how these special patterns attached on the textile. Actually, this process called heat transfer. It is achieved by Visual-Tex DTF print and sublimation print, therefore, we are curious about the difference between them, and which one is better?

Generally speaking, it is made by 4 color overlay printing on ready-to-wear and high temperature fabrics, to achieve the effect of custom picture, the patterns are super vivid and bright. it is generally called Visual-Tex DTF print.

1. The pros and cos of sublimation printing

Pros:It’s affordable and accessible. Utmost of the time, you can simply refill an old printer with sublimation inks, and you’re free to leave, you can indeed get down with printing on regular office paper rather than using precious sublimation sheets.It requires minimum maintenance, and the sublimation ink will not clog up easily.It could work on various products, such as cups, coasters, key rings, and so on.

Cos:It is limited to polyester garments, and it is a complicated process to make cotton sublimate with sublimation sprays and transfer powders.
It is limited to light color product, and it cannot sublimate onto black product.

2. Similarities

Visual-Tex DTF printing and sublimation printing both need heat transfer, their principle of hot stamping is the same, transfer by heating.

3. Differences

Different processes:

Visual-Tex DTF printing is divided into two parts, one part is film transfer film printing and the other part is transfer processing. The patterns are previously printed on the PET film, and then the exquisite patterns are transferred to the surface of the product, and the ink dry quickly and integrated with the product tightly.The Visual-Tex DTF printing adopts 4 color plus two fluorescent color, Visual-Tex DTF printer Ink is affordable and bright, also suitable for dark color textile.

Different features:

The color is different. The Visual-Tex DTF transfer can achieve the effect of the photo, as long as the original file is provided when the heat transfer is made. The effect of sublimation paper is not clear as film printing. It is related to hot stamping temperature and time, the higher the hot stamping temperature, the longer the time, the more vivid the color.The washing fastness is different. Generally speaking, the fastness of sublimation paper is better than PET film, but it is distinguished by the quality of Visual-Tex DTF heat transfer. The difference between the quality of Visual-Tex DTF heat transfer is mainly based on elasticity and fastness.

Different applications:

Sublimation transfer is applied to leather, textile fabric, plexiglass, metal, plastic, crystal, wood, copperplate paper, etc. Visual-Tex DTF printing is applied to clothes, handbag, shoes, sportswear, luggage, etc.The PET film transfer fabric is different. PET film can be hot stamped on all fabrics such as knitting, textile, nylon, non-woven fabric, Oxford cloth, etc. The sublimation paper can only be ironed on light-colored or white polyester fabrics. The more you need polyester ingredients, the brighter the color.

The above is the difference between Visual-Tex DTF printing and sublimation printing. I hope to help you make a choice that suits you. If you have a strong interest in Visual-Tex DTF printing, you can pay more attention to us. We will update quality content from time to time. Thank you for reading.

Visual-Tex’s business covers many countries around the world, including emerging markets and mature markets. We have a complete sales system and are committed to using our professional knowledge and first-class service to help customers improve their digital printing business.

Zhengzhou Visual-Tex (https://www.visual-tex.com/)used advanced and practical technology to design and produce wide format printer, DTF printer direct to film printer, digital sublimation printer, eco solvent printer and UV printer and other mature products, which are well known in the national photo machine industry. the products are exported to Europe, America, South America, Southeast Asia, the middle east and Africa, and in many countries and regions around the world to establish a distribution network and service system.