Idea to T-shirt Print in 34 Minutes using Midjourney AI with DTF Printing!

Max Chroma DTF Auto-Prepper Halftone RIP Actions: payhip.com/b/BoQRm
Midjourney AI Image Generation: www.midjourney.com/
Topaz Gigapixel AI Image Upscaling: www.topazlabs.com/gigapixel-ai
In this video I will walk you through the process step by step of how I will enter an idea into the Midjourney discord bot and have their AI algorithms generate an image from the text.
Then we will upscale the image in Topaz Gigapixel (Not entirely necessary but it can help some details show up when enlarging the artwork for a print).
Next I show how I bring the image into Photoshop and use my own special actions the DTF Auto-Prepper to automatically convert the background of the image into halftones fading into the artwork, so it can work better for the next process of printing it on a t-shirt.
Then I show how I use the AcroRIP 11 software to make the image get printed onto my Epson Stylus Pro 3800 Inkjet printer with a special white ink layer applied, the inkjet printer is modified with white inks and the top rollers removed so it can print ink wet onto the Digital transfer film.
Finally we go to the actual printing of the image out on the film, and I show how to apply the powdered glue after the print, and send it through an electric conveyor dryer to melt and cure the powdered glue.
The final steps are to flip the sheet and put it so the ink and glue is down on the t-shirt fabric and then put a cover sheet, and use an electric heat press to push down at a high temperature all of the print and glue into the shirt. Removing the cover sheet after and letting the print cool down, we peel back the film layer and the glue pulls the ink colors onto the shirt fabric.
With a 2nd pressing using a textured silicone finishing sheet, we push the remaining glue and ink deeper into the shirt and reveal the final look of the image on the shirt.
Stay tuned for many more artwork and printing videos as I show how to do these kinds of inkjet digital art prints, transfer prints for materials and textiles, and making screens and screenprinting art and designs on paper and t-shirts and so much more!
#dtfprinting #halftone #photoshopaction #directtofilmtransfers #dtftransfers #midjourney #tshirtprinting #tshirts #dtfprinter #aiart #maxchroma

[@Elizabeth-wz1ct]

Thanks for posting great instructions and a great visual representation 😊

[@mr.lovedalows9573]

More videos like this plz.

[@paullam1444]

This is great! One question though. Is there a way that it can half tone the whole image or only the select shirt color? I want to give it more of a screen print look

[@MaxChromaColor]

Yes there are a couple of actions already in there (the "remove black, keep grey and white") and those similar actions halftone the whole image.... but then I have two other things as well... When you purchase the actions you will get the same amount you purchased (for example $20), as credit towards the monthly subscription of the ScreenTone Pro web app... which is a web app I show in some other videos that will convert the whole image into halftones and let you pick the colors and various patterns and change it in realtime even, then you can go and cut out the background color with the Separation Station site or select it and remove it in photoshop since the whole image would be halftones then. There is another action set on the webstore called the Photo Halftone FX which is a set of actions including a new one that does Reaction-Diffusion style conversions I haven't shown in a video yet, but it also includes the halftone patterns. I'll be showing things like that in a lot of new videos for sure. In fact it is also one of the things that can be very useful to create a screenprint separation style halftoned image, then use it in DTF as a simulated screenprint proof sample, and I'll show how we can try to calibrate things so that we can match the actual screenprinted version to the DTF sample. But I also love how it can be done more artistically with the DTF process, and especially when converting the whole image to halftones it opens up some really powerful possibilities to match colors and do custom calibrations for accuracy and to simulate like 2-color, 3-color etc custom blends. Don't forget to also try some of my free products and actions and plugin available, as those can also do some things like you mentioned with making it like a full screenprint, then you just digitally print it instead and knock out the background color dots. I'm also about to show an update to the DTF Auto-Prepper actions where I'll include a real-time conversion setup that might work in the newer photoshops (and eventually an online version so we can do it outside of photoshop), and I'll make an option to have it halftone the whole image in different ways. I'm definitely excited to show things like that because I think its a very cool way to use DTF both artistically and professionally.

[@paullam1444]

@@MaxChromaColor sounds great! super excited I came across your page. In regards to the products that are out already which plug in were you talking about that makes it look like screen printing? I tried installing the max chroma blender pack but it doesn't seem to be compatable with photoshop 2020 or 2023. Also, if possible do you have a time line of when that DTF auto-prepper update comes out and the video of the photohalftone fx comes out!

[@MaxChromaColor]

@@paullam1444 The free color blender pack plugin works only in the older CS6 or CC version 14, but the scripts themselves will run in the newer versions if you run them directly. Also check out in the free products collection download, a folder or zip called "Legacy Actions" and there are a lot of hidden gems in there, some of them I think will perform full halftone conversions. I'm definitely working on some new videos for this week which will show the Photo Halftone FX (Especially because the Reaction-Diffusion actions there which are included in the Photo-Tessellator 2022 product are very new and I'm eager to show that style and what it can do, so those actions definitely need the new video showing what it does.) Along with some more updates to what the ScreenTone Pro is capable of... The best deal on the site is if you get the full bundle of all products then you'll get a year of subscription access to the ScreenTone Pro site also, and just let me know if you've already purchased any of the products and want to get upgrade pricing or to start trying out the web app.

[@JosePerez-ut6jl]

Best example I’ve seen for dtf you should do more of these artwork. maybe different color shirts !! Also one question, I bought the max chroma but the rip I use doesn’t give me that option for the gradient white is there a way I can do it on photoshop and save the white layer already with the choke and gradient look and just print it like a new artwork to get results like yours?

[@MaxChromaColor]

Thanks! I am definitely going to show more examples and different shirt colors. With the white layer actions yes but Im not sure with each RIP program the exact way you would import the white layer, there are actions to generate the white layer with the gradient and choke, you can save it as a separate file. But you need to make sure the RIP can print it lined up correctly with the color layer. I have been trying but I don't know how to do it with AcroRip 11 yet, so I use the built in method. Doea your RIP software allow a separate file for the white layer?

[@JosePerez-ut6jl]

My printer is for dtg and I think it is possible with this printer since the film sits flat on the platen and it doesn’t move, so I’ll just send the same file but white right on top of it I’ve done it before but it was just completely white without the gradient effect. Also this printer only works with one and it doesn’t have the option like acto rip sadly lol

[@MaxChromaColor]

@@JosePerez-ut6jl Oh ok then it should work. But you may have to tell it on the white print to only use white ink, because the gradient white layer is greyscale and the DTG might print black or colors, do you have the option to make it only print white ink for a 2nd pass?

[@JosePerez-ut6jl]

Ohh I see yea I didn’t think of that I know it does give me the option though to print just white but idk if the gradient part will print out since it might think it’s a color

[@DfM144VdsSMLb]

Awesome. Me gustaria comprar la accion pero hay cosas que aun desconozco como el papel que utilizas al final del vídeo, en colombia no se cómo podria conseguirlo.

[@DfM144VdsSMLb]

Y es esencial el tipo de poliamida oscura o funciona también con blanca?

[@tadaisyquilts]

Thanks for this video! I am new to DTF/DTG and I am waiting for my printer to be delivered. Is what you’re selling like presets? I watched some of your videos and it looks like you purchase your presets. I’ll call them, and then on the left-hand side (inPS) you had all those presets set up so that you can choose what you want to use for your T-shirt design, I think I understood that correctly? So my question is will these work with any printer?

[@MaxChromaColor]

Hi there, thanks for your question. These "presets" are called "actions" and they are like miniature pre-recorded steps in Photoshop that when you play the action (or in the case of my videos I usually have the actions in 'button mode') - so when you press the button, it plays through those recorded steps and runs different photoshop functions on your image. I sell various things like these action sets for photoshop that usually do some different specialized task, in this case preparing images for the DTG /DTF direct to film printing process. Your new printer may or may not include the "RIP" software that sets up the proper printing of images... but if you have the right software included, it can usually accept a PNG file that has image colors with pixels of any color - including pixels that are 'transparent' meaning there is no color or white there. Then the software for the printer should usually work with that file and create the proper white are to print. My action files and other software (I also sell subscriptions to an online web tool that does similar things to these actions), will help prepare the files and images into that PNG file so that it uses halftones or other shapes to simulate a fading of the design into the background shirt color. So its sort of creating an advanced texture or pattern to the transparent pixels next to the colored pixels, and the printer software RIP and printer will then be able to put down the ink colors and white ink in the right areas for the glue to stick to. Think of how some things like text or other details would just be printed as ink patterns by the printer and then the glue sticks to it but the area around the text is transparent and just remains as blank film.... the "halftoning" process is using these small detailed dots and shapes and it behaves similar to the text... the glue powder only sticks to where the ink is printed whether it is text or details or a halftone pattern of large dots of ink. What printer did you get and do you know if it comes with some RIP software?

[@tadaisyquilts]

@@MaxChromaColor thank you so much for the detailed response, appreciated! I’m getting the epson 2270 and I think it comes with garment creator, but I don’t know if that’s actually rip software. I plan to start off with doing mostly DTG, do you have this for Photoshop but specifically for DTG versus DTF?

[@teddyjuliano3800]

Wooowwww nice set up sir...im a fan of riley hopkins stuff, what LPI did you use?

[@MaxChromaColor]

I have the default set to 30 LPI in the actions now it works good, still trying to find some better ways to help it cut back more for the glue but you see I let some of the shading stay in the art it helps sometimes.

[@teddyjuliano3800]

@@MaxChromaColor love it 30 LPI is safe

[@MaxChromaColor]

@@teddyjuliano3800 Yep, sometimes I go bigger or halftone everything for an art effect, or cut it out with different patterns like lines or triangles etc. I've been moving all this equipment so I can have it in the home studio and start doing print videos now, get ready for some fun!

[@mr.lovedalows9573]

loving your photoshop actions. i have a question. So when i use the DTF actions. And it changes the res to 600dpi. i always change the res back to 300dpi. or i should just leave it at 600dpi.

[@MaxChromaColor]

Yes actually you should leave it at 600... OR if you really HAVE to change it, just make sure you pick the "nearest neighbor" resampling so that it does not introduce anti-alias fuzzy pixels again. If you resize it after even going higher like to 720 dpi or 1200 dpi you also need to make sure to check that option.... this way you don't end up with the problem of white and glue printing in faded areas and it still has clean edges. Edit: Also you can use the custom actions to just run it at 300, or you can try changing the actions customization settings so it always runs at 300 for the Full-Auto actions, I may need to show how you can do that or let me know if the 300 works for your needs I can send you a customized version where I've set it to run that way in the full auto modes.

[@mr.lovedalows9573]

@@MaxChromaColor you got make a video on that. Only was changing it because everybody with a dtg was saying save as PNG and resolution set to 300. I’m like. Hmmm 🤔 20k printer should be able to print higher then 300dpi. But again. Showing your photoshop actions and making the shirt 👕. Going to bring in views. Imma watch this video 10 more times.

[@MaxChromaColor]

@@mr.lovedalows9573 Yep I've seen some of that before too, I don't know if they just have trouble with the size of the file or don't want to print at higher resolutions, but even my RIP software the lowest setting I can do is 720... maybe they try to play it safe most times unless someone insists on a higher res art file... but its just for the halftones it helps to have them be a little cleaner. They probably still print the files at 720 or 1440, but they want the 300 original file to try and cut down on possible fine details where things cut off maybe? I've seen issues where if you don't choke enough, and you have too much white ink and a solid layer, it can bleed around small hole-dots and fill in, but yeah I think you can't see those kind of things and know how to work around it until you see how it prints and all of this in action. I've got plenty more planned to show lots of different examples of art and shirt colors and also the screenprinting stuff. Where things can get critical is trying to get colors really accurate and calibrated, so I'll gradually get into some of that stuff but it can get complex and really not your problem if you're not printing it yourself or doing it for others... while I'm going to stick to showing a lot of artistic things and ways that I use it, I'm definitely going to tackle some of those more complicated issues for sure and show the ways I work with it... but once you have things consistent and repeatable you can apply some color management stuff to try and predict and simulate things, know what sort of exact colors you can match and the general way an image might shift and change and then we can try to compensate for it all in the preparations. I'm really excited to start sharing what I know and not just on the digital computer side but how it actually translates to print. Thanks for being a customer and don't forget that your purchase does give you credit towards the ScreenTone app, and I'm going to show ways to prepare DTF prints there as well.

[@uihatuikolovatu7444]

Where do you get that finishing sheet from? Do you have a link for it?

[@MaxChromaColor]

This is where I got mine from: www.garmentprinterink.com/collections/dtf-film/products/t-seal-transfer-finishing-sheet

[@dannyluyo]

Awesome. The white base feature is so helpful. Question, in the case that I already have my image edited and I run the action to generate the white base, how I should send the file to the printer guy? Should I put the white layer on top of the color layer and then save it as png? Or the color layer on top of the white layer and then save it as png? I want to be able to send the file to the printer service ready to print so they so they just print it without the need of any configurations in the rip. Thanks.

[@MaxChromaColor]

You cant save both layers as one png file, a png file has no layers, so you need to make sure to save two files, 1 of the color layer only and 1 with the white layer only. These actions are intended mostly for those who are doing the printing themselves so they can have the right control over the process, but it can still work by sending the color and base layers as individual png files if they have a RIP or other method that can print it out correctly so the layers register together exactly.

[@dannyluyo]

@@MaxChromaColor perfect. Thanks a lot. We were talking by email. How’s the progress of the web app? That will be super helpful to work on the go.

[@quickylotter]

Where did you converted Epson Stylus Pro 3800 into DFT?

[@MaxChromaColor]

I purchased the printer and only changed 2 things myself: 1. Refillable ink cartridges and DTF inks 2. Remove exit paper guide-rollers that roll on top of the film as it exits the printer.

[@mauricioherrera7731]

Where cani buy that sheet for the second press

[@MaxChromaColor]

This is the one that I got: www.garmentprinterink.com/products/t-seal-transfer-finishing-sheet?variant=39254772219998&currency=USD&gclid=Cj0KCQiAv8SsBhC7ARIsALIkVT35bhLEeeKZPi9bGTmIFwaPEJp_Jp8p2TQq9wY4WEDt6pOqaQOEoYgaAshMEALw_wcB&gad_source=1

[@mauricioherrera7731]

@@MaxChromaColor thank you and also I’m going to buy your software for halftone

[@cindyheywood7729]

Will this work with Kothari neorip soft wear or adobe illustrator

[@MaxChromaColor]

If you have photoshop so you can run the actions, then if the Kothari neorip software works with transparent PNG files it should work ok, you could also import the png file to illustrator and do it that way, but you may need to use the additional white-generation actions to make the white base if the rip software doesn't generate the base for you.

[@cindyheywood7729]

The rip soft wear does the under base but will your max chroma work only in photo shop ? Or an you do the half toms in illustrator

[@MaxChromaColor]

@@cindyheywood7729 The action files shown in the video only work in Photoshop, but I do have a set of actions that do real-time halftones in Photopea which is a free alternative online for photoshop. On my website I have a subscription to my web app for $10 a month that gives you access to those action files and also you can use the online web app to perform the halftone of the background color you choose. This is so you don't need photoshop but since it is an online program right now I don't have a desktop version so its a monthly cost to use the app. I just haven't shown those new features and options to the web app and actions you can use in Photopea on a new video yet.

[@andyatmosphere]

I get it’s more efficient to halftone and not print the black BUT it doesn’t look as good as using white under the colors.

[@MaxChromaColor]

It's not about being more efficient, and there still is white under the colors, and it looks much better on a black shirt to not print the black ink... when the glue and ink go in the shirt with black its visible in the light. Halftoning or cutting out the shirt color mostly helps the whole feel of the transfer so its not a large square or cutout of the whole design... thats the main reason for removing the shirt color whether its with halftones or a solid threshold style. It helps it feel much lighter and more air can get thru the shirt, it also looks great and still has white under the other parts, so I'm not really sure what you mean... did you think it was halftoning the entire image even where colors and white are?? This is a process that fades the shirt color into the art with halftones, not the entire image.