😍 Testing the Viral DTF Printing with Sublimation Ink Hack...Does It Even Work?

[@SilhouetteSchool]

Everything you NEED to know about DTF printing! www.silhouetteschoolblog.com/p/everything-to-know-about-dtf-and.html

[@t.l.c3929]

The DTF hack is a cold/cool peel. That may be the reason the image did not fully adhere to your garment. I've done the hack several times and my image always comes out vibrant and fully transferred to the garment.

[@nancyrose3]

This lady is trying to deter people from doing the DTF hack b/c she loses $ on the 5,000 printer she invested in. LOL

[@nomeumundo5823]

Help me

[@adntigger71015]

Didn't cure long enough also, and pressing with the seams on the platen certainly didn't help either. She DID use hot peel film but....that's for ACTUAL dtf printing, same rules don't apply (or that's just a bad film for this hack).

[@mariarollins3480]

Yeah she already said don't do it so you can see how the video is gonna go

[@Spookymamaa]

You did this 100% wrong. You’re supposed to press it a little longer and do a cold peel not a hot peel

[@CarterNotes]

I truly respect your knowledge especially with the powder and fumes. Safety is important. But I did the hack with Inkjet printer HP and it came great on cotton shirt. But the sublimation , inkjet is a cold peel not hot. But like you said it’s better to outsource it.

[@adamalvarez4528]

What paper settings did you use on the epson for the dtf film , I have a et 8550

[@babybri2883]

Dtf is cool peel that’s why it did not do well when you peeled it

[@harleyfosburgh3746]

As far as transferring to dark fabrics…. if you place Sublimation vinyl for dark fabric down first, it actually goes pretty well. That way you get the “white backing” first. Just saying.

[@CONCHASFAM]

I appreciate your videos, you explain very well 😊😊

[@SilhouetteSchool]

Thank you! 😍

[@Danny-g1c]

Hello awesome job. My printer just eat the DTF paper which settings is for this paper thank you.

[@kellipeppers4172]

How do you not get roller marks? I have the f170 printer and I get roller marks as in it takes ink off.

[@triciasanchez9797]

Turn off bidirectional printing

[@kaylaherndon5536]

any suggestions on how to fix pizza wheel marks dragged through my dtf sublimation design?

[@LanceMcGrew]

You won't get those wheel marks using Sawgrass Printers. Another option is to remove the feed rollers.

[@halsteadlaserengraving372]

Can you use sublimation ink as a DTF and press it on leatherette?

[@87engr]

Hi, thank you for the video. Question: if I want to use the DTF film to sublimate not fabric but plastic or other materials, can I get away with letting the sheet air dry and then using it without DTF powder?

[@SilhouetteSchool]

Why not just print on sublimation paper and apply to the sublimation blank like a tumbler or mug?

[@tabithaharper9257]

My printer is grabbing the film but only prints some of the image. Any tips? Thanks so much!

[@chanellesley131]

I’ve heard u need to use dtf ink.

[@a3dpntr]

Love your warning "Don't eat it!" 😀

[@Salialto]

OMG - I have tried repeatedly to print onto DTF film with my F170 and it always smears down the page. Did you do anything special with your settings? Are you using the Epson sublimation ink, or another brand? Or maybe the difference is the film that you are using? I'm so frustrated that everyone else seems to be able to do this hack, but I cannot get it to work with my setup. I would love any insights. And no - I cannot afford a DTF printer at this time. I just want to do the hack.

[@SilhouetteSchool]

I didn't do anything special. I just put the DTF film in making sure it would print on the cloudy side. I am using the Epson Surecolor ink that came with the printer

[@Salialto]

@@SilhouetteSchool Thanks for your reply. I guess the only difference then is the film that you are using. Maybe I need to try another brand.

[@ciara9930]

If it’s smearing that means it’s your rollers a lot of people have taken the middle rollers out of the printer

[@kristythompson4196]

@@Salialto I had a ton of issues with the first film I got. I purchased another film and it works so much better. Try another film.

[@kristythompson4196]

In my experience a cold peel works much better and leaves more ink than a hot peel.

[@TamiT3]

Girl you have me hooked! I learn so much from you. I watch the videos so much that my kids say "I hear Melissa again" lol that being said. Do I need a Silhouette to join Silhouette U? I'm joining today if not. I plan on getting a new cutter possibly romeo. Thank you for all you do!

[@SilhouetteSchool]

NO! Of course not! I have videos on many machines, cutters, and printers that are not Silhouette! And of course the benefits are far more than just exclusive video access. Would love to have you join.

[@stephenroberts2526]

I have been doing my research on this hack. There are several things that can cause the ink remaining on the transfer. Probably the biggest factor is the type of ink. If the ink is dye based, the colors will be muted and not completely transfer. Another is whether the film is hot or cold peel. Finally, the transfers may work better if they are attached to a carriage sheet. I agree this is not the best method, but it can open up possibilites when you are at a stage where waiting on outsourced materials slows you down, but the investment in true DTF isn't quite justified for your business.

[@tiffanyholli4059]

Thanks for educating me! Do you have a uninet icolor 560 with sublimation toners vs a sawgrass ink comparison?

[@SilhouetteSchool]

That"s still on my list of things to do :)

[@Jessewhite44]

HI I HAVE SIMPLE QUESTIONS, IS IT TRUE THAT ANY ECOTANK EPSON MODEL CAN PRINT USING DTF TRANSFER FILM? AND NOT ONLY SUBLIMATION PAPER ? IM ALL THE WAY TO PHILIPPINES AND ITS 3AM I JUST FOUND YOUR KZbin CHANNEL. HOPING I GET A REPLY

[@mayrachanta216]

🆘 Hi. What would be the steps if I purchased some dtf transfers do I need to use printer at all??? Or are the purchased transfers ready to just be heat pressed on our polyester shirts? 😵‍💫 🙏🏼

[@SilhouetteSchool]

If you purchase transfers you just need a heat press or iron to apply them to the shirt. sofontsy.com/pages/tshirt-iron-on-printing

[@mayrachanta216]

@@SilhouetteSchool thank you for your reply! 🙏🏼

[@oceanbluebaby]

i dunno if you are still looking at comments on this video, but i do have a question. I have a 8550 that i want to convert to a dtf, but I dont want to use cadlink, can you still use the printer and get the white ink on the back of the print using silhouette studio to print the design to the 8550? or do you reccommend a better cost efficient dtf program. thank you.

[@SilhouetteSchool]

No you can not use Studio and get white ink on the back of the print. You need a rip software like Cadlnk where you can control the position of the white layer. I don't recommend converting your own printer to a DTF.

[@sharmaineforrest4130]

Thanks for the video. My F170 will not print on the film paper. I had to add tape to it to get it to feed, but it will not print the full image only a small piece of the image. Some say to change the payer type, well can't do that on the F170 it only has textile and rigid. There are a few videos out for this printer, and having a hard time with color profiles and printing on DTF film. Please help!

[@SilhouetteSchool]

This printer is not intended to print this way which is why it's having trouble and there are not material options because the F170 is only a sublimation printer and intended to only print on sublimation transfer paper.

[@sharmaineforrest4130]

@Silhouette School with Melissa Viscount oh gosh 😫 thank you.

[@mrdennyb21220]

love your hands / finger nails

[@highgeared4959]

tested it in a Sawgrass SG400.. relic of a machine but it does get the job partially done, Its got all the colors correct. the only issue im facing is the ink globs up on the paper rather than spreading evenly on the DTF film. I am using "high quality" german ink by inktec. it was around 100 for 4 colors, im unsure if its the printer at this point or the ink.

[@SilhouetteSchool]

Most likely b/c sublimation ink is not intended to be printed on film..it's meant for paper where it can be absorbed

[@highgeared4959]

@@SilhouetteSchool That's what Ive basically concluded, I think i can get away with putting DTF ink into it. just without the white ink. i'll have to somehow bleed and clean the lines with solution or something and load it with DTF ink.

[@matthewtullos4476]

Can we run DTF ink through the same ink jets on the Sg400?@@SilhouetteSchool

[@sculptedbynina9865]

An you use this on other sublimation printers?

[@EyeAmDiamondphotog]

You peeled it off too quickly! All the videos I’ve ever watched they wait before they peel. Not fresh off the heat press

[@hafizahali1969]

Wait at least 15secs

[@mommylove67]

Very helpful information. Thanks

[@tabahabi4598]

Interesting. You read out the safety instructions as part of your video about wearing a mask with the powder, but you didn’t wear one when putting the powder on. In fact, we can hear you blow the powder away with your mouth.

[@SilhouetteSchool]

I did not blow the powder away with my mouth lol...and yes as I mentioned you should wear a mask unless you have an air filter or open air. I have both an air filter and an open window :)

[@kimberlystephens7266]

Do you think this would work in a epson f570?

[@gigilockridge406]

I have tried several times several ways and it does not register the paper.

[@Becka9450]

How do u get that printer to read the film!? Mine won’t.

[@SilhouetteSchool]

Hey there, it depends on your printer, really.

[@JustPassingBy_Yolo]

Its been a couple months but if you havent gotten your answer... You can, - Put a bunch of regular printing paper before the dtf - Tape the dtf onto a regular printing paper - Put a tiny piece of tape on your dtf. 😊

[@slyskitzo]

Does anyone have a discord server specifically for dtf printing, sublimation and questionnaires? I’m having some issues with heat pressing and printing

[@SilhouetteSchool]

Hey there! It seems like you might benefit from 1:1 help. If so, please consider joining Silhouette U (www.silhouetteu.com) which is more than just Silhouette- there's DTF, Sublimation and heat pressing. Members get access to 1:1 help via email, chat, and a private Facebook group. Our website also has 400+ video tutorials for all skill levels plus a monthly coupon code for free designs at So Fontsy. We hope to see you soon!

[@slyskitzo]

@@SilhouetteSchool thank you

[@robertmoore6658]

How to fix the rollers touching the paper

[@samanthabrown7056]

This was peeled hot when you clearly state that most are cold peel in another video?

[@SilhouetteSchool]

It depends on the film you're using..some is hot peel, some is cold peel

[@samanthabrown7056]

Yes I appreciate that, but in one of your other videos you state that you use cold peel. So I presume that was cold peel. And you peeled it straight out of the press. Maybe that is why it didn’t print properly.

[@donnaintexas4406]

Wasn't it supposed to be a Cold Peel??

[@hafizahali1969]

Based on all the others videos and myself doing it, it should had set for at least 15secs before pilling the dtf paper off the shirt... This would had eliminated all that ink still left on the dtf paper

[@jackie.123]

I love the concept but it definitely looks like too much work is there easier way and less toxic way

[@SilhouetteSchool]

You could use an ecosolvent printer instead like a Roland BN-20A but it still requires print and cut although it's all in one machine

[@AgustinRaj-s8y]

Hello Friends ! * How will you feel if i use this trick on DTF sheet for dark color T-Shirt printing First I will print an reversed image on a sublimation ink printer Then I will print the same reversed image on a white ink DTF printer, But I will set the image color to solid white for back layer white on the printed Image Is the result will be success or failure?

[@SilhouetteSchool]

If you have a white ink DTF printer, I would just print the entire DTF transfer on that printer there's no reason to use this hack.

[@AgustinRaj-s8y]

♥♥♥*.* Hello friend thanks for the reply *.* I don't have a white ink DTF printer, I have an Epson L805 for sublimation printing. I am thinking about using another Epson L805 printer for white ink printing instead of buying a DTF printer. DTF is expensive and sometimes suffers from printer head clogging problem. using another Epson L805 for high quality print, custom paper size, low maintenance. So I think this way is slightly better for white ink printing But I have no idea or experience about the output result. *.* Thanks.... *.* ♥♥♥♥♥

[@nancyrose3]

You're supposed to wait for it to cool before you remove it or yes, it will pull the image off of the shirt. LOL

[@SilhouetteSchool]

It depends if you are using hot or cold peel

[@Dover1963]

thanks for your video, but they say it's should be a cold peel

[@SilhouetteSchool]

If you are using cold peel DTF film, but I am using hot peel

[@wakeno.6047]

DONT EAT IT ! 😂

[@RobertMoore-cu4mg]

I'm getting lines on mine

[@AleynaCayuFilmleri]

USE BLACK POWDER FOR DARK COLOR

[@okipullup951]

what do you mean?

[@EB.80]

You didn't come back after the washing....

[@littledevildee]

This is probably not the best video to watch for a true how-to on a DTF sublimation Hack.

[@elevated-apparel]

I dont know why crafters are so hell bent on trying to make sublimation work on cotton and now trying to do a dtf hack. But your missing white ink duh. White ink is not good for printers. Dtf and dtg both are garbage. Both those prints look like crap. Neither of those would go out my shop. You could do this with regular pigment ink.

[@SilhouetteSchool]

You are entitled to your opinion, but you are not entitled to be rude on my channel. Based on your comment I would guess you didn't even watch the video given that I have a DTF printer WITH white ink and make the exact same point.

[@aditadiablita]

Wow what a bad video 😂. You can tell how bias you are.

[@xlrationmarine]

I could hear her as clear as day, she has a nice mask on