Ink-absorbing Coating

In the era of booming personalized customization, DTF heat transfer film has become a rising star in the printing industry for its high precision and strong adhesion. However, faced with a wide range of products on the market—hot peel, cold peel, instant peel, single-sided, double-sided—how do you choose to balance efficiency and quality? Hot Peel, Cold Peel, Instant Peel: Peeling Methods Determine Production Efficiency Hot Peel Film Features: Peeled off while hot about 8–12 seconds after heat pressing, ideal for stable and fast-output scenarios. Advantages: Time-saving and efficient; suitable for heat-resistant fabrics such as cotton and polyester; the top choice for mass production. Cold Peel Film Features: Peeled off only after fully cooling; the pattern has a matte finish with high stability, suitable for complex designs and delicate fabrics. Advantages: High fault tolerance, beginner-friendly, and less likely to damage patterns due to operational delays. Applications: Small-batch customization and high-value-added products. Instant Peel Film Features: An upgraded version of hot peel film that enables “peel immediately after pressing”; one garment can be finished in seconds, boosting production efficiency by 40%. Suitable for mass production and urgent orders from fast-fashion brands. Black tech: Optimized release force via nano-coating, reducing sensitivity to temperature. Selection Tips • Efficiency first: Choose hot peel or instant peel film for mass production. • Quality first: Choose cold peel film for high-precision patterns. • All-rounder: Hot/cold peel films adapt to diverse needs. Based on coating technology, DTF films are divided into single-sided and double-sided films. In the early days of DTF development, only single-sided films existed. Due to printer wear, pattern misalignment often occurred during printing, so double-sided films (with an added back coating) were designed to prevent misalignment caused by slipping. Structure of DTF PET Film DTF film is produced on a PET base, coated with a release layer and an ink-absorbent layer. Double-sided films add a back coating for antistatic and anti-slip treatment. For professional DTF coating formulations, Coat-529 and Coat-516 from Runshine are widely used to achieve stable release and strong ink absorption: • Coat-529: A free-tear water-based silicone release coating with excellent adhesion on PET, good solvent resistance, and easy peeling performance. • Coat-516: A water-based peelable cationic ink-absorbing coating featuring no water edge, strong ink absorption, and bright color output. Single-Sided vs. Double-Sided: Coating Technology Affects Printing Accuracy Single-Sided Coated Film Structure: Coated only on the front; prone to pattern misalignment due to machine slipping, requiring frequent equipment calibration. Double-Sided Coated Film Structure: Functional coatings on both sides—front for ink absorption + release, back for anti-slip + antistatic; improves printing stability by 30%. Advantages: Supports high-precision color registration and complex patterns, reduces defect rates; ideal for high-end sportswear and luxury printing. 5 Key Factors to Choose the Best DTF Film 1. Ink Absorption Poor ink absorption may cause white and color inks to mix or even run on the film. It is crucial to select films with highly ink-absorbent coatings. Formulations like Coat-516 (solids content 25±2%, pH 4.0–6.0) provide strong, even absorption for vivid colors. 2. Coating Quality DTF film is a base film coated with a special layer. Uneven or impure coating directly affects printing results. Check for a uniform and fine surface finish. 3. Powder Shaking Performance Poor powder-shaking leaves residual powder on blank areas of the film, harming transfer effects. A high-quality film leaves blanks clean with no residue. 4. Peeling Performance A qualified DTF film peels off easily after heat pressing without warping. Release coatings such as Coat-529 (solids content 33±2%, pH 7.0–8.0) enable smooth, instant peeling with no pattern damage. 5. Heat Resistance Printed and powdered DTF films go through high-temperature drying. Hot-melt powder starts melting above 80°C, so DTF films must be heat-resistant. Storage Notes for Coat-516 & Coat-529 Both coatings should be stored in intact original packaging at 5°C–30°C, with a shelf life of 3 months at 20°C. Freezing or overheating may affect viscosity and particle size, leading to precipitation. Contamination by bacteria, fungi or algae will cause irreversible damage. Conclusion Choosing a DTF heat transfer film is essentially about balancing efficiency, cost, and environmental protection. Whether it’s the speed of hot peel, the stability of cold peel, or the precision of double-sided film, the core is compatibility—matching your equipment, fabrics, and business goals. With professional coatings like Coat-516 and Coat-529, you can ensure consistent, high-quality DTF printing results.