DTF printers have come a long way in the last few years and are now better than ever. Not only are they small, but they also produce high-quality prints. They are mostly used for printing decor designs on clothing, e.g., T-shirts, hoodies, and other casual products.
In today’s market, you can select from a wide range of models that meet your needs for your small business. The best DTF printer for beginners includes good picture resolution, printing time, color accuracy, and power efficiency.
In this blog post, we’ve put together a user-friendly guide that helps you dive through the dozens of printing devices in the market.
According to us, the best DTF printer for beginners in 2023 is the Epson XP 15000: it’s budget-friendly, offers crisp, high-quality photo resolution, and it’s extremely efficient and easy to use.
Want to know more about the reasons for our choice?
Keep reading as we will go through our selection of the best DTF printers for beginners.
Let’s dive in!
1. Epson XP 15000
The Epson XP 15000 is a great all-around DTF printer capable of printing high-quality images and documents. It is built with a high-speed ink system and has an output size of up to 8.5″ x 11″. This printer boasts both wireless and wired networking connections and can be used in a variety of printing settings.
It comes with a Canon PIXMA MX818DW sprayer, allowing a print speed of up to 20 pages per minute (ppm). With the wireless option, you can print from a smartphone or tablet device, while the wired network makes it possible a direct connection to your office network with no additional computer. That’s why it is an ideal solution for small printing businesses.
The Epson XP 15000 printer has several features that stand out from other printers on the market. Some of these include:
- A large paper capacity (250 sheets)
- A maximum resolution of 600 x 2400 dpi
- A built-in scanner (only available with certain models)
The main downside with this printer is its lack of speed when compared with more expensive models (we will review some of them as follows). However, if you are looking for an affordable DTF printer that still makes high-quality prints, then this may be just what you need.
Please note that the Epson XP 15000 is an inkjet printer, but it can be converted for DTF printing. For more information, you can refer to this video.
2. Epson EcoTank L1800
The EcoTank L1800 is a top-of-the-line printer with a sleek, modern design that makes it easy to produce high-quality outputs. It has a built-in ink tank that allows you to print up to 20 pages per minute, so you don’t have to worry about reloading ink cartridges or finding an alternative printing method.
The printer has a Wi-Fi connection and can be connected directly to your smartphone or tablet, making it easy to send files directly from your device and print them out with just one click. Also, the printer supports Bluetooth connectivity and can be paired with up to three devices at once.
The Epson EcoTank L1800 uses ink tanks instead of cartridges to deliver consistent printing quality at a lower cost. While this may seem not optimal, in reality, it’s quite effective and cost-efficient. The EcoTank L1800 prints up to 25% more pages than most other models on the market, which means you’ll get more outputs per tank and reduce environmental impact overall.
It weighs just over 15 pounds and measures 8 inches by 8 inches by 16 inches when fully assembled. This makes it perfect for smaller spaces, like your room or a tiny office.
Overall, we heavily recommend this printer to any beginners in DTF printing.
Please note that the Epson EcoTank L1800 is an inkjet printer, but it can be converted for DTF printing. For more information, you can refer to this video.
3. Epson SureColor P800
The Epson SureColor P800 is a professional-level DTF inkjet printer that can print up to 13 pages per minute. The printer was designed for photographers and apparel designers, but its advanced technology makes it easy for anyone to use.
The P800’s biggest feature is its ability to print in four different color modes: CMYK, Spot Color, Photo Color, and Black and White. This means that you can create any type of design with confidence, no matter what color scheme your project calls for.
It also has an adjustable resolution option that allows you to change the size of your prints up or down, depending on the type of paper being used. This ensures that even if your printer has a high-resolution setting that does not fit with your project (e.g. glossy photo paper), you can still choose another feature from the full range of settings provided!
However, there are some drawbacks as well. For example, while this printer is lightweight, it still weighs over 10 pounds, which can make moving it around difficult at times. This model also takes longer than other models for a proper setup and printing, which is something to consider if you’re willing to print in bulk.
Please note that the Epson SureColor P800 is an inkjet printer, but it can be converted for DTF printing. For more information, you can refer to this video.
4. Epson Stylus Pro 4880
The Epson Stylus Pro 4880 is an all-in-one printer that can print, scan, and copy documents. It boasts a large 8.5-inch color LCD touchscreen for easy navigation and a sleek design that fits easily on your desk. The Epson Stylus Pro 4880 is perfect for small businesses looking for a more advanced solution with top-notch features.
The Epson Stylus Pro 4880 has three different print heads – one black, one white, and one color-selective – that allows users to choose between inks depending on their needs.
The printer comes with a large 10-inch LCD screen for easier control over the process, and an intuitive touchscreen panel that displays all of the functions available.
It has a resolution of 1200×1200 dpi, which is enough for high-quality prints on all types of paper. It also has various media handling features, such as automatic duplex printing, a paper feeder, duplex scanning, and more.
The printer ensures an automatic two-sided printing mode that will automatically switch between single-sided and double-sided printing by simply pressing a button on the front panel of the device.
It’s definitely the ultimate solution for DTF printing businesses.
Please note that the Epson Stylus Pro 4880 is an inkjet printer, but it can be converted for DTF printing. For more information, you can refer to this video.
Do DTF printers crack?
Yes, DTF printers do crack, but you can avoid it.
If you are printing on an everyday basis and have never experienced any issues with your printer, then it is unlikely that you will ever have to deal with cracking. However, if you are a heavy user of DTF printing, then sooner or later you will encounter difficulties.
The long-term performance of DTF printers varies from model to model and from user to user. Some people have reported that their DTF printers lasted for years without any problems, while others have had issues with them breaking after only a few months of use.
However, if you maintain them properly, there is no way they will crack or break down sooner than expected.
Does DTF printing last as long as screen printing?
Yes, DTF lasts as long as screen printing, and even more!
It is a more durable printing method than screen printing because it does not rely on an adhesive layer to hold ink onto the print surface. Instead, DTF uses a heat-activated adhesive that bonds to the print surface and then sets when exposed to heat in a convection oven. This means that DTF lasts longer than screen printing because it doesn’t have a backing layer that must be peeled off after setting, which can cause damage to the printed material if left on longer.
For DTF, you can print with as many colors as you like and mix them as needed. You can also order custom colors through online websites if you’re looking to get a certain color that is hard to find in stores.
Is the DTF technique better than vinyl?
DTF is a better option than vinyl, but it could be better.
Vinyl can be a great choice for your home or business, but it does have some drawbacks. Vinyl is easy to install and requires less maintenance, but it’s also very fragile and can be damaged easily. DTF is more durable than vinyl and requires less time for the initial setting, but it’s more expensive to maintain.
Vinyl records are made of polyvinyl chloride or PVC. This material is highly reactive to oxygen, which means it can’t be played on a record player for very long without degrading. In fact, if you’re planning on playing your vinyl collection for any length of time, it’s best to get two or three records at once so that one can be replaced with a new one when the old one starts to wear down.
DFT is made of polyester film; its thickness is similar to that of an actual vinyl record, and it’s less reactive to oxygen than PVC. Because of this property, DTF can be played for much longer than vinyl – in some cases, up to 100 years!
Which DTF Printer is best for beginners in 2023?
So we have come to the crucial question.
If you’re a small business owner or just going to step into the DTF printing business, the choice of the perfect printer is very important. Above, we’ve reviewed some of the best DTF printers in the market.
Above all of them, we highly recommend the Epson XP 15000 to any beginners looking for an affordable and reliable solution in 2023.
It’s budget-friendly (only $399.99), offers crisp, high-quality photo resolution, and it’s extremely efficient and easy to use.
You may consider switching to a more advanced printer as your business starts to grow, depending on your budget.
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