DTF & UV printer buying questions, answered

Choose by print width and how many transfers you make a day:

• Starting out (A3, 13"): the Procolored K13 Lite. The Starter bundle is $1,999.
• Guided, all-in-one apparel workflow: the xTool Apparel Printer Plus, from $4,899.
• Gang sheets and production (24"): Audley 24" printers with Epson I3200-A1 heads, from $8,499 for the 2-head model.

If you're unsure, start with how many shirts you print per week. That decides the width, and the width decides the printer.

The Procolored K13 Lite Starter bundle ($1,999) is our most popular pick: a 13" roll printer with starter ink, film and powder.

If you already own an Epson EcoTank ET-8550 or ET-8500, the ET-8550 DTF Pro Business Starter Kit ($749) is the lowest-cost way in. Compare both on our under-$2,500 guide.

An A3 (13") printer suits left-chest logos, full fronts, small batches and a home or small-shop setup.

A 24" printer prints gang sheets nearly twice as wide, runs industrial Epson I3200-A1 heads and is built to pair with an automatic powder shaker. Go 24" if you sell gang sheets or print 100+ transfers a day. Otherwise A3 is easier to run and far cheaper to start.

More heads means more nozzles firing per pass, so the printer finishes each sheet faster. Usually one head handles white and the other handles color.

Head type matters as much as head count. An I3200-A1 is far faster and more durable than an XP600. Audley's 24" range scales from 2-head ($8,499) up to 4-head and 6-head models when one printer has to keep up with a busy shop.

Buy a complete bundle instead of the cheapest printer. You need the printer, ink, film, powder and a way to cure transfers, plus setup help.

• Procolored K13 Lite: Starter bundle $1,999. The Professional bundles add a curing oven, and Professional Plus adds a heat press too.
• xTool Apparel Printer Plus: a guided workflow with xTool's own software and supplies.

For production we recommend an Audley 24" printer with Epson I3200-A1 heads (2, 4 or 6 heads) paired with an Audley 60 cm automatic shaker dryer (from $6,299).

Buy them as a matched set so film width, speed and curing capacity line up. DTF Gears is Audley's only US dropship partner, with free US shipping and financing.

Yes, if you want a compact 13" roll printer for small-batch apparel. Supplies are easy to reorder, and the original replacement printhead ($280) is in stock.

Pick the bundle by what you already own:

• Starter ($1,999): printer and supplies.
• Professional: adds a curing oven.
• Professional Plus: adds a curing oven and a heat press.

Audley makes sense when you're moving from hobby to production. The range runs from the A3 printer + DF-300 shaker bundle ($5,599) to 24" printers with 2, 4 or 6 Epson I3200-A1 heads.

DTF Gears is the only US dropship seller for Audley, so you get US support, free US shipping and financing on every model.

It's the most guided DTF setup we sell. It runs an Epson I1600-A1 head with xTool's own ink, film, powder and software, so there's less to configure. The Starter bundle is $4,899.

The Professional bundles add xTool's automatic shaker and oven, which turns it into a complete roll-to-transfer line.

Check these eight things before you order:

• Print width (A4, A3 or 24")
• Printhead model (XP600, I1600 or I3200-A1)
• White-ink circulation
• RIP software included or needed (for example CADlink)
• Curing method: oven or automatic shaker
• Replacement printhead price and availability
• Warranty and setup support
• Space, ventilation and power for the full setup

It depends on what you sell:

• Textured hard goods on a desk: eufyMake E1 (Basic bundle $1,949) or xTool O1 Omni (from $2,499).
• Stickers and decals: a UV DTF printer like the Procolored VF13 Pro ($6,399) or an Audley UV DTF printer.
• Production direct-to-object: the Audley A3+ UV Flatbed.

A UV flatbed printer prints straight onto the object (acrylic, wood, metal, phone cases) and cures the ink instantly with UV light.

A UV DTF printer prints onto A film and laminates it with B film to make a peel-and-stick transfer for curved or awkward items. Some desktop machines do both: the eufyMake E1 with its laminator, and the xTool O1 Omni.

Choose UV flatbed for one-off personalisation, flat items and raised 3D texture.

Choose UV DTF for tumblers, curved or irregular items, and for producing decals in volume or selling transfers to other businesses. Many shops start with a desktop flatbed and add a roll-fed UV DTF printer once decal orders grow.

Yes. UV DTF wraps work well on tapered and curved tumblers that are hard to print with a rotary attachment.

For the best hold, clean the surface with alcohol, press the transfer down firmly, peel the film slowly and let it set before the first wash. Hand washing is recommended.

• Starting out: Procolored VF13 Pro ($6,399). It prints, laminates and cuts in one machine.
• Smoother gradients: Audley 13" with 3 XP600 heads ($6,999).
• Metallic labels: Audley 12" with hot foil.
• Volume: Audley 24" with Epson I3200-U1 heads.

Yes. Direct-to-object UV printers handle acrylic, wood, leather, phone cases, metal and glass. eufyMake lists more than 300 compatible materials for the E1.

Very smooth surfaces such as glass, metal and some plastics print best with an adhesion primer. Always test a blank before a production run.

It depends on what you sell.

• eufyMake E1 ($1,949): up to 5 mm texture, compact, built-in air filtration, easiest for beginners.
• xTool O1 Omni (from $2,499): up to 7 mm texture and Pixel-Scan camera placement. Its UV + DT Fabric edition also prints T-shirts.

The closest alternative is the xTool O1 Omni Single UV, with the same A3 bed and deeper 7 mm texture. If you also want T-shirts, choose the O1 Omni UV + DT Fabric. For stickers and decals, a roll-fed UV DTF printer like the Procolored VF13 Pro or an Audley UV DTF printer will out-produce any desktop machine.

For most beginners, the E1 is still the best value.

DTF Gears stocks both versions:

• Epson I3200-A1 ($999) for water-based DTF printers
• Epson I3200-U1 ($1,399) for UV and UV DTF printers

Before you order, send us your printer model and a photo of the installed head so we can confirm the exact version.

They share a body but are built for different inks:

• I3200-A1 is for water-based (aqueous) pigment ink, used in DTF and DTG printers.
• I3200-U1 is for UV-curable ink, used in UV and UV DTF printers.

They are not interchangeable. Running the wrong ink through a head can damage it and void the warranty.

• Audley 24" DTF printers (S7070-3, 8072-3, S8074-3, 8076-3): Epson I3200-A1
• Audley 24" UV DTF printers: Epson I3200-U1
• Audley 13" and 12" UV DTF printers: Epson XP600
• Audley A3+ UV Flatbed: Epson I3200-HD

For the Audley A3 DTF printer, or if you're not sure of your model, send us the model and a photo of the head before ordering.

Order the Procolored K13 Lite original replacement printhead ($280). It's the OEM part made for that printer, so you don't have to cross-match generic heads.

Before replacing it, run through the K13 Lite troubleshooting steps. Many missing-nozzle problems are fixed by cleaning or by clearing an ink-supply issue.

Current DTF Gears prices:

• Epson I3200-A1: $999
• Epson I3200-U1 (UV): $1,399
• Epson I1600-A1: $649
• Epson XP600: $399
• Procolored K13 Lite original: $280

OEM heads for the xTool O1 Omni and eufyMake E1 are also in stock.

Clean first. Work through these steps in order:

• Run a nozzle check.
• Run the printer's cleaning cycles.
• Check the dampers, capping station and wiper.
• Look for air in the ink lines.
• Do a manual clean with a cleaning kit.

Replace the head only if the same nozzles stay missing after all of that.

Signs of a damaged head:

• The same nozzles stay missing after several cleanings.
• Whole color channels drop out.
• There are visible scratches or burn marks on the nozzle plate.
• The printer reports a head error.

Ink starvation, a blocked damper or a loose cable can look the same, so rule those out before buying a new head.

No. The XP600 and I3200 have different connectors, nozzle layouts, voltages and mainboard support. A printer is built around one head family, and you can't swap between them.

Always order the head specified for your exact printer model.

We stock two DTF ink lines in 1 L bottles (CMYK + White):

• Premium Japanese DTF ink for the brightest color and better clog resistance
• Economical DTF pigment ink for the lowest cost per print

Both are water-based pigment inks for Epson-head DTF printers. xTool and eufyMake printers use their own branded ink.

No. Use water-based DTF pigment ink made for Epson heads. Don't mix brands in the same tank. If you switch ink, flush the lines first.

Printers with their own cartridge systems, like the xTool Apparel Printer Plus and the eufyMake E1, should only use that brand's ink.

Our instant-peel, double-sided hot-peel film rolls come in 12", 13" and 24" widths, each 100 m (328 ft) long. Match the roll width to your printer, for example 13" for A3 roll printers and 24" for 60 cm printers.

The double-sided coating feeds smoothly and resists static.

Hot-peel film is peeled straight after pressing, while it's still warm. That's fastest for production. Cold-peel film must cool fully first, which gives a matte finish but slows you down.

Our instant-peel film is hot peel. Always follow the press time, temperature and pressure for the film you use.

For most shops, our Premium DTF hot-melt powder (1 kg) is a medium-grade blend that works on cotton, polyester and blends.

Finer powder gives a softer hand on detailed designs. Coarser powder grips heavy and textured fabrics better. Store powder sealed and dry, because humidity causes clumping.

The usual causes, in order:

• Under-cured powder
• Too little powder, or too much shaken off
• Press temperature, time or pressure too low
• Peeling the film the wrong way (hot versus cold)
• A garment fabric or coating the powder doesn't bond to

Fix the process before you change supplies.

Track how many meters of film each job uses. Ink, powder and film then follow predictably from that number. Most shops reorder when they're down to two weeks of stock.

Don't overstock ink. Pigment ink, and white ink especially, should be used within its shelf life and shaken regularly.

Our DTF supplies bundles put a 5-color ink set, powder and a film roll in one order, from $249.99.

Choose economical or premium ink, and a 12", 13" or 24" roll to match your printer.

Not at first. If you print sheets or small runs, hand powdering plus a curing oven works well. The Procolored curing oven is $599.

An automatic shaker pays off once you print from a roll, run gang sheets or spend hours each day powdering by hand.

• A3, ready to go: Audley A3 printer + DF-300 shaker bundle ($5,599)
• Procolored K13 Lite + Procolored all-in-one shaking and drying unit ($1,799)
• xTool Apparel Printer Plus Professional bundles, which include xTool's automatic shaker and oven
• 24" production: Audley 24" printers + Audley 60 cm shaker dryers

Usually yes, once hand powdering becomes your bottleneck. A shaker powders, shakes off the excess and cures continuously from the roll, so one person can keep up with the printer.

Weigh the labour hours it saves against its price, which starts at $1,799 for A3 and $6,299 for 24".

Yes, as long as the shaker's film width matches your printer. A 13" roll printer needs an A3 shaker, such as the Procolored all-in-one unit or the DF-300 in our Audley A3 bundle. Audley's 60 cm shaker dryers are built for 24" printers.

Also check that the printer and shaker line up in height and feed direction.

A DTF oven only cures sheets that you've already powdered by hand. It's cheap and flexible for small runs.

A powder shaker dryer applies powder, shakes off the excess and cures in one continuous pass from the roll. It's built for gang sheets and production volume.

CADlink Digital Factory V12 is the industry-standard DTF RIP. It handles white underbase, ink limits, ICC color profiles, nesting and job queues.

DTF Gears is an Official Fiery (CADlink) Premier Partner, so you get a genuine license and setup help from our team.

• V12 Desktop Edition: $379.99
• V12 Production Edition (Large Format): $799.99

Add-ons are also available: a Desktop-to-Large-Format upgrade, multi-printer add-ons and FluidMask.

Desktop Edition is for desktop and A3 DTF printers running from one PC. It suits most startups and small shops.

Production Edition (Large Format) is for 24" and wider printers and busy shops that need production queues. If you start on Desktop and outgrow it, you can upgrade instead of buying again.

Most likely, but check before you buy. Support depends on the exact printer model and edition, not just the printhead. Desktop Edition covers common desktop Epson and converted DTF printers, while 24" machines need Production Edition.

Send us your printer model and we'll confirm.

Free RIPs can print, but you usually pay in wasted white ink, weaker color control and slower layout. CADlink adds accurate ICC profiles, automatic white underbase, nesting and queues.

Try it first with the free trial and compare results on your own printer.

Yes, when it's set up with the right ICC profile and ink limits for your ink, film and printer. The optional Fiery Color Profiler builds custom profiles for Pantone-accurate color.

Software can't fix clogged nozzles, wrong curing or an uncalibrated monitor, so check those first.

Yes. When you buy CADlink Digital Factory from DTF Gears, our team helps you install and activate it, add your printer and set up color profiles.

Tell us your printer model and edition before ordering so the license matches your hardware.

Horizontal lines usually mean missing nozzles, so run a nozzle check and clean. Lines that repeat at a fixed spacing point to feed or step calibration.

Also check head height, encoder strip dirt and the print mode or pass count in your RIP.

White ink settles fast. Shake the bottle or tank daily and make sure white circulation is on, then run a nozzle check on the white channel.

If white still doesn't print, check for air in the white line, a blocked damper, and the white channel and ink limit settings in your RIP.

Keep the head capped and moist whenever it's idle. Run a nozzle check every morning and clean the wiper and capping station regularly. Use only the ink type the head is built for (A1 water-based or U1 UV).

Never let ink dry on the nozzle plate.

• Daily: nozzle check, shake white ink, wipe the capping area.
• Weekly: clean the wiper, capping station and encoder strip.
• Before a break of 3 days or more: use the printer's moisturising or vacation procedure.

Always follow your manufacturer's schedule.

We stock replacement printheads, cleaning kits and brand-specific maintenance supplies for Procolored, xTool and eufyMake printers.

Have your exact printer model and the part number or a photo of the part ready, so we can confirm the fit before you order.

The usual causes are the wrong ICC profile, ink limits set too low, a thin white underbase, or a film and ink combination your profile wasn't built for.

Start in your RIP. A correct profile in CADlink fixes most dull prints. Then check curing and press settings.

Not straight away. Clean first, then check the dampers, capping station and ink supply.

If the same nozzles stay missing after a full clean and manual flush, the head is likely worn. That's when to order the exact replacement for your model.

• Lowest entry: ET-8550 DTF Pro Business Starter Kit ($749), if you have or buy an Epson EcoTank
• Complete A3 setup: Procolored K13 Lite Starter bundle ($1,999), plus a heat press
• Production: a 24" printer and shaker line, starting with the Audley 2-head at $8,499

Budget for supplies, RIP software and a spare printhead too.

Here's the full list:

• DTF printer
• DTF ink (CMYK + White)
• PET film
• Hot-melt powder
• A way to cure: oven or shaker dryer
• Heat press
• RIP software
• Cleaning supplies

A bundle covers most of this in one order.

For most first-time buyers, yes. Everything in a bundle is matched to the same printer and workflow, and it usually costs less than the parts bought one by one.

Buy separately only if you already own some of the equipment, like a heat press or oven.

DTF Gears is a US store for DTF and UV printers, supplies, printheads and CADlink software from Procolored, xTool, eufyMake and Audley.

Shipping is free on orders over $299, orders placed before 12 PM PST ship the same day, financing is available, and our team helps with setup.

Yes. DTF Gears offers financing through partner lenders, subject to approval. Check the financing page for current partners and terms.

Financing lets a printer start earning before it's fully paid off, which is especially useful for 24" production lines.

• Procolored: affordable A4 and A3 printers with full bundles. Best for starting out.
• xTool: the most guided workflow, with its own software and supplies.
• Audley: production machines from A3 to 24" 6-head, built to pair with shakers.

Compare specific models, not brands.

Start with what runs out: ink, film rolls in your printer's width, powder and cleaning supplies. Then add a spare printhead so a worn head doesn't stop production.

A supplies bundle ($249.99 and up) is the easiest reorder.