Dtf Printer vs Uv Dtf Printer: Which One Should You Buy?

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Which side of the dtf printer vs uv dtf printer choice fits your work

Start from the item you sell most. If it is a shirt, a tote bag or another fabric good, the DTF side fits: the listings below print on PET film for heat transfer onto cotton, polyester, denim and canvas. If it is a hard good, the UV side fits, because a stick-on transfer does not need a fabric surface to receive it. Buying the wrong side means owning a workflow that cannot finish your main product, so decide the surface before you compare models.

Volume matters too. The Aquaimage ink set is built for continuous production runs, with six bottles for high-volume work, while the Lancelot bundle targets clothing studios and startups with a preloaded laptop and consumables included. Match the bundle to the shop you run, not the shop you hope to run.

What DTF printing does

DTF printing puts the design on PET film first, then moves it onto fabric with heat. The Aquaimage listing describes the process as PET film transfer for garment printing, with a white ink underbase that gives dark and black garments solid coverage for vibrant color transfer. The Procolored listing supports cotton, polyester, denim, canvas and other fabric materials from a 13 inch A3 printing area, for custom apparel, school shirts, team apparel, tote bags and personalized accessories.

The Lancelot listing states that DTF printing is more durable with no pre-treatment, and that DTG printers suit natural fibers only while DTF printers print on a wider range of materials. Treat that as the maker’s claim, not a measured result: the listing states it in a comparison bullet, and no pre-treatment step appears in the DTF listings below.

What UV DTF adds

UV DTF keeps the film-transfer idea but changes how the print is finished and applied. Instead of a heat transfer onto fabric, the print is set with ultraviolet light and applied as a stick-on transfer. That is why it belongs on the hard-goods side of the choice: the transfer itself carries the design onto the item, rather than heat pressing a film onto fabric.

Because no UV DTF machine appears in the listed gear, this guide cannot compare UV models spec for spec. Shoppers on the UV side should read a UV DTF listing the same way this guide reads the DTF listings below: check the stated surfaces, the stated film sizes, the maintenance routine and the warranty term before buying. The UV printing versus laser engraving comparison covers UV printing from the engraving side.

The gear: DTF-side printers, ink and cleaning

Procolored K13 Lite DTF Printer. A 13 inch A3 apparel printer with LiteHead Technology, a White Ink Circulation System that runs regularly to prevent sedimentation, and automatic cleaning that helps reduce clogging and ink drying. It offers one-touch ink pumping, a visual touchscreen interface with three customizable pixel-style themes, G7-certified color accuracy with Procolored Studio Lite software, and automatic detection of RGB and CMYK image formats. Its Infrared Printhead SafeGuard System monitors the printing area in real time and detects film warping and foreign particles as small as 2 mm. The warranty is a 12-Month Limited Warranty on Non-Ink Contact Components with 6-Month Coverage on Ink Contact Components.

Lancelot M1630 Pro DTF Printer Bundle. A bundle with auto maintenance that includes an oven, a preloaded laptop and consumables, plus auto film cutting for single sheets and rolls of A3 and A4 size DTF transfer film. Its Holiday Mode auto-cleaning prevents nozzle clogs during downtime, and its white ink circulation extends print-head lifespan 40% longer than standard DTG printer t-shirt machines, according to the maker. The package includes a highly compatible computer with drivers and software pre-installed, and the system is compatible with Windows 7, Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems but not Mac. The warranty is 1 year.

Aquaimage Premium DTF Ink. A 6000ml set of six 1000ml bottles: cyan, magenta, yellow, black and two white. The maker describes it as clog-resistant pigment ink with smooth circulation that reduces sediment buildup during long printing sessions, and high-opacity white ink for strong underbase coverage on dark and black garments. It lists compatibility with a wide range of Epson-based heads, including L1800, L805, R1390, 4720, I3200, XP600, DX5 and DX7. The warranty is one year.

CenDale Premium DTF Printhead Cleaning Solution. A 100ML cleaning kit for DTF and DTG printheads, with an improved formula containing active enzymes that dissolve dry and wet DTF and DTG ink. It includes two specially designed nozzles, yellow for Epson printers and white for DTF and DTG printers, plus a 10ml precision syringe, a 10cm cleaning tube, two L-shaped tubes, 4 cotton swabs, gloves and detailed instructions. The listing cautions against spilling the solution onto the motherboard and cables. The warranty is 18 months.

Maintenance and workflow notes

White ink is the maintenance story on the DTF side. The CenDale listing warns that DTF and DTG inks clog more frequently when they dry out, especially when white ink crystallizes, and the Procolored and Lancelot listings both answer with white ink circulation plus automatic cleaning. Keep the cleaning kit on the bench: the CenDale kit exists precisely for blocked printheads, color changes and lines during printing caused by ink residue.

Film handling is the second workflow point. The Lancelot bundle prints on single sheets of A3 and A4 size film or rolls of film, with an upgraded film delivery system that the maker says avoids the paper jamming common with conventional machines. Confirm your film size before ordering, since the Procolored covers a 13 inch A3 area and the Lancelot covers A3 and A4 sheets plus rolls.

Software and computer setup is the third point. The Lancelot bundle includes a laptop preloaded with drivers and software, which suits beginners and startups, while the Procolored relies on its touchscreen interface and Procolored Studio Lite software. The Lancelot system runs on Windows 7, Windows 10 and Windows 11, not Mac, so Mac-only shops should check compatibility before buying any bundle in this guide.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Buying a DTF printer for hard goods, which belongs on the UV DTF side of the choice.
• Skipping cleaning until white ink clogs the printhead, when circulation and auto-cleaning exist to prevent it.
• Assuming Mac support: the Lancelot bundle states Windows systems only, not Mac.
• Ordering ink without checking head compatibility against the Aquaimage compatibility list.
• Ordering film in the wrong size for the printer’s stated A3 or A4 area.

FAQ: lasers and CNC

What does a DTF printer print on?

A DTF printer prints on PET film, which is then heat-transferred onto fabric. The Procolored listing supports cotton, polyester, denim, canvas and other fabric materials.

Can DTF print on dark garments?

Yes, through a white ink underbase. The Aquaimage listing describes high-opacity white ink that creates a solid underbase layer for vibrant color transfer on dark and black garments.

Does DTF need pre-treatment?

The Lancelot listing states that DTF printing needs no pre-treatment, in contrast to DTG printing. That is the maker’s claim in its comparison bullet.

What maintenance does a DTF printer need?

White ink circulation, automatic cleaning and printhead cleaning. The Procolored and Lancelot listings both include circulation and auto-cleaning, and the CenDale kit covers cleaning when clogs appear.

Does the Lancelot bundle work with a Mac?

No. The listing states compatibility with Windows 7, Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems but not Mac, and includes a preloaded laptop with drivers and software.

What ink comes in the Aquaimage set?

Six 1000ml bottles, 6000ml in total: cyan, magenta, yellow, black and two white. The maker describes the set as clog-resistant with high-opacity white ink for dark garments.

Related: the DTF versus heat transfer vinyl comparison, the UV printing versus laser engraving comparison and the sublimation printer versus inkjet printer comparison.