11 } Sustainable Solutions
Eco-Friendly Media Continues to Evolve Recycled and recyclable fabric options. by Cassandra Balentine
17 } Direct Growth
DTF, DTG, and Hybrid Options for Wide Format PSPs
Trending topics attract wide format print shops. by Melissa Donovan
23 } Reigning in Color
Addressing Color Sensitivities in DTG and DTF
Achieving accuracy with RIPs and color management tools. by Melissa Donovan
Enfocus demonstrated the updated Griffin nesting and Phoenix imposition and planning solutions via the Big Head Experience. Significans Automation’s S-Launch, a solution tailor made for the print, labels, and packaging space, powered the automated workflow.
Epson brought several new printers to the show, including the SureColor S7170 64-inch roll-toroll solvent printer and 35-inch SureColor G6070 dedicated direct to film printer. The SureColor S7170 utilizes UltraChrome GS3 four-color solvent inks and Epson Precision Dot technology.
FDC Graphic Films, Inc. promoted its unique position in the industry, with its ability to sell its own branded products, as well as those from 3M, 3M DI-NOC Architectural Finishes, ASLAN, Nekoosa, and Siser exclusively through distribution channels.
Fisher Textiles debuted fabric products including DD7788 Perfect Knit, DD5361 Tent, GF8875 Dimmer, ET9608 Power Stretch, ET9848 EZ Stretch Premium, ET9860 Silver Back, and ET9118 White-Out. It continues to expand its sustainable product line by incorporating recycled polyester.
Fluid Color demonstrated its 4x8-foot RF84 Flatbed Printer and 98-inch RH98 Hybrid Printer.
GBC had a lot to offer from the Flatbed Applicator to the Seal 62 Base and 65Pro MD laminators.
General Formulations gave visitors the opportunity to spin the wheel, Price is Right style to win a variety of prizes. Elsewhere attendees were invited to learn more about new GF Economy Solutions, featuring two laminates and six print media films in gloss and matte white.
Graphic Finishing Partners, LLC demonstrated the 663-TH Production Top Heat Laminator, featuring Smart Finishing Technology.
Graphic Whizard USA promoted its wide format capabilities, demonstrating the ability of its flatbed cutters to work with substrates up to 25 millimeters in thickness from MDF to paper and vinyl.
HP Inc. added two printers to its latex-based portfolio—the HP Latex 730 and 830 Printer Series. With the new digital color pipeline, HP Pixel Control, the latest generation of inks and printhead architecture, these advanced printers deliver elevated print quality with consistency.
Infinity Media Solutions was available to discuss its floor and window graphics. Well known for its floor graphic media—if you caught the graphics on the way into the show, that was FloorAppeal—the company is excited to introduce optically clear bubblefree GlassApeel window media.
Jessup Manufacturing Co. displayed examples from its vast media lineup. Of note is four product introductions, ARMORLam 7, WallPro 6, TenaciousTac WHT-PP-2HT, and TenaciousTac BCHR-PET-2CR.
Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems ran the Kongsberg X in its booth. Attendees could also learn about the latest version of the company’s table operating software IPC 3.1.
Lintec of America, Inc. discussed its high-quality clear PET graphic film, setting new standards for sustainability in the realm of recycled materials. This is demonstrated most clearly with its ECO 2100 ZC Recycled window film product.
Mimaki USA, Inc. promoted its UJV300DTF-75 UV LED direct to film printer. It allows users to transfer UV graphics on hard-toprint surfaces, unlimited by shape or size. The printer is equipped with new UV LED Greenguard Gold certified inks and white ink circulation for added stability.
Mutoh America, Inc. highlighted its XpertJet C641SR Pro 24-inch eco-solvent printer/cutter combination. It is ideal for creating posters, stickers, window and floor decals, labels, HTV transfers, vehicle decals, and banners.
Nekoosa promoted its Trifecta universal media and ClingZ electrically charged film as well as NextBond durable adhesive. The company’s portfolio of graphics media and adhesives covers a range of applications.
At the time, there was no network of installers trained on how to properly apply graphics. Couch’s experience had gained him a sort of reputation in the community and he rose to the forefront of installation expertise. From 2015 to 2020, he personally trained 150 people on how to work with substrates and install certain applications.
Today, he is a top 3M Preferred Graphics Installer of vehicle, wall, and floor graphics as well as 3M’s DI-NOC architectural finishes. Couch is well known in the installation world and his knowledge allows him to travel all over. To date he has worked in over 400 cities
and 42 states. From 2016 to 2019 he flew close to 286,000 miles.
Optically Clear Windows
Besides installing 3M and other vendors’ media, Couch has experience installing Lintec of America, Inc.’s window films.
In 2021, 3M referred Couch to ADEX International. It needed someone to install 4,000 square feet of Lintec window film at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Couch was up to the task.
The install led to many more jobs with Lintec’s window materials. “It’s the most phenomenal
optically clear film I’ve ever used. When installed the right away, Lintec film looks like it was painted on glass,” shares Couch.
Another large Lintec project was completed for Procter & Gamble’s OH headquarters, which Couch installed using a wet technique. “The wet install allows for applying big sections of media at once. If you don’t have enough solution on it, it can dry quick and turn white. A special type of squeegee also helps to avoid scratching the media.”
Couch completed the Procter & Gamble install independently. “99 percent of what I do, I do myself.
Working solo I am able to figure out how to do stuff much quicker,” he says. His wife of 48 years, Sharon, is also an asset, grabbing liner backing from the printed graphics as each panel is installed, which speeds up the process.
For the Love of Install
With the increased demand for Couch’s installation services from outside companies, he estimates that today about one third of RAC Graphixs’ work is printing, and the other two thirds is installation. And that’s okay, because the install is his favorite part. D
See page 22 for more info.
textiles are used for a range of wide format print applications including banners, flags, displays, wallcoverings, and tablecloths. As sustainability continues to be a factor in media selection, recycled, recyclable, and specialty fabrics made with special
by Cassandra Balentine
fibers are gaining popularity among print service providers (PSPs).
Recycled and Recyclable Fabrics
Sustainability is the most obvious and popular selling point for printing to recycled and recyclable fabrics.
“The primary advantage of using recycled fabrics for digital wide format printing is their environmental impact. Recycled polyester
Above) HP Large Format Media currently offers recycled fabric products made with recycled water bottles and coating materials.
helps divert plastic bottles from landfills while reducing the demand for virgin polyester production. This process conserves petroleum resources and lowers overall energy consumption,” comments Sharon Roland, director of marketing, Fisher Textiles.
Further, by estimating the number of plastic PET bottles used per linear yard of fabric it is easier to quantify the sustainability impact. “Our Enviro-Tex fabrics contain between 20 to 51 recycled 500 milliliter (ml)
water bottles per linear yard,” shares Roland.
Fisher Textiles continues to expand its sustainable product line by incorporating recycled polyester, which helps divert PET bottles from landfills, lowers energy consumption, and conserves the petroleum resources used in producing virgin polyester.
In April 2025, Fisher Textiles released ET9608 Power Stretch, ET9848 EZ Stretch Premium, ET9860 Silver Back, and ET9118 White-Out, which are recyled versions of four of its more popular products. Each eco-friendly
alternative is made up of a certain percentage of post-consumer recycled polyster. For example, ET9848 EZ Stretch Premium is the recycled version of GF9048 EZ Stretch. This fabric is made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled polyester and contains about 49 recycled 500 ml bottles per linear yard.
By choosing recycled and recyclable fabrics, Michelle Oczkowski, product manager, Brand Management Group, says businesses can reduce their environmental impact while meeting the demands of a growing market of environmentally conscious customers.
The capabilities afforded by ecofriendly fabric media are extensive. “For example, HP Recycled Removable Adhesive Fabrics are repositionable, stick to any non-porous surface, and can be used for a multitude of print applications, from wall murals and event signage to retail displays, decals, and window graphics,” adds Oczkowski.
Berger Textiles is committed to a more circular business. Its EVO line offers a complete set of more sustainable textiles produced using Global Recycled Standard (GRS)-certified recycled yarn.
GRS is a globally recognized voluntary product standard for tracking and verifying the content and chain of custody of recycled materials in a final product. The GRS includes a 50 percent minimum recycled content percentage and additional social and environmental requirements related to processing and chemical use.
According to Giorgio Volpi, head of marketing, Berger Textiles, there are measurable sustainability benefits for customers that choose these products. “For example, we calculated and analyzed the carbon footprint of our three main best sellers— be.tex Samba, be.tex Lumina, and be.tex Mozaik, and discovered that their EVO counterparts always had a much lower impact to the standard versions.”
Similarly, Dazian LLC offers sustainable fabrics like Evoke, which is derived from fiber produced by repurposed plastic waste. The
collection includes wide-width soft and heavy knits, stretch, backlit, mesh, and drapery fabrics. One example is Evoke Trapeze Plus HW, which offers the same technical performance and processing as the original Trapeze Plus HW.
At Aberdeen Fabrics, Inc. sustainability isn’t a buzzword, according to the company's website, but the very essence of its existence. The company’s proprietary textile manufacturing process, CleanRTex, consumes 90 percent less water than traditional textile processing all while maintaining a zerowaste water system, making it a complete closed-loop solution.
Proving the success of the CleanRTex, an average 100 yard roll of Aberdeen Fabrics Soft Knit consumes 125 gallons or 1,000 pounds of fresh water during production, all of which ends up as waste water. An equivalent roll of CleanRTex Soft Knit uses just 12 gallons or 100 pounds of fresh water.
A standard 20 roll pallet of Aberdeen Fabrics Soft Knit consumes 2,500 gallons or 20,000 pounds of freshwater in production. An equivalent pallet of CleanRTex Soft Knit requires only 240 gallons or 2,000 pounds of fresh water. This results in a 90 percent reduction in water consumed and zero waste water generated, based on research from Aberdeen Fabrics.
Paying the Price
Products made with recycled and recyclable fabrics are often
assumed to carry a higher price tag compared to legacy fabrics.
“While recycled and recyclable fabrics often come with a slightly higher price tag, customer feedback on price is evolving,” says Oczkowski.
“A significant and growing segment of consumers are willing to pay a premium for sustainable products. This is especially true for younger generations and those who are highly environmentally conscious. Government agencies also have environmental mandates for products. Some customers are still price sensitive and may hesitate to pay a significant premium, especially in challenging economic times. Yet the willingness to pay a premium for recycled and recyclable fabrics is increasing,” continues Oczkowski.
It is those companies that can effectively communicate the value proposition of sustainable products and demonstrate their commitment to environmental responsibility that are more likely to succeed in this evolving market, points out Oczkowski.
Roland adds that while products made with recycled and recyclable fabrics were once considered more expensive, the cost of recycled fabric media has significantly decreased over the years. It is now competitively priced, making it a more viable option in the market.
Berger Textiles offers many of the products within its EVO range at the same price as its
traditionally woven counterparts. “That was the rationale for offering be.tex Aero, be.tex Expandable, and be.tex Revolution exclusively in the EVO configuration. These products deliver the same performance at the same price as their non-recycled equivalents,” shares Volpi.
Most of Media One Digital Imaging, LLC’s customers understand the additional cost associated with recycled fabrics. “The typical 15 to 20 percent per yard price increase allows printers to meet end user requirements while supporting sustainability,” notes the informational hand out
on Media One’s digitally printable recycled fabric options.
In the past, additional limitations included the white point of recycled fabric media. However, Roland points out that advancements have greatly improved its quality. “Today, recycled fabrics closely match their virgin counterparts in appearance while maintaining the same premium quality, stretch, and durability while offering a more sustainable choice.”
CiCLO Fibers
Another printable eco-friendly option to enter the wide format media scene utilizes CiCLO.
CiCLO is a sustainable textiles ingredient in the form of an additive that is combined with polyester and nylon during melt extrusion at the very beginning of the fiber-making process, describes Intrinsic Advanced Materials (IAM)—the company behind CiCLO technology.
IAM is a joint venture formed in 2018 between Intrinsic Textiles Group, a Silicon Valley startup, and Parkdale Advanced Materials, the innovative fibers and yarns division of textiles giant Parkdale, Inc., a leading manufacturer of spun yarns.
Beaver Paper and Graphic Media Inc., a manufacturer of dye-sublimation media, offers TexStyles NatureSeries graphic fabric, which incorporates CiCLO. “NatureSeries Soft Knit looks and
feels like traditional polyester with the same high performance and durable characteristics, but because it is made with CiCLO technology, it behaves more like natural fibers when discarded in a landfill. It is perfect for frontlit digital imaging, soft signage, retail point of sale/point of purchase displays, interior décor, and exhibition graphics. TexStyles NatureSeries Soft Knit fabric has been tested to ensure traits such as tenacity, pilling resistance, and printability are unchanged,” says a spokesperson from Beaver Paper.
Beaver Paper fabric made with CiCLO biodegrades at the same rate as natural fibers—such as wool—once it has finished its lifecycle of use and is placed in a landfill.
Eco Options
Many PSPs consider sustainability as a factor in media choice. Today, several printable options are available, including those made with recycled materials, medias that can be recycled, and emerging solutions that incorporate eco-friendly technologies like CiCLO.
The graphic arts industry continues to invest in its mission to educate print providers on the merits of utilizing sustainable media choices. This is done through various ways, and with the help of fabric manufacturers who have taken the initial steps to institute eco-friendly manufacturing processes in their facilities, which trickle down to the sustainable products discussed here.
by Melissa Donovan
irect to film (DTF) printing is popular for hobbyists and smaller businesses with a customer base in online as well as local retail outlets. The technology is attracting wide format sign shops.
There is an ease in which a print service provider (PSP) can create multiple logos, graphics, or small
amounts of text with DTF printing. Many times, these same images are found on applications yielded from wide format printers, whether it be banners, floor graphics, or yard signs.
Meeting a need, DTF printers are adapted for sign shops. Most notably, the printable width is Above) Output generated
expanding—from over 24 to 64 inches in some cases.
What does this mean for direct to garment (DTG) printing? There is certainly still a demand in the wide format sign shop for the technology, but it’s a question of
the business model and requirements of the print shop and more importantly its customers.
Complement Wide Format
Interest in DTF printing continues to grow. While many DTF printers are not considered wide
format—which Digital Output defines as over 24 inches in width—they still find a home in a wide format print provider’s business.
With DTF, it’s easy enough for a PSP to take their digital files used in display graphics and produce similar graphics on garments or soft goods. “The versatile output of DTF prints allows for the decoration of a variety of media with consistent color output from 100 percent cotton to many synthetic materials,” explains Tim Dinneen, national sales manager, industrial products division, Brother International Corporation.
According to Lily Hunter, product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America, Inc., “a wide format print provider wants to incorporate DTF into its everyday workflow to increase efficiency and diversify product offerings. DTF can fill the gaps for apparel and textile decoration. When a wide format printer can diversify offerings, there’s opportunity to upsell, as well as the potential to increase customer loyalty and retention. A customer
who initially orders a step and repeat for an upcoming trade show can now also place an order for company polos, hats, or tote bags for employees, or to offer as giveaways while onsite at that show.”
As Rob Almstrom, president, American Print Consultants, points out, a PSP’s customers are probably already purchasing customized apparel elsewhere. DTF “is a way to add that offering with a relatively low entry point and without a lot of application knowledge.”
Otherwise, if a PSP isn’t offering these services, they may turn a customer away and miss out on profit. “While these services can be outsourced, depending upon another print provider to get the job done comes with disadvantages, such as the lack of control over quality and turnaround time. Referring the customer to another shop that does DTF printing means not only a loss in profit but also the potential loss of a customer,” explains Mike Davis, application specialist, Roland DGA Corporation.
“Garment decoration is a popular and growing segment of the printing industry. Wide format PSPs already have relationships with their customer base, and those customers are likely ordering
1) Photo courtesy of Mimaki, DTF printing using white ink is ideal for transfers to colored fabrics, such as black. 2) DTF printing can create promotional products like this eyeglasses case produced with the Mimaki TxF Series of DTF printers. 3) The Kornit Atlas MAX POLY DTG printer allows for photorealistic images, neon designs, and 3D effects, supporting broad polyester blends and types.
mind. As trusted brands enter the market, their loyal customers— many of whom have built businesses around their products—can
confidently adopt DTF knowing they have dependable maintenance, warranties, and support,” shares Hunter.
Common applications include apparel customization and personalization, according to Davis. “Another popular use is the production of ready-to-apply transfer graphics that are sold to users who will apply those themselves. This allows a PSP to provide retail and wholesale transfer services.”
With a wide format DTF device, a PSP is able to print over a hundred company logos or preordered designs on one sheet of material, making it highly efficient and versatile, adds Hunter.
“The wider width—especially 64 inches—lends itself to increased throughput, enabling more transfers to be printed across the media. As DTF printing expands beyond transfers for shirts and totes into décor, the extra width is attractive for producing items that were previously unprintable before DTF,” agrees Mitchell.
Whether or not wide format print shops flock to wide format DTF is yet to be determined.
With PSPs constantly looking for ways to achieve more throughput, Davis says “most production-level shops prefer devices that are 24 inches in width or wider for DTF applications because the print area, along with faster speeds, allows for more throughput.”
Wider printers yield less waste for high-volume shops. “Most DTF printers require an inline powder applicator and curing unit. This unit consumes a certain length of DTF film in between print jobs. Therefore, wide format DTF machines are most attractive to highvolume print shops that have less changeover between print runs. Wide format allows for larger prints and larger gang sheets, however, for lower volume shops, a narrower platform will result in less material waste,” says Tipre.
Taylor Landesman, VP, Lawson Screen & Digital Products, Inc., “does not anticipate DTF printers getting wider because of the hassle
4) Epson’s lineup of DTF/DTF printers yield a number of applications from t-shirts to tote bags. 5) The Lawson Prestige XL3 stands out as one of the first eight-color DTF printing systems available. It’s paired with the Seismo L24R DTF Powder Applicator and Dryer automatic shaker.
olor management is pivotal regardless of the printer, method, or ink set used. That being said, direct to garment (DTG) and direct to film (DTF) print applications typically include branding—logos or company mascots—these are color-sensitive graphics.
There are a number of ways to achieve accurate color—RIPs, specialized color management software,
by Melissa Donovan
or hardware like spectrophotometers. Vendors recognize the importance of dialing in color for DTF/ DTG-specific applications, as the process presents certain nuances that must be addressed.
“Since DTG and DTF involve printing on textiles, which can vary in texture, absorbency, and color, Above) Digital Factory is Fiery's full print product software system used for DTF and DTG print applications.
between the white underbase and the design, or to ensure the white layer does not spread. “This white is usually measured in pixels. What Caldera does differently is measure it in millimeters for more precision and to match the resolution. The choke is applied according to these measurements. Why would we want to shrink or choke the underbase? Simple. It’s to provide a tiny margin of error to ensure that
we don’t see a slight outline of white ink around the edges of the designs when they’re printed. In this way, we preserve the accuracy of colors and designs,” explains the Caldera representative.
“The technical factors to achieve color management rely specifically on white underbase control including choke, t-shirt color knockout, and color management. The vast majority of existing production
files are manually prepared with or without some of these attributes with varying degrees of resulting quality,” admits Landau.
Lily Hunter, product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America, Inc., recommends for those wide format print shops who would like a color managed workflow, tools like spectrophotometers and auto chart readers. “These are designed to support a color management workflow by creating color profiles and verifying and calibrating color, to help print shops save time and resources by avoiding reprints due to color inaccuracies.”
Some color management tools are non-negotiable, while others aren’t mandatory. For Landau, the essential tools are color profiling software—ICC or device link profiling; and spectrophotometers.
Spectrophotomers are crucial for measuring and profiling colors on textiles, according to McCartney. “Pairing such spectrophotometers with a compatible RIP that supports ICC profiling ensures that colors remain consistent across different substrates and printing conditions.”
Nice-to-have tools—but not necessary—include ink limiting tools and soft proofing solutions, shares Landau.
Also nice to have, according to Stone, are environmental monitoring tools, such as hygrometers and temperature sensors, which can be beneficial in controlling humidity
and temperature, both of which impact ink curing and adhesion.
Levine says “you cannot manage something without measuring it first,” as such tools that measure output and set up a transformation workflow include measurement devices that measure the color behavior of your output; profilebuilding tools, which transform color measurements into tables that transform artwork colors; and workflow tools, these apply profiles to artwork—transforming it from one colorspace to another.
“The items above are the fundamental pieces of any color management solution. In addition to that, users may wish to explore tools to tackle the specific challenges of their business and workflow. This might include additional design tools to help leverage color management in the content creation stage; proofing solutions to accurately simulate how color will print before it is printed; and technical tools designed to optimize artwork printability and consistency,” continues Levine.
Correct Color
Producing color accurate DTF and DTG applications is important for any size print shop. Precise color is the difference between losing a job and gaining a repeat customer.
“For DTG and DTF printing businesses, color accuracy is not just a luxury—it’s a necessity. With the right education, tools, and software solutions, print providers can optimize their workflows, reduce costs, and maintain customer satisfaction through consistent and vibrant prints,” concludes Landau. D
