Can You Use Sublimation Ink on DTF Film?

Written by Procolored - Published on Feb 6, 2025

9 minutes read

12 minutes read

Written by Procolored - Published on Aug 6, 2025

Table of Contents

1. The Science Behind the Ink: Not All Liquids Stick the Same

1.1 How Sublimation Ink Works

1.2 How DTF Ink Works

1.3 Quick Analogy:

2. The Experiment: What Happens If You Try It Anyway?

2.1 Poor Adhesion

2.2 Missing the Bond

2.3 Wash-Out Nightmares

2.4 Weak Colors & No Opacity on Dark Fabrics

2.5 Genuine “Field Observations”

3. The Internet Myth: Where Did This Idea Even Come From?

4. Why Procolored Inks Work (and Sublimation Inks Don’t)

4.1 A White Layer That Acts Like Your Canvas

4.2 Locks in with Hot-Melt Powder

4.3 Built for the Long Haul: 20+ Washes Strong

4.4 Procolored Printers = Smart Printing

4.5 Quick Comparison: Sublimation Ink vs. Procolored DTF Ink

5. When to Use Sublimation vs. When to Switch to DTF

5.1 Stick with Sublimation For:

5.2 Time to Move to DTF for:

6. Conclusion: One Ink Doesn’t Rule Them All

Title

Honestly, with everyone hyping up DTF printing lately, a bunch of sublimation folks are sitting there thinking undoubtedly, “Hold up, can’t I just use my sublimation ink onto some DTF film and keep my wallet happy?”

That question is pretty much fair, especially for those who already have a setup up and running.

That idea is pretty tempting and might work. But then again, why spend extra money when you have all the basics in your possession?

You’ve got the printer, the ink’s sitting there ready, and grabbing some DTF film sounds easy enough. Feels like you can just hit printing cotton hoodies and black tees immediately. Right?

Well… not exactly.

Sublimation ink and DTF film are, in practice, not a match. When you mash those things together you end up with washed-out colors, trashed film, and honestly, a big ol’ headache.

In this post, we’re laying out what actually happens when you mix the two, why it never turns out the way you picture, and what you really ought to invest in if you want bright, durable DTF prints that’ll hold up in the real world—especially if you’re looking to sell your designs or grow a brand that sticks around.

The Science Behind the Ink: Not All Liquids Stick the Same

Let’s be truthful—Just because DTF and sublimation both make use of ink and heat, they can better be used as alternatives. Literally, they’re different.

How Sublimation Ink Works

Think of sublimation ink as a type of magic. With the application of heat, the ink skips the liquid phase and instead vapourizes. That vapour sinks into polyester, and at a molecular level, intertwines with the fibers.

● The result? An image that feels like it grew in the fabric, so the touch is as smooth as the print.

● The catch? Only polyester and a few specially coated surfaces let that gas in. Any other fabric? The ink just walks away.

How DTF Ink Works

DTF ink does not plunge underneath the surface. Since it is pigment based, it settles on the fabric. You print on film, add some hot-melt powder, and press. That’s it—flexible and vibrant prints that adhere onto cotton, denim, canvas, blends, and other materials that sublimation shies away from.

Quick Analogy:

Using DTF film with a sublimation ink is like trying to paint on a non-stick pan with water-based paint. At first glance it appears to work, but the second you touch it, everything rubs off. No attachment, no durability, just a colorful chaos.

So yes, with all the science and the mess, it’s safe to say that these two inks can not be used interchangeably.

The Experiment: What Happens If You Try It Anyway?

All right, let’s say you go for it. You load your sublimation ink into your printer, snag some DTF film, print out your design, sprinkle adhesive powder over it and then paste it onto a shirt. You want a nice, smooth transfer onto that cotton tee.

But… Here's what actually happens.

You’re not left with a vibrant, luscious print, but wondering what just happened. Let’s break it down, step by step:

❌ Poor Adhesion

Sublimation ink’s got only one job—soak deep into fabric, not rest atop surfaces. So when you print it onto a DTF film, it doesn’t settle. It shifts and messes up, and never seems to actually stay on the film the way DTF ink does.

❌ Missing the Bond

The DTF printing machines thrive when ink and heat-melt powder become one. Your sublimation ink? It just hangs on the powder’s surface. Crank up the heat and instead of a nice, stretchy print, you get crusty bits falling off, or worse, a print that ghosts your shirt entirely.

❌ Wash-Out Nightmares

Maybe you get a halfway decent print—looks okay at first. Then you toss it in the wash, feeling kinda hopeful.. But the second it hits the wash drum? The design fades, flakes and peels entirely. With no real grip between the ink, the adhesive, and the fabric, the print never stands a chance through a single cycle.

❌ Weak Colors & No Opacity on Dark Fabrics

Sublimation ink wasn’t made to stack colors or lay down a solid white base. On dark fabrics, your design’s just… gone. If you’re expecting those bold, punchy colors your software mock-up promised, well, reality check: what you get is pale, see-through, or flat-out invisible.

Genuine “Field Observations”

Here’s what anyone trying sublimation on DTF film usually sees:

Color: Flat, washed-out, totally boring

Bonding: Ink scratches off with a fingernail, no fight at all

Wash Test: Fades, peels, or disappears after one trip through the laundry

Dark Shirts: Design? What design? It’s get disappeared

Bottom line? Hours wasted, supplies trashed, and your wallet definitely feeling lighter.

The Internet Myth: Where Did This Idea Even Come From?

You ever just sit there and wonder, “Wait, who started slapping sublimation ink onto DTF film, and why is everyone obsessed with it now? Honestly, we assume it was the result of someone streaming from their garage on a Friday night dubbing it the “Best Budget Hack,” and now it has exploded on TikTok.

People seem to have a different understanding of what “no extra gear needed” means. In this case it resulted in people stock piling DTF rolls like their the latest trending item.

We’ve all seen the comments:

“It’s so easy to cheat the process. It’s the same vibe and it works.”

“It’s just a surface. DTF film is what it is. As long as something is printed on it or from it, it works.”

Spoiler alert: All of the above is wrong.

Here’s the real deal.

Putting ink on the DTF film is not the same as putting it on a shirt.

Sure, sublimation ink could get laid down on the film. It might even look passable—at first. But the ink, adhesive, and heat need to work as a trio; the minute you toss that print onto dark cotton, the truth hits. The colors fade, the edges feather, and that shirt comes out of the wash looking like dollar-store art.

DTF isn’t your basic menu where you just pick and choose – it’s a whole squad working together.

● You got pigment ink that’s basically obsessed with the process (like, it shows up for every practice).

● Then there’s this PET film, but not just any flimsy sheet—nah, this one’s coated just right.

● Don’t forget the hot-melt adhesive that forms a bond perfectly.

● And the heat press? the one who brings the energy and makes everything click.

Skip any one of those and, honestly, you’re just wasting ink and melting film for no good reason. Like, congrats, you’ve made a mess.

Swapping a standard printer’s ink with sublimation ink is akin to replacing laundry detergent with cornstarch in a recipe: While the initial stages will feel intoxicating, it will not take a long time to lose the fragrance, and be left with a tart, sticky, and colorful mess.

Why Procolored Inks Work (and Sublimation Inks Don’t)

Vibrant DTF print on dark fabric using Procolored ink with white underbase.

Let’s zoom in on what makes Procolored’s DTF inks a better fit for the job than trying to shove sublimation stuff through the same pipeline. Think of it like pouring vegetable oil into a diesel truck: both are liquids, neither belongs in the same machine.

The whole DTF workflow is a chemist’s roadmap, and our inks are the markers that stay on course at every twist and turn.

1. A White Layer That Acts Like Your Canvas

Sublimation inks skip the white, and that’s a hard stop for dark fabrics. Procolored DTF ink comes through with this thick, bold white base—think of it like priming a canvas, but way cooler.

It lets all the other colors pop, even on those stubborn dark shirts (black, navy, maroon, you name it). That’s why your whites actually look white and the rest of the colors? Super rich, no weird shadows or faded junk.

2. Locks in with Hot-Melt Powder

DTF Hotmelt is designed to adhere beautifully with our DTF ink.. Blast the temp up, and boom—the ink just melts right into the fabric, becomes one with it. No Peeling, Cracking or Fading. Never heard of ’em.” You can even throw it in the wash, no soft laundry required.

But sublimation ink? It doesn’t even try to stick to the powder. It flakes off, slides around, or just ghosts completely. Total failure.

3. Built for the Long Haul: 20+ Washes Strong

DTF prints using Procolored ink keep their color and texture after more than 20 trips through the machine—no cracks, no dulling. Sublimation ink on DTF transfer film can look decent the first time you peel it, but it starts to fade and break apart after a few normal rounds of wear and wash.

4. Procolored Printers = Smart Printing

Partner our ink up with a Procolored DTF printer and you get even more advantages:

● Auto-cleaning systems to prevent clogs

● Smooth and consistent flow of white ink through the capacity to circulate.

● ICC color profiling to achieve accurate skin tones and colors between prints

● Precise control of droplets to form a desired pattern with crisp lines and gradients

These are the features that help keep your DTF prints looking sharp—and your T-shirt printer running smoothly.

Quick Comparison: Sublimation Ink vs. Procolored DTF InkFeature

Feature

Procolored DTF Ink

Fabric Type

Polyester only

Cotton, blends, denim

Film Adhesion

❌

✅

❌

✅

Wash Durability

High

Fabric Flexibility

❌ Brittle/Peels

✅ Soft, Stretchable

Color Vibrancy

✅ (On Poly Only)

✅ On Any Fabric

When to Use Sublimation vs. When to Switch to DTF

Let’s clear the air right away—sublimation isn’t the enemy. It’s an incredible tool for the jobs it was born for. The key is knowing when it’s your go-to hero and when it’s time to give DTF a call.

Quick cheat sheet for your next decision:

Stick with Sublimation For:

● White or light polyester tees

● Mugs, tumblers,—anything with a polymer coating

● Coasters, phone cases, keychains, and any coated blank

Sublimation gives you vibrant, forever prints as long as you stay on polyester or polymer surfaces. The minute you imagine a soft, cotton t-shirt, the limitations come creeping in.

Time to Move to DTF for:

● Cotton shirts (finally!)

● Hoodies, canvas totes, denim jackets, and more

● Blacks and Dark Fabrics

● Natural Fibers, Blends, and Stretch Fabrics

So, for any kinda products, DTF printing is possible. Inks no longer have to sit on poly blanks only as they joyfully rest on any color or fabric.

Ready to Make The Leap? We’ve Got You Covered.

Contemplating ditching sublimation? Go ahead. Procolored has your backs. Their DTF kits are super simple. Say your tech skills are… developing. You’ll be cruisin’.

✅ Plug it in, and start printing— no nightmares manual-wrangling work.

✅ Ink, Film, and powder— no mad scientist work because it’s predetermined.

✅ Minimal adulting? Load your stuff and go.

Refresh your old stuff, or go wild, and start your custom tee empire. There are no limits. Procolored is your hype crew to make cool things.

Conclusion: One Ink Doesn’t Rule Them All

Who isn't looking to save some money where they can, “especially with printing spiraling out of control”? There is always an urge to save money. But trying to combine sublimation ink with DTF film? That is sure to lead to an unwanted mess, not to mention a headache.

Sublimation ink is cool, but it’s got its own thing going on and DTF printing is a whole different game. It runs on its own specific ink, film, and obviously a DTF printer with the right setup. When everything is dialed in just right, the result is next-level—that is bold, retains its color, and holds strong even after a bunch of washes.

Taking the wrong step in any process can lead to a disaster; in the case of sublimation ink and DTF film, trying to use both oppositely is a surefire way to make everything go wrong.

If you want to print on all sorts of fabrics and still get those eye-popping colors, you gotta use proper DTF ink in a real DTF printer. That’s just facts. And honestly, Procolored’s got your back here.

Looking To Level Up?

Procolored offers DTF printers, all-in-one kits, ink packs, and DTF printing kits designed to provide effortless printing, a sharp and long-lasting result, unmatched simplicity, and reliability.

Procolored specialists are available to assist with any questions via text message so you can get right to DTF printing. Text them to get peace of mind that you can always rely on experienced help.

Procolored DTF printer in action producing high-quality fabric transfers.

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