Why Quality DTF Transfers Matter: The RBA Transfers Story Since 2019

RBA Transfers has been producing DTF transfers since 2019, when direct-to-film printing was still a relatively new technology in the custom apparel industry.

Before we ever offered our first custom DTF transfer to a customer, we spent countless hours researching commercial DTF printers, transfer films, inks, adhesive powders and printing processes. We ordered and tested several commercial machines before finally finding equipment and materials we truly believed in.

The DTF industry has changed dramatically since then.

Machines have become faster. Hot peel technology has improved. More suppliers have entered the market. DTF printing has become accessible to businesses of almost every size.

But one thing at RBA Transfers has remained consistent:

We believe the quality of a DTF transfer starts with the materials and process behind it.

Today, RBA Transfers operates two four-head commercial DTF printers daily, producing custom DTF transfers, DTF gang sheets and ready-to-press transfers for businesses, creators and apparel decorators.

But getting here wasn't easy.

How RBA Transfers Started in 2019

RBA Transfers was started by Jamie & Brittany with the goal of helping small businesses find a faster and easier alternative to traditional heat transfer vinyl.

In 2019, DTF printing wasn't what it is today.

There weren't thousands of tutorials explaining every setting. Local technical support was difficult to find. DTF equipment was still evolving, and much of the process involved learning through experience.

Our first production machine was a two-head commercial DTF printer.

There were nights when we were still working at 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning trying to understand why something wasn't printing correctly.

We learned about ink flow.

We learned about curing.

We learned about film.

We learned about powder.

We learned how temperature, humidity, artwork and machine settings could affect the finished transfer.

It was incredibly challenging at times, but those early years forced us to understand the DTF printing process instead of simply learning how to operate a machine.

Today, that first two-head printer has been replaced by two four-head commercial DTF machines that run on a daily basis.

We've grown considerably since 2019, but the lessons from those early years still influence how we produce every transfer.

What Makes a High-Quality DTF Transfer?

From the outside, two DTF transfers can look very similar.

What you can't necessarily see is everything that went into producing them.

The quality of a DTF transfer can be influenced by several factors, including:

• DTF transfer film

• CMYK inks

• White DTF ink

• Adhesive powder

• Ink density

• Curing temperature and time

• Printer calibration

• Artwork quality

• Production consistency

There are now extremely inexpensive DTF consumables available throughout the industry.

That can make production cheaper.

But our philosophy at RBA Transfers has never been to find the cheapest possible combination of materials.

We purchase high-quality DTF films, inks and adhesive powders because consistency is extremely important to us.

Over the years, many suppliers have approached us offering alternative films, inks and powders.

Some could have reduced our production costs.

We have continued working with the materials and suppliers we trust because we've spent years learning how those products perform.

When a customer presses one of our transfers onto a shirt, hoodie, tote bag or another product, that finished item represents their business.

We want to be confident in what we're providing them.

Why White Ink Matters in DTF Printing

One of the biggest differences between DTF transfers can be something customers rarely think about:

white ink.

During the DTF printing process, the coloured artwork is printed along with a white ink backing.

That white layer helps create opacity underneath the design and allows colours to remain vibrant when pressed onto different coloured garments, especially darker fabrics.

White DTF ink is also one of the more expensive materials used during production.

Because of that, reducing the amount of white ink used can lower the cost of producing a transfer.

A transfer using a lighter white ink layer may appear less opaque or less vibrant depending on the artwork and garment.

At RBA Transfers, we use what we describe as a 100% white ink backing as part of our production process.

Through our own testing and years of production experience, this has provided the opacity, colour and consistency we want from our transfers.

For us, reducing the white ink simply to lower production costs isn't worth compromising the finished result.

Why Do Some DTF Transfers Look More Transparent?

If you've ever compared transfers from different DTF suppliers, you may notice that some appear much more transparent than others when viewed from the back.

There can be several reasons for this, but one important factor is the amount of white ink being printed.

A stronger white backing helps provide a solid foundation beneath the colours of the artwork.

This becomes particularly noticeable when a transfer is pressed onto:

black shirts, dark hoodies, navy garments, coloured apparel and other surfaces where the fabric colour could otherwise influence the design.

This is one of the reasons we place so much importance on our white ink settings.

A DTF transfer shouldn't only look good sitting on the film.

It needs to look good after it's pressed onto the garment.

Cheap DTF Transfers vs. Quality DTF Transfers

We know price matters.

Many of our customers are small businesses themselves, which means every dollar matters when calculating the cost of producing apparel.

There are cheaper DTF transfers available.

There will probably always be cheaper options.

But when comparing DTF transfer suppliers, price shouldn't be the only consideration.

Ask what type of materials are being used.

Consider the opacity of the transfer.

Look at the colour reproduction.

Test how the transfer presses.

Wash the garment repeatedly.

Pay attention to how consistent the transfers are from one order to another.

An inexpensive transfer that needs to be replaced ultimately isn't inexpensive.

At the same time, a higher price doesn't automatically mean a better transfer.

What matters is the process, materials, experience and consistency behind the product.

At RBA Transfers, our goal has never been to simply become the cheapest DTF supplier.

Our goal is to produce a transfer that we're comfortable putting our name behind.

Hot Peel vs. Cold Peel DTF Transfers

Another major change we've witnessed since entering the industry is the evolution from cold peel DTF transfers to hot peel DTF transfers.

When we first started producing DTF transfers, cold peel film was much more common.

The process was simple:

Press the transfer, allow it to cool, and then peel away the carrier film.

Hot peel DTF films existed, but at the time we didn't feel the technology provided the level of consistency we wanted.

Eventually, the materials improved.

As hot peel technology became more reliable, we transitioned our production process.

Today, RBA Transfers produces hot peel DTF transfers.

This allows our customers to press their transfer and remove the carrier much faster instead of waiting for the garment to completely cool.

For someone pressing one shirt, that might only save a little time.

For a business pressing 50, 100 or several hundred garments, it can make a significant difference in production efficiency.

DTF Transfers vs. Vinyl

One of the original reasons we became interested in direct-to-film printing was its potential as an alternative to heat transfer vinyl.

Vinyl still has its place.

But anyone who has produced multicolour designs using vinyl understands how much time can be involved.

You may have to:

cut the design, weed the excess vinyl, separate colours, line up multiple layers and press each layer individually.

With a full-colour DTF transfer, much of that work disappears.

The artwork arrives ready to press.

Position it.

Press it.

Peel it.

That's one of the reasons DTF transfers have become so popular with small apparel businesses.

It allows someone to create professional full-colour apparel without needing to own a commercial DTF printer themselves.

DTF Gang Sheets Changed Apparel Production

Another major advantage of DTF printing is the ability to produce DTF gang sheets.

A gang sheet allows multiple logos or designs to be arranged together on one larger sheet of film.

Once printed, those individual transfers can be cut apart and pressed as needed.

This makes DTF gang sheets particularly useful for:

small businesses, clothing brands, sports teams, promotional companies, craft businesses, apparel decorators and creators producing multiple designs.

Instead of ordering each logo individually, businesses can maximize the available print space and prepare multiple transfers at once.

At RBA Transfers, customers can either build their own gang sheet or upload a completed gang sheet ready for production.

Experience Matters in Commercial DTF Printing

Buying a DTF printer and consistently producing high-quality DTF transfers are two different things.

DTF printing involves many variables.

Ink flow can change.

Humidity can affect production.

Curing needs to be consistent.

Powder application matters.

Artwork preparation matters.

Printer maintenance matters.

Colour management matters.

White ink circulation matters.

And sometimes a tiny change somewhere in the process can create a very noticeable difference in the finished transfer.

We've spent years learning those lessons.

Since starting in 2019, we've produced thousands upon thousands of transfers and continually refined our process.

That experience is difficult to replace.

Our Approach to DTF Transfer Durability

One of the questions people frequently have when buying DTF transfers is:

Will the transfer crack or peel?

A properly produced and properly applied DTF transfer should provide excellent durability.

Of course, several factors can affect the finished result, including heat press temperature, pressure, pressing time, garment type and washing practices.

That's why consistency during both production and application matters.

Our experience with the materials and production process we use has been extremely positive, and we have not experienced widespread customer reports of our transfers peeling or cracking.

That's something we're proud of and something we work hard to maintain.

Supporting Small Businesses Has Always Been Part of RBA

RBA Transfers originally started because we saw an opportunity to help other small businesses.

That continues to be a major part of who we are.

Some of our customers are established apparel companies.

Others are creating their very first shirt.

Some operate storefronts.

Some work from home.

Some are preparing hundreds of shirts for an event.

Others are making a handful of products for a craft market.

DTF printing makes professional apparel decoration accessible without requiring every business owner to invest in commercial printing equipment.

We can handle the printing.

Our customers can focus on creating, pressing, selling and growing their businesses.

From One Two-Head Printer to Two Four-Head Commercial DTF Machines

It's sometimes hard to think back to those nights in 2019 when we were standing beside our first commercial DTF printer trying to figure everything out.

The industry was new.

Support was limited.

The equipment wasn't nearly as refined as it is today.

But we stayed with it.

Today, RBA Transfers operates two four-head commercial DTF machines on a daily basis.

Technology has changed.

Our equipment has changed.

Our production capacity has changed.

RBA Transfers has grown.

But our approach to quality has remained remarkably simple.

We use materials we trust.

We don't constantly switch suppliers simply because someone offers us something cheaper.

We continue testing and improving our process.

And we produce transfers that we would be comfortable using on our own products.

Are There Cheaper DTF Transfers Available?

Yes.

There probably always will be.

But being the cheapest DTF transfer supplier isn't our goal.

Our goal is to provide consistent, high-quality DTF transfers for businesses and creators who depend on the products they're producing.

When we're choosing an ink, film or adhesive powder, the question isn't:

“How inexpensive can we make this transfer?”

The question is:

“Would we be comfortable pressing this onto our own apparel?”

If the answer isn't yes, it's not something we want to provide our customers.

That philosophy has been part of RBA Transfers since Jamie & Brittany started the company in 2019.

And it's something we plan on carrying forward as the DTF industry continues to evolve.

Quality first. Consistency always.

— Jamie & Brittany
RBA Transfers