Optimizing Heat Press Parameters to Improve the Quality of DTF Printing

Hoholko, Kirill (2025) Optimizing Heat Press Parameters to Improve the Quality of DTF Printing. Integration Project, Industrial Engineering and Management.

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Abstract

Printing on textiles has been around for a while and was always considered an expensive process, that only becomes profitable at scale. Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing really changed the industry by offering flexible, high-quality textile decoration, but Vistaprint’s industrial production faces recurring failures in print adhesion and color durability, leading to waste and customer complaints. This study investigates how heat press temperature and dwell time affect the quality of DTF prints on black cotton T-shirts, TPU-based granulates side by side. Using a full-factorial experimental design and a three-stage approach, samples were first screened for adhesion and color stability after washing. Only the best performers advanced to detailed microscopic analysis for fiber contamination. Statistical analysis using ANOVA showed that press temperature is the dominant factor across all quality metrics. Results demonstrate that setting the press to 170 degrees C with a 10 second dwell time minimizes color change (delta E), reduces black density loss, and limits white-layer contamination for both granulates tested. The recommended process window enables Vistaprint to standardize DTF settings, thus improve quality control and as a result reduce customer complaints and production waste.

Item Type:	Thesis (Integration Project)
Supervisor name:	Vakis, A. and Jonker, G.H.
Degree programme:	Industrial Engineering and Management
Thesis type:	Integration Project
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	27 Jun 2025 10:01
Last Modified:	27 Jun 2025 10:01
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/35568

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