Direct To Film (DTF): Color Profiling and White Control

Direct To Film (DTF): Color Profiling and White Control

This document describes the process of creating Printer-Media-Mode (PMM) color profiles, specifically for DTF whether printing on white, colored or black shirts. Tailored options to control the white ink allows for optimal image reproduction and detailing whilst maintaining fabric flexibility, which is crucial for high-quality textile printing.
This feature requires version 6.8.2. or newer.

Creating a color profile (PMM) for white, black/color shirts

A. Defining Printer settings

1. Create PMM
2. Select the correct ink set and desired Resolution.
3. The Print Settings are printer specific and it's recommended to use the default settings for items like Dot type, bi-directional,...
"White offset" allows to shift pixels in X or Y direction (see White Test chart section further down for more information).
Notes
It is advised to use the printers white to black alignment first before attempting to add an offset to the PMM. The offset in the PMM is generally used for minor tweaking of the white to black alignment.
 Ink settings and Dot curves are in general left at default.

4. Next
5. Select an existing media or create a new one.
  1. The print mode PMM name is automatically populated with the previous selected settings.
  2. Media Type: Select white or Color/Black shirt color. This selection will enable an automatic White percentage limit of 50% for White and 100% for Black or Color shirts.
  3. Override printer internal Linearization: should be ON.
            

B. White control 

This step is designed to control the white texture, achieve maximum opacity with minimal white ink usage and ensure optimal adhesion. 

1. Define the White setting 
White percentage slider: This selection will enable an automatic white percentage limit of 50% for White shirts and 100% for Black or Colored shirts. 
Notes
Reducing the automatic white percentage on Black T-Shirts from 100% to 95 or 90% is possible to improve handfeel but only without compromising on print quality. It depends on the resolution of the PMM and the White ink itself. Use the White control chart to make this assessment. 
  1. Shape: the artworks shape is used to automatically generate white. This default can be removed once the PMM has been created, either by using an Image Processing Step or when using Editor, Layout or Workflow White settings.
  2. Choke: is used to reduce the white under base layer (To avoid White halo effects). The choke can be applied as one of an Image Processing Step, in Editor, Layout or Workflow White settings. Typical choke is between 0.1 - 1.15mm
 2. Click Print to create the White Test Chart:


Notes
The White percentage remains part of the PMM. Any additional white adjustments will be on top of the PMMs selected White percentage. 

3. Evaluate the White Test Chart 
In the Test chart we evaluate the following: 
  1. 3.1 White Max Test
  2. 3.2 LPI Test 
  3. 3.3 White Offset test
       


 3.1 White Max Test:
            This is used for the Black and color shirts to determine the highest amount of opacity with the least amount of White ink.
            Note: Typical value for white shirts is around 50% and for black shirts typically around 90-100%.
            
            
3.2 LPI Test:
This chart prints 100% white in varying degrees of LPI dot size.
It helps to establish the level of LPI (dots) that will adhere to the T-shirt without peeling off. Choose your LPI setting depending on the test results. When you press this chart on the T-shirt it will become evident     that some dots have disappeared at the bottom end. The smaller the dot, the more remain on the film and fail to be transferred onto the T-shirt. For best results 25-30 LPI with a 22° angle is a common dot size.
Idea
Double pressing with a textured substrate (for example sandpaper or Canvas) is often used to improve the hand feel.

            
3.3 White Offset Test:
This is to check for any misalignment between Color and White but only after the mechanical white to black alignment on the printer is performed first.
 A Black rectangle is printed with White underneath. This is to be checked on the film output where Black will be underneath the White. This is pixel-based, meaning you can shift the White relative to the Color or Black ink by adjusting pixel placement.         
NotesThe shift will only be applied at the output stage, there's no visible rip preview.

            

 Set the chosen White settings and offset and click Next.
       
The next profiling steps are just the regular Linearization, TAC and Gamut chart per wizard (only minor DTF specific recommendations).
Each step is added in this document as well to centralize the DTF pmm creation steps, but More info on how to create a PMM can be found here: Video and FAQ

C. Linearization, TAC and Gamut Calculation

C.1  The linearization target contains one 32-patch step wedge for each channel/print head.
 All charts need to be measured on the shirt and printed in the same way as the live jobs are to be produced.
1. Ensure the correct Spectro is selected and enabled
2. Print the linear chart (in Mirror, so it is right reading after transfer onto the shirt)
3. Measure linear chart
4. Next
After measuring the linear file you can review the gamut for each channel in the spider chart
The channels are automatically restricted so for DTF this is best left as is.
The ink splitting is only relevant for printers using light inks like light Cyan, Magenta, Black etc. so this step can be skipped. 

6. Click Next.
            
      
Start pmm - Printing Linear file
View of Spider chart and Ink split chart - Click Next...

C.2 Total Ink Limit is automatically calculated based on the linearization measurements and the maximum reachable color gamut.
In DTF applications the automatic TAC can be used and the step to print and evaluate the bleed target can typically be skipped. 
Click Next
            
C.3 Gamut Chart
 The last step in the calibration is to print and measure the Gamut chart and then build the DeviceLink profile.
 It’s recommended to use 1000 patches.
  1. Print (in Mirror)
  2. Measure and click Next.  The Gamut file is built
  3. Click Finish to finalise the pmm creation. 





         















​
 The media profile or PMM is now ready to be used.
It will use the White percentage, White generation (shape) and choke specified in the created PMM (Auto White under the Image Processing Section).  The Auto white option (Shape and Choke) can be removed so that White generation can be controlled by Editor, Layout, Workflow or using custom Image Processing steps.

To remove the Auto White, expand the Image Processing section of the PMM, select the Auto White & click the minus (-) button at the bottom of the central panel in Calibrator:



D. The next step is the Creation and Use of Image Processing Steps to simplify and automate DTF printing.

            

Recap:  DTF PMM.
A PMM can be set with a default White percentage, White generation and choke. Use case would be to have multiple PMM’s for different purposes not using Image Processing Steps.
White percentage stays with the PMM. The White generation method and choke can be changed by removing the Auto White option once the PMM has been created.
Once removed, White generation and choke can be controlled by either from Editor, Layout, Workflow or Image Processing Steps added to the PMM.  For more details on Calibrator settings feel free to check our 3 part Calibrator course on our eLearning section or check the help site for more content.


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