What's the most important specification when buying a DTF printer?

White ink circulation system is critical. Look for continuous recirculation, degassing, anti-settling design, and automated purge cycles. Poor white ink management causes the majority of DTF printer problems.

How do I calculate the true cost per shirt?

Include film, powder, CMYK ink, white ink, labor, packaging, plus allocated overhead (maintenance, waste allowance, downtime, software, and loan payments). The guide provides a complete worksheet.

What questions should I ask vendors that they don't expect?

Ask about warranty exclusions, guaranteed response times, local parts inventory, lead times for critical components, contactable references within 500km, and real production throughput with your artwork complexity.

Should I buy entry-level or mid-range for a startup?

Depends on your growth plan. Entry-level works for side hustles with low volume. If you plan serious production within 6 months, mid-range printers offer better uptime and lower per-shirt costs as volume increases.

How can I objectively evaluate sample prints?

Use the Trial Print Protocol to score prints on 7 criteria: fine text quality, solid coverage, halftones, white opacity, stretch/crack resistance, wash fastness, and registration accuracy. Score each 1-5.

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