How will low humidity affect my DTF printing?

In low humidity (below 40%), static electricity can cause various issues in DTF printing, such as:

• DTF sheets sticking together, causing jams.

• Ink sticking to the printhead, leading to clogs.

• Dust or lint on the printer, film, or substrate, which can affect print quality.

• Ink not adhering properly, especially white DTF ink.

This simple test can show if static electricity is a problem:

Print the same image twice, once in colour, once just in white ink. Sprinkle powder on both prints and cure them.

If more powder sticks to the edges of the white print than the colour one, static electricity is likely the cause as white ink tends to scatter more than coloured ink in low-humidity or high-static conditions

Troubleshooting:

While static can’t be completely eliminated, it can be reduced by:

• Always use humidifiers, particularly near the printhead.

• Using static removal rods.

• Installing conductive or dissipative flooring.

• Reducing white ink output, which is more prone to static.

• Earthing conductive materials to remove excess charge.