The DTF Column The spectrometer chart
The power of CMYK plus spot colours
As the direct to film process matures, higher standards are anticipated. The DTF process is creeping into the precision colour field, using a process normally associated with litho printing and other high end inkjet systems. Colin Marsh, managing director of Resolute, reports.
U
ntil recently, I too felt spot colours were unnecessary for textile prints created by DTF transfers. With my background in litho printing, I understand the process and benefits of using spot colours very well. Over the years I have mixed hundreds of Pantone spot colours from the 18 base colours to match corporate logos.
Using spot colours in digital printing is nothing new, but correct application involves a complex setup and relies on a specific ICC profile to ensure colour accuracy and consistency. An ICC profile is a data set that characterises a colour input or output device, or a colour space, according to standards set by the International Colour Consortium (ICC). These profiles manage and correct colours so that the final print matches the original design as closely as possible. Every DTF ink brand will have a different base cyan, magenta, yellow and black shade, this is also true for the spot colours. The ICC profile brings these back to an industry standard allowing for more consistent colours.
A challenge
Generating an ICC profile for DTF consisting of CMYKRGBO, which includes spot red, green, blue and orange (RGBO) is challenging. Entry-level spectrometers like the NIX or i1 Studio cannot create such complex profiles; high-end spectrometers costing thousands of pounds with robotic arms are preferred to scan the thousands of swatches produced during this kind of profile creation. Nonetheless, the results are impressive when comparing standard CMYK prints to those produced with a CMYKRGBO device.
| 48 | July 2025
One of 64 charts required to be scanned when generating an eight-colour profile, this image shows the increased vibrancy spot colours can achieve.
All the charts must be pressed onto fabric before scanning
Spot colours can be used in DTF in two ways: with a vector file or layered tiff file, you can allocate a spot colour to a section of the artwork. If the spot colour mapping between the file and the RIP is
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The team at Resolute’s R&D centre recently scanned no less than 4,200 different spot colour blend combinations to create the ICC profile used in the example image for this article.
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