The DTF Column Jettable adhesives: Is it the future of DTF?
Progress never stops. With DTF now the biggest thing in the industry, everyone is looking for ways to improve on its capabilities. Colin Marsh, CEO of Resolute, explains how this incredible process is being improved by Jettable adhesives.
D
TF printing has transformed custom apparel production with its versatility and vibrant results. Yet, one challenge has persisted: Achieving the perfect balance of print quality, fabric feel, and durability.
The new Jettable adhesives popping up promise to change this. These new adhesives, available in different combinations, offer better quality, a softer hand feel, excellent durability on cotton and polyester, and vibrant colours that rival DTG printing – all without the need for pre-treatment on many different fabrics.
What makes Jettable adhesives different? Traditional powder adhesives work very well, but often require specific humidity conditions to ensure the powder sticks only in the printed areas. Jettable adhesives change the game by being compatible with a wider range of fabrics without the use of powder and work in a wider humidity range. This means you can print on more fabric types with less preparation. Key features include:
• Jettable adhesive formulation: Designed to work seamlessly with inkjet printers (currently available for Epson print heads), allowing precise application.
• Soft hand feel: Prints feel softer and more natural on the skin, in most cases, softer than DTG prints.
• Strong adhesion on cotton and polyester: Prints stay vibrant and intact even after multiple washes at 40°C on both cotton and polyester blends.
• Vibrant colours: Some Jettables are white in colour, enhancing ink brightness and saturation, delivering results comparable if not better, to DTG printing, in both halftones, stretch and hand feel.
How does it improve print quality? The adhesive plays a crucial role in how inks bond to the film and then transfer to the fabric. As an example of one of the mainstream players, DuPont’s Jettable adhesive creates a smooth, even layer that holds the ink pigments firmly without compromising flexibility. This results in:
• Sharper details. • Brighter colours. • Consistent texture.
For example, a detailed floral design printed and pressed on cotton or polyester with this adhesive will show crisp edges and rich hues that last through wear and washing.
Benefits for different fabrics
One of the biggest advancements with Jettable adhesive is its versatility across fabric types: • Cotton: Previously challenging for the original powderless process, cotton now accepts the new jettable adhesive very well, offering prints with excellent durability and softness.
• Polyester: Prints adhere strongly and maintain colour intensity, jettable adhesive is ideal for sportswear and performance fabrics
| 36 | March 2026 that suffer from high levels of stretch.
• Blends: Mixed fabrics now benefit from the adhesive’s increased strength and flexibility, reducing cracking or peeling whilst maintaining a soft hand.
Durability and washability – has it improved? Most of the new Jettable adhesives deliver strong wash resistance, keeping prints intact through repeated laundering cycles. Tests show:
• Prints retain over 90% of their colour vibrancy after 20 standard wash cycles.
• The modern jettable adhesives prevent cracking and peeling even on stretch fabrics.
• The soft hand feel remains consistent, avoiding stiff or uncomfortable prints even on large images.
For small businesses or large print shops, this translates into higher efficiency and better margins.
Who should consider using Jettable adhesive? • DTF print shops looking to improve print quality and expand fabric options.
• Apparel brands wanting softer, more durable prints without setup costs and large MOQs.
• Fulfilment printers aiming to reduce production time and simplify the process.
• Sportswear manufacturers needing vibrant, long-lasting prints on polyester with a soft hand and greater stretch properties than traditional powder prints.
If your current DTF process involves powder or yields prints that feel stiff or fade quickly, this adhesive could be the solution.
Conclusion
Jettable adhesive brings significant improvements to DTF printing by combining high-quality prints, soft hand feel, and strong durability without the use of powder. It allows printing on a wider range of fabrics with vibrant colours that match DTG quality. Hybrid systems also offer the ability to use custom powder adhesive where necessary. However, the new range of Jettable adhesives doesn’t come cheap; most will carry a litre or kilo cost comparable to the matching ink set. While that sounds like a lot, per A3 print it checks out around 2p per print – not a lot when you consider the benefits gained.
www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
DTF print stuck onto shirt with Jettable adhesive
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