Introduction
Have you ever encountered a problem where ink is missing during printing, resulting in white stripes across your design? Bingo! You’ve just unlocked one of the most common printing issues — the DTF banding issue . Luckily, this is something you can fix. Inkbear is here to guide you step-by-step through the causes and solutions, so you can get back to clean, crisp prints in no time.
Why There is Banding On Printing
- Uneven ink deposition or flow: Low humidity reduces the water content in the ink, making it harder to flow properly and resulting in uneven application, especially in larger coverage areas.
- Printhead nozzle clogging: Dried ink or accumulated debris can block the nozzles, leading to poor spray output and visible gaps or white lines in your print.
- Air bubbles in ink channels: When air gets into the ink tubes, ink flow is interrupted, causing visible blank areas that repeat — a classic sign of banding.
- Insufficient ink supply: If ink levels are too low, the printer won’t deliver enough pigment, leading to faded or missing bands.
- Paper feed misalignment: Dirty rollers, faulty motors, or mechanical wear can affect paper feeding, resulting in skewed print lines.
- Substandard PET Film or Coating: Banding can also be caused by low-quality or inconsistently coated DTF transfer films. A film with poor ink absorption or uneven surface tension will show defects even with a perfectly calibrated printer.
- Incorrect DTF Settings: Too few passes, wrong color sequencing, or poor dithering settings in your DTF RIP software can cause uneven ink spread and line artifacts.
How to Fix Banding Issues
- Step 1: Check ambient humidity: It should be above 35%. You can use a humidity meter or monitor it via the Inksonic printer display. If humidity is too low, consider using a humidifier or replacing your ink tank with one that has ventilation holes.
- Step 2: Check ink levels — Make sure the ink in the ink tank is at least half full; also, inspect the ink lines for air bubbles.
- Step 3: Perform a nozzle cleaning — Use your printer’s cleaning function, then slowly extract waste ink using a syringe. Print a nozzle check pattern and observe whether missing lines or banding disappear. Identify which inkjet channels are causing banding.
- Step 4: Slowly and gradually extract ink from the corresponding cartridges or use the Inksonic C13A/E13A one-click ink injection feature. Clean the printhead bottom with a lint-free cloth and soak the printhead bottom on the ink pad with cleaning fluid. After these steps, print a nozzle check pattern again.
- Calibrate Paper Feeding(if needed)
If all ink colors print but banding or misalignment persists, you might need a paper feed calibration. Contact Inksonic Support to guide you through it. Contact Inksonic support for professional paper feed calibration.
- Step 5: If banding still occurs, manually clean the printhead. For detailed instructions, please read our printhead maintenance blog or contact Inksonic’s expert team for guidance.
How to Avoid Banding Issues in Future Prints
- Regular cleaning
Clean your printhead regularly to prevent clogging and ensure smooth, even printing. Replace the cleaning unit on time (an essential consumable for DTF printers).
For Inksonic U13 users, replacing the ink tap greatly reduces maintenance costs.
- Adjust printer settings
Increase print resolution to capture more detail and increase ink density. For Inksonic E13A users, set the resolution up to 2880*1440 dpi.
Increasing ink concentration and enabling the feathering function in Inksonic printer settings can also improve print quality and reduce banding.
Finally, ensure you select the proper pass count and color order in your RIP software. Use high-quality printing for more even ink coverage.
- Monitor air humidity
You can directly check the Inksonic printer display to monitor humidity and adjust accordingly. You can also open the ventilation valve on the Inksonic ink tank to improve air circulation.
- Use Quality Film and Ink
Always choose certified PET film with uniform coating. Cheap film may seem budget-friendly, but it can ruin an otherwise perfect print.
- Keep a Maintenance Log
Record nozzle check results, cleaning cycles, and when issues occur. Over time, this log helps spot recurring problems and track what fixes work best.
Conclusion
DTF print banding can be easily fixed. By understanding what causes the issue and staying proactive with maintenance and DTF settings, you’ll enjoy consistently smooth, high-quality prints. Remember: prevention is better than troubleshooting!
