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2 0 G R A P H I C S P R O • O C T O B E R 2 0 2 2 G R A P H I C S - P R O. C O M DURABILITY & FABRIC RANGE e worst thing a garment decorator can do is provide their customers with prod- ucts that wash out or, in the case of trans- fers, peel away from the garment after a few wash cycles. Most garment decoration methods have a certified wash test that is conducted by a laboratory and use test methods developed by independent orga- nizations such as the A ATCC. Most garment decoration machine and ink manufacturers use these tests and pro- vide the results to garment decorators so they can feel confident about the durabil- ity of repeated washings and even the resis- tance to certain chemicals when applied to various fabric types. It is important to determine if the DTF products you are considering using in your business have some type of wash test certification. SAFETY As with any new decoration methods, there is a lot of conflicting information about how safe the use and production of DTF transfers really are. ere are two parts of safety to keep in mind: how safe the finished garment is for your customer and the safety of you and your employees during the production process. As we know, there are laws enacted to protect the consumer against harm- ful substances in many items, including clothing. ese types of laws concern the finished garment and ensure that harm- ful chemicals are not contained in them. Certain levels of phthalates, lead, and other carcinogenic substances are not allowed in products produced for chil- dren. It is essential for you to know if the DTF system you are going to use has safety certifications. Many manufacturers have the finished product (i.e., printed and cured decorated garment) independently tested and certi- fied to be free of harmful and prohibited substances using known organizations such as OEKO-TEX. All products used in the DTF process should have safety certifi- cation, including powder and ink. It's crit- ical to ask for documentation on all items. Many states, including California, have their own consumer protection laws, such Many DTF systems use thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) based powders, and it is reported by TPU manufacturers that these powders, when heated at high temperatures, may release MDI vapors.