What is Differences Digital Printing &Heat Transfer
May 26, 2026
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PVC tablecloth: The Spark Between Old and New Manufacturing Technologies
What are the two processes respectively?
•heat tranfer printing, thermal transfer printing(Heat Transfer / Dye Sublimation)
The pattern is first printed on transfer paper/film, then the ink layer is transferred onto the fabric/PVC surface using high temperature and pressure. Subsequently, other fibers are incorporated through techniques such as heat treatment and printing.
• Digital Printing (Digital Printing/Digital Direct Inkjet)
The nozzle directly sprays ink onto the material surface, eliminating the need for multi-step transfer paper; the ink adheres directly to the fabric/PVC.
Their Differences
• Process: For thermal transfer printing, first select a high-quality floral pattern and print it on a transparent PVC tablecloth. After heating, the finished product is obtained.
Digital printing produces results directly, just like printing documents.
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Comparison Direction |
heat tranfer printing |
digital printing |
|
Hand feel |
The surface is relatively hard, adhesive in texture, and exhibits poor breathability. |
Soft, non-adhesive, and highly breathable |
|
fastness |
Resistant to washing and more durable under sunlight exposure |
The durability is average; the color tends to fade after multiple washes. |
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Material |
Polyester/PVC is the optimal choice; pure cotton requires a special film, and dark-colored fabrics are prone to showing the underlying fabric. |
All materials including pure cotton, cotton-polyester blend, synthetic fibers, and PVC are acceptable; dark colors can also be printed. |
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fineness |
Small font/Gradient blur |
High definition, photo-level details, natural gradients |
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capacity |
Fast, suitable for batch processing |
Slow, suitable for small to medium batches |
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cost |
Affordable (no plate-making required, low consumables) |
More economical; the cumulative cost of thermal transfer consumables increases. |
How to choose the appropriate manufacturing process?
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Different situations |
choice |
forwhy |
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PVC tablecloth/Waterproof mat/Home textile |
heat tranfer printing |
Low cost, wash-resistant, and vibrant colors, ideal for bulk production |
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Pure cotton home textiles, high-end table flags, baby and children's products |
digital printing |
Soft to the touch, breathable, eco-friendly, and dark-colored friendly |
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Complex patterns, photos, gradients, and small text |
digital printing |
The clarity surpasses that of thermal transfer printing. |
|
Small-batch sampling, urgent orders, low cost |
heat tranfer printing |
Fast, affordable, MOQ=1 |