Every DTF printer gets a score from 0 to 100% built from five factors, which maps onto the 5-point rating shown on the site (a 0% score would be 1.5 stars; a perfect score, 5). Each factor is scored against fixed reference points, not against the other products in the list, so adding a new model never moves another model’s rating. Printers are grouped by format: A4 desktop, A3 (13 to 14 in), kits sold with a powder shaker and dryer, and 24 in wide format. A 24 in printer sold with a shaker stays in the 24 in group. Every group uses the same scale.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Value | price per inch of print width | 30% |
| Printhead | printhead class (desktop, XP600 or industrial) and number of heads | 25% |
| Print width | maximum print width | 10% |
| Features | white ink circulation, automatic cleaning, oven or shaker, roll feed, software and film cutter | 25% |
| Warranty | machine warranty length | 10% |
Where the numbers come from
Print width, printhead, features and warranty come from the maker’s spec sheet or product copy, including the maker’s own copy on a retail listing. Where a maker’s figures conflict (for example a title that names one printhead and a bullet that names another), the page says so, and the printhead is placed in a class only when both names fall in the same class. Prices are checked at Amazon and the maker’s own store, and the lowest price at a store the page links to is used.
The factors
Value is the current price divided by the maximum print width, in dollars per inch, on a log scale, so halving the price always counts the same. $450 per inch scores zero and $120 per inch full marks. Bundles are priced as sold, so a printer that comes with an oven or shaker pays for it here and earns it back under features.
Printhead scores the type of printhead and how many there are. A desktop-class Epson head (L800, L805, L1800, R1390) scores 15%, an XP600-class head (Epson XP600 or F1080) 45%, and an industrial head (Epson i1600 or i3200) 75%. A second head adds 25%, up to full marks.
Print width is the maximum film width the maker states: 8 in scores zero and 24 in full marks.
Features is 20% for white ink circulation, stirring or mixing; 20% for automatic cleaning or capping on a timer (a holiday or vacation mode counts; a cleaning you start by hand doesn’t); 20% for a curing oven or powder shaker in the box; 15% for roll feed; 15% for included RIP or print software; and 10% for a built-in film cutter.
Warranty is the maker’s warranty on the machine’s non-consumable parts: 3 months scores zero and 2 years full marks. A separate, shorter printhead warranty is shown on the product page but not scored.
What isn’t scored
The makers’ print-time and output figures (minutes per A3 sheet, square feet per hour), maximum resolution, ink channel layout, weight, printhead warranty and release date are listed but not scored. Print-time figures aren’t measured the same way from one maker to the next, so the printhead factor stands in for speed.
Missing data
The printhead, print width and warranty separate these printers most, so a printer whose maker doesn’t publish them is not given the benefit of the doubt:
- A printhead the maker names but doesn’t identify as an Epson desktop, XP600-class or industrial head scores zero, marked as estimated.
- A printer whose maker doesn’t state a print width in inches or millimetres scores zero for print width and zero for value, since its price per inch can’t be worked out. Both are marked as estimated.
- A printer with no published machine warranty scores zero for warranty, marked as estimated.
Features score the neutral middle score (50) only when none of them is published; a feature the maker doesn’t mention otherwise counts as absent.
Ties and discontinued models
Products are ranked by score within each group. Discontinued models stay listed but rank below every current model and can be hidden with the “Hide discontinued” filter.