Why Is White Ink Used in DTF Printing?

In addition to the four DTF ink colors—cyan, magenta, yellow, and black—white ink is also required. During printing, a layer of white ink is first applied as a white background beneath the design to completely cover the fabric’s base color, ensuring that the colored design appears vibrant and does not appear dull when printed on top.

This is why the DTF process can be used on dark-colored 100% cotton fabrics, such as black or dark blue—and this is precisely one of its key differences from dye-sublimation printing. White ink can be purchased as part of a set with the four CMYK colors.