Traditional apparel printing refers to long-established methods of applying designs, to fabrics including screen printing, thermal sublimation, DTG printing, and embroidery. These techniques have been the backbone of the textile and fashion industries for decades but come with specific limitations compared to modern alternatives like DTF (Direct-to-Film) printing.
Why Inksonic DTF Printers Are Revolutionizing Apparel Printing
The apparel industry thrives on creativity, speed, and adaptability—yet for decades, businesses have been shackled by the limitations of traditional apparel printing methods like screen printing and heat transfer. While these techniques serve their purpose, they come with hefty upfront costs, complex workflows, and rigid design constraints. Enter Inksonic DTF printers—a game-changing alternative that’s democratizing custom apparel production for startups, small businesses, and even seasoned print shops.
The Hidden Costs of Traditional Apparel Printing
Let’s face it: traditional apparel printing methods are stuck in the past. Here’s why they’re losing favor:
High Initial Investment: Screen printing requires screens, emulsions, and bulky equipment, often costing tens of thousands of dollars
Labor-Intensive Processes: From screen setup to manual alignment, traditional methods demand skilled labor and time—two resources small businesses can’t afford to waste.
Limited Design Flexibility : Complex gradients, photorealistic details? Forget it. Most traditional methods struggle with multicolor designs or small batches.
Waste and Overheads : Excess ink, misprints, and minimum order quantities leave startups drowning in sunk costs.
Inksonic DTF Printer—A High-Cost Performance Alternative to Epson DTF Printers
For many entrepreneurs and small to medium-sized businesses, choosing a DTF printer requires considering not only print quality but also equipment costs, consumable expenses, and long-term maintenance fees. Below is a core parameter comparison between Epson SureColor G6070 and Inksonic XP600 and other Inksonic DTF printers to help you quickly understand their differences:
Brand |
Model |
Price |
Print Width |
Ink Price |
Maintenance Cost |
Target Users |
Epson |
SureColor G6070 |
$13,995 |
35.4 inches |
$118.75/L |
High ($3,745/4 years) |
Large Enterprises |
Inksonic |
XP600 |
$3,099 |
A3 (13 inches) |
$79.96/L |
Low |
Small & Medium Businesses, Entrepreneurs |
Inksonic |
L1800 |
$2,399 |
A3 (13 inches) |
$79.96/L |
Low |
Startups |
Inksonic |
L8058 |
$2,399 |
A4 (8.27 inches) |
$79.96/L |
Low |
Individual Entrepreneurs |
Compared to Epson, Inksonic DTF printers are specifically designed for DTF printing, offering lower operational costs while maintaining excellent print quality and stability. Next, we will provide a more detailed explanation of why Inksonic is the best alternative to Epson DTF printers, using the XP600 as an example.
More Affordable, Lower Initial Investment
The Epson DTF Printer SureColor G6070 is priced at $13,995 with a 35-inch wide print area suitable for large-format material printing and mass production. It also makes the machine heavy, takes up a lot of space, and is expensive—ideal for large companies with enormous budgets.
In comparison, the Inksonic XP600 is the latest and most high-end DTF printer announced by Inksonic, featuring a high-end XP600 printhead that delivers precise color rendering, firm stability, and easy operation. Its A3+ size provides greater flexibility and costs only $3,099—far more affordable than Epson’s expensive offering, making it the best high-cost performance DTF solution on the market.
Lower Ink Costs
Epson DTF printers use a closed ink system, with official ink priced at $190 for 1.6L ($118.75 per liter). Furthermore, Epson DTF printer users must use original ink because Epson printheads are often not tolerant of third-party inks. Generic lower-cost ink will lead to printhead clogging, reduced lifespan, and even voided warranties, which incur long-term costs.
Inksonic, on the other hand, offers great DTF ink at a much lower price—250ml costs just $19.99, and 1L costs $79.96, about 33% less than Epson's ink, but still offering great color performance and stability.
Easier Maintenance, Longer Lifespan, Lower Long-Term Costs
White Ink Circulation & Siphon Effect: Inksonic XP600 adopts a siphon-effect white ink circulation technology that continuously stirs white ink to prevent sedimentation and clogging, significantly enhancing print stability while reducing maintenance needs.
24/7 Customer Support + Lifetime Repair Service: Inksonic provides 24/7 online customer support to help users resolve printing issues at any time, along with lifetime repair services—eliminating the need for costly maintenance fees. In contrast, Epson's official maintenance services are expensive, costing $1,249 per year or $3,745 over four years, greatly increasing long-term operational costs.
Printing Quality Comparable to Epson, Meeting Professional Needs
Inksonic DTF printers are on par with Epson when it comes to color performance, resolution, and durability. They meet the needs of various businesses, including T-shirt personalization, fabric printing, and gift personalization:
High-Precision Printing : The Inksonic XP600 has a 2880 x 2880 DPI resolution. A higher DPI means the print quality is more polished with less jagged edges, making for a smoother image presentation. This is especially helpful when printing complex patterns and gradients because it offers smooth edges and distinct details.
Compatible with Various Materials : Inksonic DTF printers imprint on all forms of fabrics like cotton, polyester, denim, canvas, and nylon. Along with T-shirts, they are also widely applied to decorate canvas bags, sporting clothes, footwear, caps, and phone covers as well.
Higher Color Saturation : Inksonic employs 5-color printing technology (CMYK+W), which distributes the layer of white ink more evenly, avoiding the grayish tone in dark areas. Compared with normal 3-color printing (RGB), it has greater color depth and smooth transition of gradients, ensuring a more impressive visual effect for high-end custom products.
Unlike Epson, which currently offers only one DTF printer, the SureColor G6070, Inksonic provides multiple models catering to different needs and budgets. From solo entrepreneurs to mid-sized factories, there's an Inksonic DTF printer for every business.
A3 L1800 DTF Printer E13 : Priced at $2,399 , supports high-quality A3 format printing, ideal for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
A4 L8058 DTF Printer L8 : Priced at $2,399 , suitable for A4 format printing needs, compact in size, and perfect for limited workspace environments.-
XP600 DTF Printer U13 : Priced at $3,099 , equipped with an XP600 print head, offering higher printing speed and quality, making it suitable for medium-scale production.
For a detailed comparison of models and their best applications, visit the Inksonic official blog: What does Inksonic DTF Printer model C E U L stand for? What is good for your business?
Conclusion: Inksonic – The Best Alternative to Epson DTF Printers
In brief, the Epson SureColor G6070 is better in technology and performance, which is appropriate for big enterprises with extreme demands on quality and efficiency. However, its expensive price tag may deter small and medium enterprises as well as personal consumers.
As opposed to that, Inksonic DTF printers are a cheaper alternative, with lower initial capital outlay, better consumable compatibility, and lower maintenance expenses. From the point of view of equipment cost, material cost, or even maintenance in the long run, Inksonic is cheaper than Epson.
For starters who are setting foot in the DTF printing business, Inksonic reduces the entry barrier but yet has effective technical support and a vast product lineup. Inksonic DTF printers have also become well-known among printing firms around the world and received wonderful reviews. Inksonic is also offering 24/7 customer service along with lifetime repair support to give a problem-free experience.
If you are in the market for a DTF printer of high value, find out more about Inksonic products. Visit the Inksonic official website or contact customer service today to find out more!
Market Research：Conrad
Conrad is InkSonic’s market research specialist. Since the company’s start, he’s been on top of the DTF printer market, knowing the pros of every model. He’s given many startup clients solid buying tips and profit strategies, helping them take that crucial first step.
