Resolute Ultra DTF promises proven performance on troublesome polyester shirts – take the ‘polyester challenge’ and see for yourself
Direct-to-film (DTF) technology has grown rapidly, yet not all DTF systems are created equal, says manufacturer Resolute. “Many online videos suggest that any set-up can print and press transfers onto striped or patterned football shirts, creating the impression that difficult fabrics are no longer a challenge.
“In reality, only a small number of striped sports shirts will accept a typical DTF transfer, and these successes can be misleading. When it comes to problematic sublimated polyester and modern softshell garments, the Ultra DTF process from Resolute stands apart. It is currently the only process that can achieve consistent and reliable results on these notoriously reactive materials.”
The polyester challenge
Resolute set out to prove this beyond theory. At The Print Show in 2024, visitors were invited to bring their worst polyester nightmare, and many took the challenge seriously. A constant stream of garments arrived at the stand, each one chosen because previous attempts with other transfer systems had failed.
Among these was a softshell jacket “with a reputation in the trade as the unprintable jacket”, says Resolute, “a garment so problematic that it had become a benchmark for what DTF could not do. We demonstrated how the Ultra process produced a perfect result; 100% accurate, stable and commercially usable.”
This open challenge was not intended as a one-off spectacle, says Resolute. The offer still stands for any potential Ultra customer. Businesses are encouraged to send in their most troublesome shirts. Resolute will print and press the transfer, wash test the finished garment and return it so that customers can evaluate the proof for themselves. This has proven to be the most direct way to demonstrate real world performance, explains the company.
The invitation to compare Ultra performance with side-by-side competitor systems has always been open. Testing two systems on the same garment in the same conditions is the clearest route to an unbiased result. Resolute says it welcomes this comparison “because Ultra performs where others fall short, not by chance, but by design. When the garment is inherently reactive, when colours bleed through or when heat causes migration and distortion, Ultra is built to handle these specific circumstances with confidence.”
The Ultra process includes specially developed ink, a purpose-built film and a unique adhesive powder
Images readers can send their most troublesome polyester shirts to Resolute so they can evaluate the system for themselves
Consistent, balanced process
The Ultra process is not just another DTF set-up, says Resolute. “Its consistency comes from a combination of engineered components that work together,” it explains. “Specially developed ink, a purpose-built film and a unique adhesive powder are paired with custom firmware that controls how each part performs. This creates a balanced process that is stable, repeatable and suitable for the most challenging sportswear applications. Rather than relying on generic consumables, Ultra uses tuned chemistry and controlled processing that are designed to solve real production problems, not mask them.”
The most compelling proof is how Ultra is used today. Leading UK sportswear manufacturers operate multiple Ultra systems in commercial production, reports Resolute. “These businesses depend on accuracy, durability and colour integrity across thousands of garments, and they choose Ultra because it delivers those results on fabrics that defeat conventional DTF set-ups. When a system is trusted by organisations that need reliability day after day, it speaks to the strength of the technology behind it.”
The company concludes: “Ultra DTF continues to redefine what is possible with transfer printing. It is not based on online demonstrations that work only on easy substrates, it is proven in the toughest environments. For any business working with sublimated polyester or softshell garments, Ultra offers a path to confident production, clear results and new commercial opportunities.”
For more information on Ultra DTF and to watch a comparison video, visit Resolute’s website.