For the second time, DTF printers demonstrated their direct-to-film printing knowledge and expertise by competing in the DTF Printing T-Shirt Contest.
More than 60 participants received a blank UxPrint T-shirt and a downloadable file with the design, created by Mike Ince of DTF Superstore.
Of those 60 contestants, 20 sent in their printed T-shirts to be judged by Chuck Northcutt of i-Group Technologies, Scott Donovan of Dupont Artistri, and Jeremy Poehls of DTF Superstore. In-person judging took place in Las Vegas, prior to Printing United Expo.
The judges critiqued the following categories on a 1-10 scale with a perfect score of 60.
• Color Accuracy
• Graininess
• Softness / Feel
• Brightness of White
• Underbase Alignment
• Stretch
During the awards ceremony, judge Jeremy Poehls offered his advice to printing the best possible graphic: “Get to know your printer really, really intimately. Get to know your RIP software and that’s what will make you successful… and paying really close attention to the graphic.”
[Editor’s Note: Watch Jeremy’s Facebook Live where he shares why the judges chose the winner and how you can win next year’s contest here.]
The awards ceremony took place on the first day of Printing United Expo. Spencer Chernoff of Limitless Transfers in Front Royal, Virginia, was announced as the winner of the second DTF Printing T-Shirt Contest. Spencer received a trophy, a digital badge, and $500 toward DTF Superstore.
Spencer used his ColorDrop four-head DTF printer with ColDesi inks and transfer film from One Step Papers.
“It was actually kind of fun. I enjoyed the challenge and there are some great prints up here. It really does mean a lot,” said Spencer after winning the award.
Watch the DTF Printing T-Shirt Contest Awards Ceremony below.
Read about the inaugural DTF Printing T-Shirt Contest winner, Jerald Jolito, of Merch Studio, here.
