This post is sponsored by Procolored. As always, all opinions and experiences shared are my own. This post may also contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you purchase through my links at no additional cost to you.
I have officially entered the world of DTF printing — and, you guys, I had absolutely no idea how many possibilities it would open up!
When you hear “DTF printer,” you probably immediately think of custom T-shirts. I know I did.
But when I received the Procolored K13 Lite DTF Printer, I really wanted to approach it from the perspective of the kind of crafting I already love to do: DIY home decor.
Could I use a DTF printer to make things that actually looked like something I would decorate my home with?
Turns out… YES.
For my very first attempt at DTF printing, I created three completely different vintage-inspired home decor projects: a French floral throw pillow, framed botanical textile art, and a vintage floral fabric wall hanging.
And I honestly LOVE how they turned out.
Watch my complete DTF printing video on YouTube
What Is DTF Printing?
Before this project, I was a complete DTF printing newbie, so if you’re wondering what DTF even means, you’re not alone!
DTF stands for Direct to Film.
Instead of printing a design directly onto your finished project, a DTF printer prints the image onto a special transfer film. Adhesive powder is applied to the printed design, the transfer is cured, and then the finished design can be transferred onto fabric using a heat press.
The basic process looks like this:
Design → Print → Powder → Cure → Heat Press → Peel
One of the things that makes DTF particularly interesting for crafters is that you’re not limited to traditional sublimation projects or only certain colours of fabric.
That immediately got me thinking beyond shirts.
What if I printed my own vintage artwork and transferred it onto fabric instead?
That’s exactly what I tried.
My First DTF Printer: The Procolored K13 Lite
For these projects, I’m using the Procolored K13 Lite DTF Printer.
This is a 13-inch/A3 DTF printer that uses CMYK plus white ink and is designed with beginners and home studios in mind. It also includes automatic cleaning and white-ink circulation features to help reduce some of the maintenance issues associated with DTF printing.
And, of course…
Mine is PINK. 😂💕
The K13 Lite can print up to 13 inches wide, and the printer itself measures approximately 29.1″ × 12.6″ × 9.1″, so it’s a fairly manageable size for a home craft space.
One VERY important thing to know before buying one, though:
You need a Windows computer.
The K13 Lite software currently supports Windows OS, not macOS.
As someone who normally works on a Mac, this was something I had to work around, so it’s definitely something I want you to know before purchasing.
Want to check out the printer?
Shop the Procolored K13 Lite DTF Printer
Use my code HOLLYGRACEBLOG to save $100.
How DTF Printing Works
There are a few more steps involved in DTF printing than simply hitting “print,” but once I understood what each step was doing, the process made much more sense.
First, I prepared my artwork and loaded it into the printing software.
The design is printed onto special PET film rather than directly onto the fabric.
While the ink is still ready for the next stage, DTF adhesive powder is applied over the printed design.
The excess powder is removed, and then the transfer needs to be cured using heat.
Once cured, you essentially have your own custom iron-on transfer!
The transfer is positioned onto the fabric and applied using a heat press. After the transfer cools, the film can be peeled away to reveal the finished design.
Procolored describes essentially the same six-stage process: preparing the design, printing, applying powder, curing, heat transferring, and finally peeling the film.
And then comes the fun part…
Turning those prints into actual projects.
DTF Home Decor Project #1: Vintage French Floral Pillow
This might be my favourite project of the three.
Although I reserve the right to change my mind. 😂
I created a vintage French postage-stamp-inspired floral design and printed it with the DTF printer.
Rather than putting it onto a T-shirt, I transferred it onto a neutral pillow cover.
And LOOK AT IT.
The combination of the aged French typography, botanical illustration and natural fabric completely transformed a plain pillow cover.
It looks like something I could have found tucked away in a little antique shop.
This project also showed me exactly why I’m so excited about using DTF for home decor.
You can take something completely plain and add artwork that fits your exact decorating style.
Want to make this pillow?
The exact Vintage French Floral Stamp design I used in the video is available as an instant digital download in my shop.
You can print it using DTF, use it for sublimation, or incorporate it into other compatible DIY projects.
DTF Home Decor Project #2: Framed Vintage Botanical Art
For my second project, I wanted something completely different.
Instead of creating a traditional printable and putting paper behind glass, I printed this delicate wildflower and butterfly botanical design onto fabric.
Then I turned the fabric itself into artwork.
I paired it with a beautiful vintage-style frame and striped fabric matting, and I LOVE the finished texture.
Using fabric instead of paper makes the entire piece feel softer and more collected.
The botanical itself is tall and delicate, with neutral flowers, warm autumnal-toned leaves and tiny butterflies scattered throughout.
Even though there are warmer colours in the design, I don’t consider this strictly seasonal decor at all. It works beautifully with cottage, vintage, French-country and traditional decorating styles throughout the year.
This would also be gorgeous printed onto:
pillow covers, table linens, fabric panels, tote bags, decorative banners or even the back of an upholstered chair.
Once you stop thinking “DTF = T-shirts,” you start seeing possibilities everywhere.
DTF Home Decor Project #3: Vintage Botanical Fabric Wall Hanging
For the third project, I went BIGGER.
I created a full vintage-inspired floral bouquet filled with creams, warm browns, muted reds, rust tones and beautiful foliage.
I transferred the design onto a larger piece of neutral fabric and added wooden hanging rails along the top and bottom.
The result is this beautiful vintage botanical wall hanging.
This one surprised me.
It has the look of an old textile or botanical tapestry, but I was able to create it using a digital design and the DTF printer.
I styled mine with antique-inspired frames, old books, warm lighting and vintage accessories, and it fits right into my home.
Get All 3 Vintage Botanical Printable Designs
If you loved the projects from the video, I put together the exact three designs I used into one downloadable collection.
🌿 Vintage Botanical Home Decor Collection
The bundle includes:
Vintage French Floral Stamp
The exact design used on my throw pillow.
Vintage Wildflower & Butterfly Botanical
The tall botanical design used for my framed textile artwork.
Vintage Botanical Bouquet
The large floral arrangement used for my fabric wall hanging.
All three are supplied as high-resolution PNG files.
The complete 3-design bundle is only $6.99.
Get the Vintage Botanical Home Decor Collection here
You can also find the designs individually in my shop.
Is DTF Printing Good for Home Decor?
After making these three projects, my answer is absolutely — especially if you already enjoy creating with fabric.
I think that’s what surprised me most about trying DTF printing.
I went into this thinking about a printer.
I came out of it thinking about fabric as a completely new crafting surface.
Pillows are obvious, but imagine custom tea towels, fabric wall art, banners, tote bags, table runners, personalized gifts, fabric signs and so much more.
DTF works with common fabrics including cotton, polyester and blends, which gives you quite a bit of flexibility when choosing project materials.
Is the Procolored K13 Lite Beginner Friendly?
I approached this project as someone who had never used a DTF printer before, so there was definitely a learning curve.
This isn’t the same experience as using your regular home inkjet printer.
You’re dealing with specialized ink, film, adhesive powder, curing, heat pressing, software and printer maintenance.
However, the K13 Lite itself is specifically positioned as an entry-level/beginner-friendly machine. Features such as one-click ink setup, automated cleaning and white-ink circulation are intended to make the process more manageable for new users.
If you’re considering purchasing one, I highly recommend watching my video first because I take you through the experience from the perspective of someone figuring it out for the first time.
You can see the entire process — including the parts that aren’t nearly as exciting as the final reveal. 😂
Would I Use a DTF Printer for More DIY Projects?
YES.
And that’s probably the biggest takeaway from this experiment.
Before this video, I primarily associated DTF printing with shirts and custom apparel.
Now?
I’m looking around my house wondering what else I can print on. 😂
For me, that’s where a machine like this becomes really interesting. I’m not necessarily interested in producing hundreds of identical shirts.
I’m interested in having another creative tool that lets me take artwork from my computer and incorporate it into physical DIY projects.
And these three projects barely scratch the surface.
Watch the Full DTF Printing Video
If you’d like to see exactly how I created all three projects — including setting up the printer, printing my designs, applying the powder, curing the transfers, heat pressing and assembling the finished decor — you can watch the complete video below.
I Tried DTF Printing for the FIRST TIME! | 3 Beautiful Home Decor DIYs
And when you watch, tell me which project is your favourite!
The vintage French pillow?
The framed botanical?
Or the floral wall hanging?
I already have more ideas floating around in my head for what I could make next…
