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11 September 2025 Insight

Powder-free DTF printing has arrived

By Joseph Link

Israel-based Nur Ink Innovations’ new pigment ink with adhesive is now in beta testing, promising to overhaul the direct-to-film (DTF) printing process.

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Direct-to-film (DTF) printing technology has been the standout solution of 2025 in the digital textile printing market.

Since its inception in China during the Covid-19 pandemic, the technology has grown rapidly, disrupting the digital garment decoration sector. In fact, DTF print production achieved a compound annual growth rate of 20% between 2021 and 2025, according to proprietary data from WTiN. The sector produced more than 7 billion prints last year, consuming 362 million sqm of transfer films.

This growth has enabled emerging and established print service providers (PSPs) to expand their revenues by diversifying markets. The technology has also facilitated on-demand production and personalisation – trends that are growing in popularity among brands, retailers and end consumers.

But there are challenges in the DTF market, and most of them centre around the environment. Much of the film comprises non-recyclable plastic, and the adhesive powders – of which 28,000 metric tons were consumed in 2024 – are both harmful and unsustainable, according to many experts.

Consequently, a lot of research and development (R&D) has centered around powderless printing, and Israel-based Nur Ink Innovations says it is the first company to bring a powder-free solution to production floors worldwide.

Having become a leading enterprise in the development of

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