Industry Update 31 Aug 2026
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What's New in Custom Printing (And Why You Should Care)
The Latest Equipment and Technology Changes That Affect Your Custom Orders
Published: August 31, 2026
Custom printing is going through a real transformation right now. New equipment. New capabilities. New technology that opens up product categories that weren't practical before.
You don't need to understand all the technical details. But some of these changes will affect what's possible for your custom shirts, stickers, and promotional products in the near future.
Here's the practical version of what's happening.
Quick Version: Custom printing equipment is getting smarter, faster, and more capable. That means better quality, more options, and new product categories becoming available. Good news if you're planning custom apparel or promotional products.
Multi-Purpose Printers Are Here
New printers are being launched that can do multiple decoration methods in one machine. DTG for soft cotton work. DTF for polyester and performance fabrics. UV-DTF for hard goods.
Before, shops needed separate machines for each of these. Now they can match the best method to each specific job without switching between multiple setups.
What this means for you: Better decoration matched to your specific garment or product. If you have a mix of cotton shirts, polyester jerseys, and hard-goods promotional items—shops can now handle it all more efficiently.
Better Colors Coming to DTF
Standard DTF printing uses CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) inks. These four colors can reproduce most of what you see on screen—but not everything.
New DTF printers are adding expanded color sets that include Red, Green, Blue, and Orange as separate inks. This helps with the colors CMYK struggles with:
Bright royal blues that usually print duller
Vibrant oranges and reds
Rich greens that don't wash out
Difficult brand colors that never quite match
What this means for you: If you've ever had a design that didn't print quite as vibrant as you hoped, expanded-color DTF could change that in the near future. Especially useful for brands with distinctive colors that need exact matching.
UV-DTF Keeps Improving
UV-DTF is the method for putting designs on hard surfaces—tumblers, bottles, promotional products, phone cases, and other non-fabric items. The technology behind it keeps getting better.
New ink formulations released recently work better on glass, metal, wood, plastic, and ceramic. The result is cleaner transfers, better durability, and no vinyl-style weeding needed.
What this means for you: If you've been considering branded drinkware, custom decals for hard goods, or personalized promotional products—UV-DTF is more reliable than it was even six months ago. Worth exploring for gift orders, event merchandise, and business branded items.
Industrial-Scale DTF Is Legit Now
Major manufacturers like Brother, Epson, Mimaki, and Roland are all launching serious production-grade DTF equipment. This isn't hobbyist gear anymore—it's real industrial textile equipment.
What this means for you: Faster turnaround on large orders. Better consistency across volume runs. And the industry's investment in DTF means the technology will keep improving—not fade out.
PRINTING United Expo Is Coming (Sept 23-25)
The biggest custom printing industry show happens September 23-25 in Las Vegas. Based on what's already being announced, this show will have a lot of new equipment and technology previews.
We'll be watching closely and reporting back on what actually matters for small business customers. Not just the marketing hype—the practical stuff that changes what's possible for your orders.
What This Means for Your Next Order
A few practical takeaways:
Custom printing capabilities keep expanding. Products that were expensive or impractical a year ago are becoming standard offerings.
Quality expectations are rising. Suppliers that keep up with technology will produce better results than those coasting on older equipment.
New product categories are becoming viable. Personalized hard goods, expanded-color decoration, and specialty finishes are more accessible than ever.
Ask your supplier what's newly possible. If they can't answer, they might not be paying attention to the industry.
Where We Fit
We're actively watching all of these developments. Some of them will affect the equipment we run. Others will just change what's possible in the broader industry.
Either way, we stay engaged so our customers benefit from the improvements. Whether that means better DTF quality, expanded UV-DTF options, or new capabilities we haven't even talked about yet—we'll be ready.
Ready to Order?
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Questions about what's possible for your specific project? Email us at sales@little6llc.com or call (520) 705-4026. Real answers from real people who actually pay attention to what's happening in the industry.
Want the full technical breakdown on all the new equipment, ink chemistry, and industry developments? Read the complete August 2026 industry briefing on little6llc.com →
Transfers42 — Custom DTF Transfers, Stickers, and Blank Apparel. Printed and Sourced from Maricopa, Arizona. Powered by LitTLE 6 Industries. Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned.