Hey there, DIY friends! I’ve been having a blast messing around with the LOKLiK iPrinter™ DTF-A3-XP600. LOKLiK sent it over for me to try out and share my thoughts, and since I’m already hooked on my Cricut and sublimation projects, I was pretty excited to see what Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing is all about. I’ll walk you through my full DTF Printer Review, how I got it set up, what I’ve made with it, and how LOKLiK’s support helped me along the way—let’s dive in!

 

So, What’s the LOKLiK iPrinter™ All About?

DTF printing feels a bit like sublimation’s more laid-back cousin. You print your design onto a special film, then use a heat press to transfer it onto whatever you’re working with. The LOKLiK iPrinter™ comes with the printer itself, ink, transfer film, and powder, though you’ll need an oven and heat press too—those are separate unless you grab a bundle, which I’ll get to later. It’s got a nice A3+ print size and an XP600 printhead that makes everything look sharp. Plus, it has some cool features like auto ink circulation and cleaning. LOKLiK says it can knock out an A3 print in 3 minutes, and once I got it dialed in, that’s been spot on.

I got mine for free to review—it usually goes for $3,448, but there’s a code, MICHELLE800, that knocks $800 off the printer or bundles. They also tossed in a $600 material coupon, which was a nice surprise! Here’s how it’s been going for me, with a little help from LOKLiK’s team.

How It’s Been Working Out

Getting it set up wasn’t a total breeze, I’ll be honest. The software (in Chinese)—now in English for U.S. shipments since March—took me a bit to figure out because the guides weren’t super detailed. I noticed some folks on Facebook and Discord were puzzling over it too. But LOKLiK’s working on better instructions. After a quick Skype call with their team to help me download software in English, and tweak my settings, it’s been running like a dream. I’d give it a 4.5 out of 5 for ease of use now that I’ve got the hang of it.

The prints, though? Those are a solid 5 out of 5. I made a sweatshirt, a t-shirt, and a couple of totes, and the colors are so vibrant with details that really pop. The white ink is a standout—it works so well on dark fabrics, way better than sublimation. I’ve been loving how versatile it is too. It handled all three projects perfectly, and LOKLiK mentions it can even work on wood and metal. I haven’t gone there yet, but I’m definitely tempted to try!

Speed-wise, it started out a little sluggish—lots of pausing at first. But after LOKLiK sorted out the software over Skype, it’s been quick and steady, hitting that 3-minute A3 mark they promised. I’d say 4.5 out of 5 there. And for value? Same score—$3,448 is a chunk of change (or less with MICHELLE800 through March 31, 2025), but the quality, flexibility, and support make it feel worthwhile to me.

The Good and the Not-So-Good

I’ve been really happy with how the prints turn out—bright and crisp every time. It’s great on fabrics, and I’m curious to test it on other materials down the line. Once the kinks were worked out, it’s fast enough for bigger projects too, and the auto ink circulation and cleaning keep things low-fuss. LOKLiK’s support has been a lifesaver—those Skype fixes turned it around for me.

On the flip side, the software setup was a bit of a headache at first, though their team got me past it. Also, you’ll need to grab an oven and heat press if you don’t have them already—unless you go for a bundle—so that’s something to keep in mind. Unfortunately, the printer is not Wi-Fi compatible, so you will need to have your windows computer close by and connected via USB.

How I Got It Going: Step-by-Step Tutorial

Here’s how I made my sweatshirt, t-shirt, and tote, from printing to pressing—it’s a fun process once you get the hang of it! You’ll need a heat press and oven (sold separately or in bundles), and I’ve got photos to walk you through each step.

Start by unboxing your printer—it arrives in a sturdy flight box with the printer, six 250ml ink bottles (CMYK plus white), a 13” x 328ft roll of film, and 500g of powder. Find a spot on your table near your heat press and oven; it’s compact but likes a little elbow room.

 

Step 2: Fill the Ink Tanks

Pour the inks into their labeled tanks—super easy. Turn on the printer, and you’ll hear the auto-circulation kick in to keep things flowing. No fuss here!

Step 3: Load the Film

Install the software that comes with it—it’s Windows-only, so no iOS here. Quick tip: If your antivirus flags it (mine did), add it to your trusted list—it’s safe.  Open your design in the software per the manual included and hit print. It’ll come out fast and ready!

Take your freshly printed film—while the ink’s still wet—and sprinkle the powder over it evenly. I did this for my sweatshirt, t-shirt, and tote designs. Gently shake off any excess powder so it’s just on the ink. Be sure to wear a mask and ventilate your work space, you don’t want to breathe in the powder when applying or the fumes when baking.

Place the powdered film in the heater at 266°F and let it bake for a two minutes until the powder melts into a smooth layer. Keep an eye on it; it doesn’t take long!  Don’t forget your heat resistant gloves!

Lay the baked film onto your fabric (sweatshirt, t-shirt, tote—whatever you’re using), ink side down. Use your heat press at 310°F for 15 seconds—firm pressure works best.  Cover with a Teflon sheet, I have Teflon Press Cover attached to my HTVRONT Auto Heat Press 2, it fits perfectly. 

Maintenance Tips

Bundle Options to Check Out

If you’re thinking about grabbing one, LOKLiK has a few bundles—prices are from March 14, 2025, and MICHELLE800 takes $800 off through March 31, 2025. The Basic Bundle ($3,399 pre-sale, $3,848 regular, down to $2,599 with the code) gets you the printer and a DTF oven—good if you’ve already got a heat press. The Pro Bundle ($3,799 pre-sale, $4,248 regular, $2,999 with the code) adds an auto heat press for the full setup. Or go Printer Only ($2,999 pre-sale, $3,448 regular, $2,199 with the code) if you’ve got your own gear. Each comes with that $600 material coupon too. 

The LOKLiK iPrinter™ DTF-A3-XP600 has been a fun addition to my projects. The prints are gorgeous, it’s got so much potential, and LOKLiK’s support (especially that Skype fix) made it a keeper. Setup took some figuring out, but it’s been smooth sailing since. I washed my sweatshirt and t-shirt—cold, inside out, no dryer—and they still look fantastic.

You can find it HERE with MICHELLE800 for $800 off (until March 31, 2025)—grab a bundle if you need the extras! Got a project in mind? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear what you’re thinking!