Seeing, Touching, and Talking in the Real World
Last week, I had the chance to visit PacPrint 2025 in Sydney — one of the biggest print and signage exhibitions in the Southern Hemisphere. As someone who’s been working with print media and buying rolls online for years, this event was more than just a trade show. It was a space to see new machines up close, meet real people behind familiar websites, and most exciting for me, talk directly with experts about DTF (Direct to Film) printing challenges I’ve been facing.
Big Brands, Real Machines
I’ve always admired big names like Roland, Epson, Canon, and HP from afar. At PacPrint, I finally got to see their latest machines live in action.
Epson’s new SureColor lineup showed noticeable improvements in speed and color consistency, and Roland’s UV printers stood out with their super crisp spot gloss and textured finishes. The kind of results I’d only seen in promo videos were suddenly right in front of me — and yes, they looked even better in person.
Faces Behind the Screens
One of the best parts? I finally met the teams behind some of the online stores I regularly buy from, like Graphic Art Supplies, Spicers, and Jetmark.
It felt surprisingly personal. I got to ask questions about media stock, logistics, and even tips on requesting better shipping options or samples — things I would’ve hesitated to do via email. Some of them even offered special PacPrint-only deals, which made the visit even more worthwhile.
DTF Printing and That Waterproof Fabric Problem
Lately I’ve been really into DTF (Direct to Film) printing, and it’s been going great — except for one issue: applying designs to waterproof or water-resistant fabrics.
At PacPrint, I spoke directly with experts from multiple brands about this. Turns out, there’s a lot to consider:
- Certain film types don’t adhere well to TPU or nylon
- The powder coating affects flexibility and wash durability
- Pressing temperature and fabric texture must be adjusted carefully
These are things no tutorial or blog post had ever explained clearly. It was incredibly helpful to get real answers from real people.
PacPrint 2025 wasn’t just about “seeing what’s new.”
It was about being part of the industry, not just watching from behind a screen.
I left feeling more confident, connected, and excited for what’s coming next — whether that’s in print technology, materials, or just better ways of doing what I already love.
If you’re in design, print, signage, or textile customization, I highly recommend going next time.
It’s one of those events that reminds you why offline still matters.
