LOKLIK DTF Printer

DTF Printer
1

Hi all,

My printer out of nowhere started printing more towards the left side even if my file is centered in RIIN. I have made sure that the printing film is in the middle and all.

I have also noticed that there is more of a white outline in the prints… does that happen to everyone or something is wrong with my printer?

Has anyone had this issue and were able to fix it?

Thank you,

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Hi @Brav_3 :wave::smiley:! When a DTF printer suddenly starts printing toward the left even though the file is centered, it means the printer isn’t tracking straight. The carriage or film feed is drifting, so the CMYK layer lands in a slightly different spot than the white underbase. That’s why you’re seeing a thicker white outline — the white is printing where it should, but the color layer is shifting sideways.

This usually happens when:

  • the encoder strip has smudges or dried ink,
  • the carriage isn’t homing in the exact same spot,
  • the film is feeding slightly crooked,
  • one pinch roller is gripping harder than the other,
  • or there’s resistance on the rail.

Any of these will cause the print to drift left and create that halo effect.

Quick Fixes You Can Safely Try

These steps fix most drift issues and don’t require opening the printer or doing anything risky:

  • Clean the encoder strip with a lint‑free cloth and a little distilled water or alcohol to remove smudges that confuse the position sensor.
  • Check the home sensor area on the far left for dried ink or debris that might stop the carriage early.
  • Reseat the film so both pinch rollers grip evenly; even a tiny angle can pull the print left.
  • Slide the carriage (power off) to feel for any rough spots or resistance along the rail.
  • Check pinch roller pressure to make sure one side isn’t pulling harder than the other.

If the printer starts tracking straight again, the white outline will go back to normal.

If you’re feeling any rough spots or resistance when you slide the carriage over to the left, that’s a sign something in the home area is blocking the carriage from reaching its true starting point. When that happens, the printer thinks ‘home’ is earlier than it really is, and that’s exactly what causes the print to shift left and the white underbase to stick out.

Here’s what I’d check on that home side:

  • Look for any dried ink, lint, or little chunks of debris sitting in that left corner where the carriage parks. Even a tiny blob will stop the carriage early.
  • Make sure the carriage isn’t bumping into anything—sometimes a ribbon cable, a loose screw, or even a curled piece of film can stick out just enough to interfere.
  • Run your finger along the rail right at the home end. If it feels gritty, sticky, or uneven, that’s buildup that needs to be cleaned.
  • Check the home sensor window (the tiny optical sensor in that corner). If it has dust or ink mist on it, it won’t read correctly.
  • Look closely at the encoder strip near the home side. If you see smudges, fingerprints, or haze, the carriage will stutter as soon as it starts moving.

And here’s what to do if you find anything or feel resistance:

  • Turn the printer off so the carriage is unlocked.
  • Slide the carriage by hand and clean the rail with a lint‑free cloth and a little isopropyl alcohol until it feels smooth again.
  • Wipe out the home corner and remove any dried ink or debris.
  • Gently clean the home sensor window.
  • Support the encoder strip with a finger behind it and wipe it lightly from end to end—no stretching or pulling.

Once that whole area is clean and the carriage glides into the corner with zero resistance, your alignment should go back to normal. The white outline and the left shift both come from the carriage not reaching its real home position, so fixing that usually clears it up.

Let me know if any of this helps once you check it. I want to make sure the carriage is actually gliding the way it should and that your prints start lining up again. If it still shifts or you’re seeing the white outline after cleaning that home area, tell me what you find and we’ll go from there.

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