The Procolored F13 Panda can print DTF transfers, but it is not a complete, hands-off apparel business in a box. It is a 13-inch, single-array printer that needs Windows-based RIP software, transfer film, adhesive powder, a curing stage, and a heat press. Whether it is worth buying depends on the full equipment and operating cost—and whether you have realistic customer demand.
What the F13 Panda does
The F13 is a roll-fed direct-to-film (DTF) printer built around an L1800 printhead. It prints a color image and white ink onto PET film. After adhesive powder is applied and cured, a heat press transfers the design from the film onto fabric. The white layer makes designs suitable for dark garments as well as light ones.
Procolored lists these specifications for the F13; they are manufacturer figures, not guaranteed results for every design or production workflow:
| Specification | Procolored listing |
|---|---|
| Print width | 13 inches (330 mm) |
| Feed | Roll-fed film, with a film cutter |
| Printhead/configuration | L1800; single array |
| Ink configuration | CMYK+WW |
| Maximum resolution | 1440 × 1440 DPI at 8 pass |
| Listed print time | 10 minutes per Letter/A4 print |
| Listed rate | Six Letter/A4 pieces per hour |
| Ink use | 3.75 ml per Letter/A4, according to Procolored |
| Computer/software | Windows OS for Pro RIP |
| Size and weight | 33 × 15 × 11.8 inches (84 × 38 × 30 cm); 44 lb (20 kg) |
The product page also claims the printer can print 4 square feet in an hour. That area-based claim and the per-piece figures describe different measures; neither should be treated as a finished-shirt rate. Artwork size, print settings, powdering, curing, pressing, handling, setup, and maintenance all affect how many completed garments you can produce.
#1 Best Overall
- 【Reliable Printing with LiteHead Technology】Powered by Procolored LiteHead Technology, the K13 Lite is designed for stable performance with easier maintenance. Automatic cleaning helps reduce clogging and ink drying, while the White Ink Circulation System runs regularly to prevent sedimentation and maintain smooth, consistent printing results.
- 【Smart & Simplified Operation】The K13 Lite makes DTF printing easier with one-touch ink pumping and an intuitive visual touchscreen interface. Three customizable pixel-style themes provide a personalized user experience, while the streamlined control system helps simplify daily printing operations.
- 【Professional Color Accuracy & Detailed Prints】Achieve vibrant and accurate transfers with G7-certified color accuracy, optimized color curves, and Procolored Studio Lite software. The system automatically detects RGB and CMYK image formats and applies calibrated color profiles to help reproduce designs from screen to fabric with consistent color quality.
- 【Versatile Printing for Back-to-School & Everyday Projects】 With a 13" A3 printing area, the K13 Lite supports flexible DTF applications across cotton, polyester, denim, canvas, and other fabric materials. Create custom apparel, school T-shirts, team apparel, tote bags, personalized accessories, and transfer designs with vibrant colors and detailed patterns.
- 【Advanced Printhead Protection System】The Infrared Printhead SafeGuard System monitors the printing area in real time and detects film warping and foreign particles as small as 2 mm. This intelligent protection helps reduce potential printhead damage, improve reliability, and extend the lifespan of the printing system.
What comes in the box—and what may not
Procolored lists the F13 with initial CMYK and white ink, 500 g of adhesive powder, nozzle-protection fluid, PET roll film, Pro RIP software and its USB dongle, cables, and small setup items. Some package variants add an oven or heat press. Consumables and liquids may also ship separately from the printer.
Check the exact bundle SKU and shipment status before budgeting or scheduling production. Do not assume that a listing for the F13 includes the curing oven and heat press required to finish transfers; bundle contents can differ.
What you need to make a finished garment
The printer handles only the film-printing stage. A working transfer workflow also requires:
Rank #2
- 【Reliable Printing with LiteHead Technology】Powered by Procolored LiteHead Technology, the K13 Lite is designed for stable performance with easier maintenance. Automatic cleaning helps reduce clogging and ink drying, while the White Ink Circulation System runs regularly to prevent sedimentation and maintain smooth, consistent printing results.
- 【Smart & Simplified Operation】The K13 Lite makes DTF printing easier with one-touch ink pumping and an intuitive visual touchscreen interface. Three customizable pixel-style themes provide a personalized user experience, while the streamlined control system helps simplify daily printing operations.
- 【Professional Color Accuracy & Detailed Prints】Achieve vibrant and accurate transfers with G7-certified color accuracy, optimized color curves, and Procolored Studio Lite software. The system automatically detects RGB and CMYK image formats and applies calibrated color profiles to help reproduce designs from screen to fabric with consistent color quality.
- 【Versatile Printing for Back-to-School & Everyday Projects】 With a 13" A3 printing area, the K13 Lite supports flexible DTF applications across cotton, polyester, denim, canvas, and other fabric materials. Create custom apparel, school T-shirts, team apparel, tote bags, personalized accessories, and transfer designs with vibrant colors and detailed patterns.
- 【Advanced Printhead Protection System】The Infrared Printhead SafeGuard System monitors the printing area in real time and detects film warping and foreign particles as small as 2 mm. This intelligent protection helps reduce potential printhead damage, improve reliability, and extend the lifespan of the printing system.
- A compatible Windows computer, Pro RIP software, and the required USB dongle.
- Design software to create or edit artwork. Procolored describes Pro RIP as raster image processing software, not an image editor.
- PET DTF film and compatible CMYK-plus-white ink.
- Hot-melt adhesive powder and a suitable way to remove excess powder.
- A curing oven or other appropriate curing device.
- A heat press suitable for the garment and transfer.
Verify consumable compatibility and whether each finishing item is included in your chosen package. If you use a Mac, do not assume native support: Procolored says Pro RIP is Windows-only.
How setup and production work
- Install the RIP software. Install Pro RIP on a compatible Windows computer and have the USB dongle ready. Connect the printer by USB.
- Prepare and arrange the design. Create or edit artwork in a separate design program, then size and lay it out in Pro RIP.
- Load film and print. Feed the PET film and print the CMYK and white layers.
- Apply adhesive powder. While the print is wet, apply hot-melt powder and remove excess powder according to the powder maker’s instructions.
- Cure the film. Use an appropriate oven or curing device and follow the material instructions.
- Press onto the garment. Heat press the cured transfer following the film, powder, and garment guidance.
TechRadar’s reviewer described physical assembly as fairly straightforward, but reported difficulty installing software and drivers, USB/dongle constraints, and getting help from Procolored support. That is one reviewer’s account, not a setup-time guarantee or a prediction that every buyer will have the same experience.
What the hands-on review found
In TechRadar’s review, Jim Hill reported print times of about 5–10 minutes for letter-sized designs and 10–20 minutes for tabloid-sized designs. He printed on cotton and polyester items and described the transfers as crisp and vivid. He also noted that the available press size affected garment fit and that larger garments could require pressing in stages.
Rank #3
- 【A3 DTF Printer for Custom Apparel Production】The K13 (Lite) is an A3 DTF printer designed for larger transfer designs and multi-logo layouts. Ideal for custom apparel businesses, Etsy sellers, print-on-demand shops, clothing brands, and home printing studios that need flexible and professional garment printing.Windows system only!
- 【Cleaner Workspace with Optional Smokeless Oven】When paired with Procolored’s Smokeless Oven curing unit, the system helps reduce odors and fumes compared with traditional DTF curing setups. This makes it a more comfortable solution for home studios, small workshops, and indoor production environments.
- 【Beginner-Friendly A3 DTF Printing】The K13 Lite features one-touch ink pumping and an intuitive touchscreen interface, making operation simple even for first-time users. A great choice for startup creators, small clothing brands, and new DTF printing businesses.
- 【LiteHead Technology for Easy Maintenance】Built with LiteHead Technology, the printer reduces maintenance complexity and helps keep daily operation smooth. The automatic cleaning system helps prevent clogging and ink drying, saving time for busy print shops.
- 【Smart Printhead Protection System】The Infrared Printhead SafeGuard System monitors the printing area in real time and detects film warping or particles as small as 2 mm. This helps protect the printhead and reduces the risk of unexpected printing interruptions.
The review also reports software installation difficulty, occasional connection problems, ink running, and film slipping. These are observations from that review, not guaranteed outcomes for every machine. The reviewer said that after setup the printer could produce enough garments per day for a small business, but did not establish a dependable daily output, uptime, or business profit figure.
Maintenance is part of the operating cost
Automatic cleaning does not remove the need for routine care. Procolored says the printer performs automatic printhead cleaning while left on, using about 1 ml of ink per day. The TechRadar reviewer also notes automatic cleaning every 10 hours, but describes DTF printers as needing more maintenance than average inkjets and reports clogging and connection or feed issues during testing.
Procolored’s L1800 manual calls for white-ink handling, nozzle checks, cleaning when a check shows missing nozzles, cleaning around the printhead and capping station, managing the waste-ink container, and regular cleaning of film-feed components. It gives component-specific instructions and warns against using alcohol on several printhead-area parts. Follow the manual for your printer revision rather than improvising with generic cleaning advice.
Rank #4
- 【Reliable Printing with LiteHead Technology】Powered by Procolored LiteHead Technology, the K13 Lite is designed for stable performance with easier maintenance. Automatic cleaning helps reduce clogging and ink drying, while the White Ink Circulation System runs regularly to prevent sedimentation and maintain smooth, consistent printing results.
- 【Smart & Simplified Operation】The K13 Lite makes DTF printing easier with one-touch ink pumping and an intuitive visual touchscreen interface. Three customizable pixel-style themes provide a personalized user experience, while the streamlined control system helps simplify daily printing operations.
- 【Professional Color Accuracy & Detailed Prints】Achieve vibrant and accurate transfers with G7-certified color accuracy, optimized color curves, and Procolored Studio Lite software. The system automatically detects RGB and CMYK image formats and applies calibrated color profiles to help reproduce designs from screen to fabric with consistent color quality.
- 【Versatile Printing for Back-to-School & Everyday Projects】 With a 13" A3 printing area, the K13 Lite supports flexible DTF applications across cotton, polyester, denim, canvas, and other fabric materials. Create custom apparel, school T-shirts, team apparel, tote bags, personalized accessories, and transfer designs with vibrant colors and detailed patterns.
- 【Advanced Printhead Protection System】The Infrared Printhead SafeGuard System monitors the printing area in real time and detects film warping and foreign particles as small as 2 mm. This intelligent protection helps reduce potential printhead damage, improve reliability, and extend the lifespan of the printing system.
The manual recommends regular printer use, protecting consumables from direct sunlight, and placing the oven in a ventilated location because baking can produce odor. Its temperature and humidity guidance applies to the L1800 workflow described in that manual; it should not be read as a universal specification for every DTF printer or production space.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is the F13 worth it for a small business?
There is no established independent industry-wide statistic in the cited sources that can tell you what a typical DTF printer owner earns or how quickly an F13 pays for itself. Procolored’s product page includes modeled cost and profit examples, but those are promotional calculations, not audited results or independent benchmarks. Treat them as assumptions to check, not expected buyer outcomes.
Before deciding, build your own per-order and cash-flow estimate. Include:
Best Value
- 【Reliable Printing with LiteHead Technology】Powered by Procolored LiteHead Technology, the K13 Lite is designed for stable performance with easier maintenance. Automatic cleaning helps reduce clogging and ink drying, while the White Ink Circulation System runs regularly to prevent sedimentation and maintain smooth, consistent printing results.
- 【Smart & Simplified Operation】The K13 Lite makes DTF printing easier with one-touch ink pumping and an intuitive visual touchscreen interface. Three customizable pixel-style themes provide a personalized user experience, while the streamlined control system helps simplify daily printing operations.
- 【Professional Color Accuracy & Detailed Prints】Achieve vibrant and accurate transfers with G7-certified color accuracy, optimized color curves, and Procolored Studio Lite software. The system automatically detects RGB and CMYK image formats and applies calibrated color profiles to help reproduce designs from screen to fabric with consistent color quality.
- 【Versatile Printing for Back-to-School & Everyday Projects】 With a 13" A3 printing area, the K13 Lite supports flexible DTF applications across cotton, polyester, denim, canvas, and other fabric materials. Create custom apparel, school T-shirts, team apparel, tote bags, personalized accessories, and transfer designs with vibrant colors and detailed patterns.
- 【Advanced Printhead Protection System】The Infrared Printhead SafeGuard System monitors the printing area in real time and detects film warping and foreign particles as small as 2 mm. This intelligent protection helps reduce potential printhead damage, improve reliability, and extend the lifespan of the printing system.
- The actual printer and bundle price, plus an oven or heat press if not included.
- Blank garments, ink, film, powder, shipping, tax, and electricity.
- Misprints, wasted materials, and time spent on setup, powdering, curing, pressing, packing, and maintenance.
- Computer and software needs, replacement parts, and support or warranty exposure.
- Marketing, payment and platform fees, and the number of orders you can realistically secure.
The F13 may fit a small studio or business that already has—or can acquire—customers for short-run custom apparel, can use Windows RIP software, has room for curing and pressing, and can manage printer maintenance. It is a higher-risk purchase if demand is untested, you expect passive income, Windows software is unsuitable for your setup, or you have not costed the complete production line.
How to compare the F13 with the F13 Pro or another option
Procolored’s product page compares the single-head F13 with the F13 Pro, which has a dual-head configuration and is presented as faster. A faster claim alone does not establish the output you will get for your designs or workflow. Compare the factors that determine both capacity and total cost:
- Head count and throughput at the print size and settings you actually need.
- Print width and the largest useful design size for your products.
- Complete bundle cost, including curing equipment and a press.
- Consumable cost and compatibility.
- Computer and RIP compatibility.
- Maintenance needs and your tolerance for downtime.
- Warranty conditions and local support.
- Realistic weekly order volume.
Seller comparison charts can help identify claimed product differences, but their profit figures remain modeled assumptions. Procolored’s current warranty and return terms were not confirmed for every buyer’s region; check the terms directly for your location before purchase rather than relying on a general promise.
Quick Recap
Sources
- Procolored F13 Panda product listing and specifications
- Procolored L1800 user manual
- TechRadar Pro review of the Procolored F13 Panda L1800
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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