Setting Up and Running Your InkSonic C13A DTF Printer: A Complete Setup Guide and Review

Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing is quickly gaining traction for its flexibility, quality output, and suitability for short-run, on-demand apparel printing. One popular and cost-effective model in this domain is the InkSonic 1390. Whether you're new to DTF printing or simply switching to a new printer, understanding the setup and operation of your device is crucial.

In this blog post, we walk through the unboxing, setup, software installation, ink priming, and printing process using the InkSonic C13A printer. You'll also learn how to prepare the heating system and apply professional-grade transfers to garments. And yes—a video below shows how it’s done.

Let’s dive in.

What's Inside the Box

The InkSonic C13A bundle arrives with a full suite of components designed to get you printing fast. To order it, please follow this link: https://www.inksonic.com/products/inksonic-r1390-a3-13-dtf-printer-c13a?ref=BCH&utm_source=affiliate

The package includes:

• The printer unit itself

• A full roll of A3 film

• A mini heat press

• Multimeter (handy for troubleshooting)

• Sample garments (white and black T-shirts)

• Cleaning solution and two sets of CMYK+White inks

• Spare control panel and fuse

• A USB dongle and a separate USB flash drive with software

• Paper menus and user manual

• Powder for curing

• An infrared oven

Despite the abundance of parts, don’t feel overwhelmed. With organized setup and guidance, this system becomes intuitive very quickly.

Setting Up the Hardware

Start by removing all protective tapes and unpacking the components. Lay everything out in the configuration shown in the user manual to ensure nothing is missing. Install the roll holders with the silver clips facing outward. The extended platen installation involves a few screws and proper orientation to ensure the cutter wheel fits the grooves and slides evenly.

Be mindful of the film orientation on the roll: it must be “over” to ensure the print occurs on the correct side of the film. Think of it like placing toilet paper—except this time, the “over” method really matters.

The spare fuse provided is a great inclusion. Keep it handy in case of future electrical troubleshooting.

Installing Software and Drivers

The USB flash drive contains the RIP software, driver, and instructional videos. Make a backup before installing anything—this ensures you can always restore from the original files if needed.

Install the 64-bit printer driver first. While it’s possible to do this with the printer turned off, keeping it powered on helps confirm the system recognizes the hardware. The dongle, which looks like a standard USB stick with a license sticker, must remain plugged in for the software to function.

If your antivirus flags the ink cleaning software (WISP Ink Cleaning Utility), create an exclusion to prevent it from being quarantined. This utility becomes especially useful later during printhead maintenance and ink pad resets.

The software also includes a two-step RIP installer. Install the first step, restart your computer, and then complete the second step. Select manual print after RIP to preview the job before printing.

Priming the Ink System

Proper ink setup is critical to ensuring a long-lasting, clog-free printer. The InkSonic 1390 features an advanced one-click ink setup system. This is a welcome feature, eliminating the need to manually prime each damper.

Here’s how it works:

1. Shake every ink bottle thoroughly before adding to the tanks.

2. Fill the tanks accordingly, ensuring you follow the CMYK+White configuration.

3. Use a piece of rolled paper towel to wedge under the printhead carriage—this absorbs residual ink and is a safety net during future maintenance.

4. Press the white ink circulation button to start circulating ink through the white channels.

5. Then, press the ink setup button to fill all the lines and dampers.

Watch the transparent tubing to ensure it fills with ink and that there are no air bubbles. If necessary, run the circulation process again to push air out.

Printing Your First Transfer

Load the film correctly (again, “over,” not “under”). Open the RIP software and follow these steps:

• Set the paper size to A3

• Import your image

• Adjust width to 60mm and set horizontal offset to 30mm

• Flip the image horizontally for proper DTF transfer

• Optionally, set white ink underfilling to prevent visible white borders on black garments

• Ensure the correct ink channel configuration (Y, K, W, W, M, C)

• Run the RIP process

• Choose manual print and send the job to the printer

Inspect the print. It's common for the first few prints from a new printhead to have missing colors due to residual shipping fluid. Use the printhead maintenance utility to resolve this.

Curing the Film and Using the Infrared Oven

After printing, apply DTF powder to the print, making sure the design is fully coated. Hang the film to dry before baking to avoid bubbles and inconsistencies.

The included infrared oven is highly efficient. Here's how to use it:

1. Load the drawer and set your target temperature and bake time.

2. Wait for the lamp to turn on and monitor the heating progress.

3. Perform short test bakes (start at 20 seconds, then decrease as needed).

4. Ideal curing time for the InkSonic 1390 can be as short as six seconds with proper calibration.

If your oven arrived with disconnected or broken bulbs, replacement is straightforward. Each 110V 400W tube connects via looped wires to the top and bottom connectors. Ensure a snug connection and avoid excess wire slack inside the heated chamber.

Heat Pressing for Professional Finish

The final step is pressing the cured transfer onto the garment. Use the included mini heat press or your own unit. Adjust the settings according to the press type and fabric thickness.

For cold peel films:

1. Lay the garment flat (no need to pre-press).

2. Apply the transfer and press for the recommended time and temperature.

3. Let it cool slightly before peeling.

4. Perform a second press with a Teflon sheet or fabric overlay for durability.

This final press enhances wash resistance, texture, and visual finish. Depending on your preference, you can use denim or textured cloth to create a unique feel.

Maximizing Output Efficiency

With a full workflow in place, the InkSonic 1390 is capable of printing up to 50 transfers in a session. When paired with the infrared oven, production time is drastically reduced. For example, curing 50 transfers with traditional methods might take nearly an hour, while this setup can achieve it in under 10 minutes.

This printer isn’t just a budget tool—it’s a production-grade machine suitable for small businesses, hobbyists scaling operations, or repair professionals like those at BCH Technologies who test and maintain such machines daily.

If you're considering the InkSonic 1390 DTF printer or already have one, this guide should walk you through everything from unboxing to producing high-quality transfers. For visual learners, we’ve included a video below to show how it’s done. Be sure to check it out to follow along with each step.

For replacement parts, support accessories, or further product recommendations, visit bchtechnologies.com and explore our selection of DTF supplies and maintenance tools.