Roland VersaStudio BY2-20 DTF Printer: Specs and Price

Roland DG's VersaStudio BY2-20 is a 20-inch desktop direct-to-film printer with dual white ink channels and an integrated vinyl cutter, available since June 2026 at a US MSRP of $7,995. It replaces the original VersaStudio BY-20 as Roland's entry into DTF, keeps the same print width and 1,440 dpi ceiling, and adds a second white channel, larger 500 ml cartridges, and revised ink temperature control aimed at longer unattended runs.

This article lists the confirmed specifications from Roland DGA, what changed from the BY-20, what is not included in the price, and who the machine makes sense for.

Roland VersaStudio BY2-20 Specifications

Roland DGA does not publish a square-feet-per-hour speed figure for the BY2-20, so any throughput number you see from a dealer is that dealer's own measurement.

What Changed From the BY-20

The original VersaStudio BY-20 launched with the same 18.9-inch print width, the same 1,440 dpi maximum, the same S-PG2 ink family, and the same integrated cutter. Roland's stated changes in the BY2-20 are:

• Two white ink channels instead of one, for higher white density and more consistent white laydown over a long run.
• 500 ml cartridge option for white, alongside the 220 ml size, so the white supply lasts longer between changes.
• Refined ink flow with internal temperature control, which Roland says stabilizes output when the room is not perfectly climate controlled.
• Improved filtration in the ink path.
• Automatic white underbase generation in Roland DG Connect Designer, so a beginner does not need to build the white layer by hand.

Roland DG Corporation's global announcement, quoted in a July 2026 report from The Cannata Report, has Executive Officer Ryugo Nimura describing the machine as "a professional, production-ready solution delivering consistent quality, integrated simplicity, and dependable day-to-day performance."

The BY-20 carried a $9,795 MSRP at launch, and in September 2026 US dealers were clearing it at around $7,495, which puts the new machine only $500 above the old one's closeout price.

What Is Not in the Box

The BY2-20 ships with the printer, power cord, media holders, a replacement blade for the separating knife, the manual, and the software suite. It does not ship with:

• A powder shaker or curing oven. Roland sells S-Powder for manual application. Powdering and curing are separate steps and separate purchases. See our DTF powder guide for the options.
• Starter ink or film. Budget for a full set of S-PG2 cartridges and a roll of Roland-approved film.
• A heat press. Our heat press buying guide covers what to pair with a 20-inch printer.

The one-year warranty is conditional on using Roland DG approved inks, so third-party ink voids coverage.

Who the BY2-20 Is For

Roland positions the BY2-20 for apparel decorators, sign shops adding garments, startups, and shops with limited floor space. The combination that makes it different from most 13-inch and 24-inch DTF printers is the built-in cutter: a shop that already sells heat transfer vinyl lettering, numbers, and decals can run those jobs on the same machine that prints DTF transfers, and VersaWorks 7 is the same RIP Roland's sign printers use.

Compared with a 13-inch desktop machine like the HTVRONT D2 at $2,599, you are paying roughly three times as much for a wider print area, two white channels, the cutter, and Roland's dealer network. Compared with a 24-inch production printer like the STS XPD-924D at $24,995, you are giving up dual printheads, white ink circulation, and speed.

The BY2-20 makes the most sense for a shop that wants a single-vendor system with training and support, values the cutter, and prints in the range of dozens of transfers a day rather than hundreds. For a shop that only prints DTF and will buy a shaker anyway, a dedicated 24-inch machine with an automatic shaker is the more productive spend at a similar total cost.

Compare current models in the DTF printer database.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the Roland VersaStudio BY2-20 cost?

The Roland VersaStudio BY2-20 carries a US MSRP of $7,995 through authorized Roland DGA dealers. The price includes the printer, VersaWorks 7 RIP software, and Roland DG Connect Designer, but not ink, film, a powder shaker, a curing oven, or a heat press.

When did the Roland BY2-20 come out?

Roland DG announced the VersaStudio BY2-20 with availability from June 2026 through Roland DG and its authorized resellers, and Roland DGA listed it for the US market in summer 2026 as the successor to the VersaStudio BY-20.

What is the difference between the Roland BY-20 and BY2-20?

Both print 18.9 inches wide at up to 1,440 dpi with Roland S-PG2 DTF ink and have an integrated cutter. The BY2-20 adds a second white ink channel, a 500 ml cartridge option, internal ink temperature control, improved filtration, and automatic white underbase generation in Roland DG Connect Designer.

Does the Roland BY2-20 include a powder shaker?

No. The BY2-20 ships without a powder shaker or curing oven. Roland sells S-Powder adhesive for manual application, and the film must be powdered and cured separately before pressing.

Can the Roland BY2-20 cut vinyl?

Yes. The BY2-20 has an integrated cutter with 30 to 500 gf of blade force and CAMM-1 series blades, so it can cut heat transfer vinyl lettering, numbers, and decals up to 0.4 mm thick with liner, in addition to printing DTF transfers.

Related Resources

If you are weighing the BY2-20 against cheaper entry points, read the best DTF printers for beginners guide. If you are weighing it against production machines, the Epson SureColor G9070 overview and Mimaki TxF330-800 announcement cover the top of the market.