What is DTF printing?
DTF stands for Direct-to-Film. The design is first printed in colour onto a PET film, with a layer of white beneath it acting as an opaque base. An adhesive powder is then applied to the still-wet ink and melted with heat.
The resulting transfer is pressed onto the garment. Under heat and pressure, the adhesive fuses with the fabric fibres. The film is peeled away, and the design stays.
It's a recent technique: widespread since 2022, it has established itself within a few years as the most versatile alternative to screen printing.
What can it be printed on?
Every fabric
Cotton, polyester, blends, nylon, denim, canvas. Unlike sublimation, DTF is not limited to polyester.
Every garment colour
The white layer beneath the design makes the print opaque: the colours stand out just as well on a black shirt as on a white one.
Small and large runs
No per-colour setup fee as in screen printing. A single shirt is as easy to produce as a full order.
Why choose DTF?
Unlimited colours
Photos, gradients, multicoloured logos: no surcharge per colour. We also print large format, on request.
Flexible and durable
The design follows the stretch of the fabric without cracking or peeling. Expect 35 to 45 washes depending on care — more than a year of regular washing and drying.
Fine detail
Small type, clean outlines, thin strokes: DTF holds the detail that other techniques lose.
Corporate logo printing
DTF printing brings your corporate logos to life with vivid colour, flawless sharpness and a durability that strengthens your brand image.
Good to know
What files should I supply?
What files should I supply?
Ideally a vector file (AI, EPS, PDF) or a high-resolution image — 300 dpi minimum, at actual print size.
If the design isn't rectangular, supply a PNG with a transparent background. We can also vectorize an existing logo if needed.
How do I care for a DTF-printed garment?
How do I care for a DTF-printed garment?
- Wash inside out, in cold water
- Tumble dry on low
- Do not iron directly on the design
- Avoid bleach and fabric softener
Which garments do you print on?
Which garments do you print on?
We work with garments of recognized quality — Gildan and equivalent brands — because the durability of a print depends as much on the garment as on the ink.
You can also supply your own garments. Mention it when you request a quote and we'll confirm they suit the process.
What equipment do you print on?
What equipment do you print on?
We print on a Mimaki TxF150-75, a professional DTF press capable of producing up to 30" wide, with a white-ink circulation system that prevents printing defects.
Combined with quality film, it delivers consistent colour from one production run to the next — which matters when you reorder the same garments six months later.
What's the difference with screen printing?
What's the difference with screen printing?
Screen printing requires one screen per colour, which brings setup fees. It becomes economical mainly at high volume, on designs with few colours.
DTF has no setup fee and accepts an unlimited number of colours. It's therefore the better value for small and medium runs, and for complex designs.
What's the difference with vinyl?
What's the difference with vinyl?
Vinyl is cut and then weeded colour by colour — slow work, limited to flat areas of solid colour.
DTF prints the complete design directly, gradients and photos included, with no cutting or weeding.
Can you feel the design?
Can you feel the design?
Slightly: the design forms a thin, flexible film on the surface of the fabric. It isn't gritty or stiff, and it moves with the garment.
That's the main difference with sublimation, where the ink penetrates the fibre and can't be felt at all — but sublimation only works on light-coloured polyester.
Find your perfect print
Gildan 18500 Unisex Custom Hoodie
Gang Sheet DTF — Custom Transfer Sheet (30" Wide)
