Welcome to the ultimate printing method showdown! When selling custom t-shirts or other apparel, your choice of printing technique can make or break your success.

This guide covers everything you need to know about DTF vs DTG printing – from print colors and costs to eco-friendliness. Get ready to discover the perfect fit for your unique needs and watch your designs come to life.

What is DTF printing?

Direct-to-film (DTF) printing involves printing designs on a special film, sprinkling adhesive powder, and using a heat press to transfer the design onto garments. It works great on a wide range of fabrics – even synthetics like polyester and nylon.

DTF specifics:

• Produces durable prints with vibrant colors.
• DTF printing requires special transfer film, adhesive powder, a DTF printer, and a heat press.
• Works on various fabrics, including synthetics.

What is DTG printing?

The direct-to-garment (DTG) printing process uses specialized DTG printers to spray water-based inks directly onto cotton or cotton-blend garments. The ink binds to the fibers, creating smooth and high-quality designs.

DTG specifics:

• Best for cotton and cotton blends.
• DTG printing requires a DTG printer and pretreatment for dark garments.
• Produces high-detail prints with excellent, vibrant colors.

DTF vs DTG printing: What are the differences?

Let’s start with a quick direct-to-film vs direct-to-garment comparison.

Feature	DTF printing	DTG printing
Print durability and quality	Highly durable, long-lasting prints	Print quality may fade over time
Color vibrancy	Bright, vibrant colors	Rich colors
Fabric suitability	Works on synthetics and blends	Best for natural fibers like cotton
Eco-friendliness	Uses adhesive powders and films, not the most eco-friendly	Water-based inks, more eco-friendly
Order quantity	Suitable for small and large orders	Ideal for small to medium runs
Production costs	Lower initial investment, affordable supplies	Higher upfront costs for printers and inks
Production time	Slightly longer due to the transfer process	Faster for single garments

Now, let’s take a closer look to distinguish which is better – DTG or DTF – to help you decide which of the two printing methods is best for your business.

How to choose between DTF vs DTG printing

When deciding between DTF vs DTG printing, consider your business goals, product offerings, and customer needs.

Start printing using Printify

Printify makes it easy to start your print-on-demand business with:

• A vast Product Catalog featuring customizable items and several printing options
• Access to multiple Print Providers with global fulfillment options.
• Tools and guides to help you with printing designs, marketing, and scaling your business.

DTF vs DTG printing: FAQ

Summary

DTF and DTG printing offer unique advantages for print-on-demand businesses. While DTF excels in versatility and durability, DTG is unbeatable for cotton garments with intricate designs. Choose based on your business needs, budget, and target audience.

Thinking of starting a printing business but don’t want to handle production and shipping yourself? Partner with Printify and get your full-color prints done and delivered worldwide – no upfront costs required!

Make it your way!

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What is direct-to-film printing?

Direct-to-film (DTF) involves printing designs onto a PET film, applying hot-melt adhesive powder, and using a heat press machine to apply the designs onto a fabric. This method requires a special DTF printer and high-resolution digital designs for maximum durability.

This printing method works with a wide range of fabric types, including:

• Cotton
• Polyester
• Blends
• Leather
• Nylon
• Other non-textile materials

DTF printing technology is particularly popular in the custom printing industry due to its ability to produce intricate designs with fine details and vibrant colors. Unlike other printing methods, DTF does not need pre-treatment of the fabric. 

How does DTF printing work?

High-quality results require careful material handling, professional use of a direct-to-film printer, and regular equipment maintenance. That’s why it’s best to outsource these tasks to Print Providers through companies like Printify.

1. Preparing the design

Use graphic design software like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator to create high-resolution designs, typically at 300 dpi or higher for optimal print quality.

Then, convert the design to an appropriate file format, like PNG with a transparent background, and upload it to our Product Creator. That way, only the desired elements transfer onto the fabric.

2. Setting up the DTF printer and software

Print Providers set up the DTF printer by installing the necessary drivers and Raster Image Processor (RIP) software.

They then load the special inkjet printer with DTF printer ink, including white ink for base layers and CMYK inks for color, before conducting a test print to check for any issues with ink flow or print quality.

3. Preparing the DTF film

Print operators cut the DTF film to the necessary size based on the design dimensions, taking care that the film is clean and free of dust or debris that could harm the print quality.

Once that’s clear, they place the special PET film into the printer, framing and aligning correctly so the design connects.

4. Pre-pressing the fabric

Before transferring the design, print professionals pre-press the fabric using a heat press machine. This step removes moisture and wrinkles from the fabric, ensuring a smooth surface for the transfer.

The heat press is set to the required temperature and time settings based on the fabric type.

5. Transferring the design

The operator sets the printer to create a mirror image of the design so that it appears correctly on the fabric. Then, they print it onto the DTF film with a layer of DTF powder covering the wet ink.

This hot-melt adhesive powder helps the design adhere to the fabric during the transfer process. Print operators remove any excess powder from the desired surface then cure the printing powder. It involves placing the film under a heat source at a low temperature for a short time.

Finally, they position the film on the fabric and press it using a heat press. They peel off the film while it’s still warm before cooling off the garment.

Pros and Cons of DTF prints

Compared to other types of shirt printing, direct-to-film offers the best of both worlds – high product versatility and fast production – but it also comes with a few concerns.

A DTF printer is more cost-effective due to its efficiency and versatility. It’s the perfect solution for maximizing profits with a diverse product offering of custom clothing.

Print-on-demand services like Printify let you bypass the cons of DTF printing costs because you don’t need to own and operate the machinery. Our Print Providers handle it for you.

DTF vs DTG printing

While DTF printing uses a printed film that transfers onto fabric with heat, direct-to-garment (DTG) printing directly applies ink to the fabric. Both methods utilize advanced inkjet printer technology but offer different benefits.

Versatility:

• DTG printing: Prints designs directly onto the fabric with no need for transfer films. DTG prints are popular for smaller and more specialized batches.
• DTF printing: Offers better versatility with fabric types using specialized PET film and can produce durable prints less prone to cracking and fading over time.

Efficiency:

• DTG printing: Generally faster for small runs.
• DTF printing: More efficient for medium to larger batches.

Simplicity:

• DTG printing: A DTG printer requires pre-treatment of the fabric to achieve optimal results.
• DTF printing: Doesn’t require pre-treatment of the fabric, simplifying the overall printing process and reducing preparation time.

DTF vs sublimation printing

Sublimation printing and DTF printing cater to different printing needs and fabric types. The former uses heat to transfer dye onto polyester materials, resulting in vivid, durable prints.

Versatility:

• Sublimation printing: Prints at a very high temperature that burns organic fabrics. It is used mostly on polyester or polyester-coated substrates.
• DTF printing: You can use DTF on polyester but also fabrics like cotton that are not suitable for sublimation.

Durability:

• Sublimation printing: Provides excellent durability and vibrant colors as the dye is directly infused into the fabric. However, it’s limited to light-colored, polyester-rich fabrics.
• DTF printing: Produces durable, high-quality prints on dark and light fabrics of various compositions, but is pressed onto the fabric instead of sublimated into it.

Cost:

• Sublimation printing: Requires specialized equipment and materials, including sublimation ink and transfer paper, which can be more costly and complex.
• DTF printing: More affordable in terms of printing costs, but still requires an investment in professional equipment and maintenance for independent use.

DTF vs screen printing

Screen printing is an older method that is well-suited for large volumes. It uses a stencil to apply layers of ink, making it durable and cost-effective for bulk orders.

Setup time:

• Screen printing: Involves creating a stencil (or screen) and using it to push layers of ink onto the fabric. It requires significant setup and is less flexible in terms of design changes.
• DTF printing: Quicker to set up and more affordable for smaller runs, making it ideal for custom print-on-demand orders.

Volume:

• Screen printing: Suitable for large volumes of single designs and is more economical for mass production.
• DTF printing: More flexible and efficient for small and medium orders, especially when producing many different designs.

Detail and color

• Screen printing: Can produce high-quality prints but is limited in its ability to reproduce fine details and complex color gradients.
• DTF printing: DTF printer technology excels at producing intricate designs with fine details and bright colors.

Direct-to-film printing with Printify

Leveraging DTF printing for your custom clothing business is easy with Printify. It’s free to start, and you only pay once you sell a product – no equipment necessary.

Here’s how to get started.

Select a product

Browse the Printify Catalog and use the Decoration method filter to find products compatible with DTF printing.

Prepare the print file

Make sure your design meets the print file requirements – including file format, resolution, and print size – all listed in the Product Creator.

Use high print resolution images – 300 dpi or higher – and save your design.

Apply your design

Upload your design and adjust the placement, size, and orientation to fit the product perfectly.

Then, use the Preview feature to see how the final product will look and edit as necessary.

Order or start selling

Once your design is ready, order a sample to review the print quality and make sure it meets expectations.

Start making money by listing the products for sale in your store. Printify connects with the biggest eCommerce platforms, so you can market your printing business to a wide audience.

FAQ

Summary

DTF printing is a versatile and efficient printing method suitable for various fabrics and applications. Using DTF printing technology is a great way to offer high-quality products to customers.

By understanding the process, benefits, and differences compared to other printing methods, like direct-to-garment printing or screen print transfers, you can make the right choice.

Printify offers over 900 products and easy eCommerce integration, so getting started with DTF printing has never been easier. Whether you are looking to expand your product offerings or enhance the quality of your prints, find the perfect DTF Print Providers for your business needs.