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DTF Transfers 101: The Complete Guide to Direct-to-Film Printing
Oct
If you’ve scrolled past a shirt with an impossibly vivid, full-color design and wondered how it was printed, chances are it was DTF — direct-to-film transfer. It’s become the go-to method for custom apparel because it prints photo-quality graphics on almost any fabric, in any color, without the setup costs or minimums that come with screen printing.
This guide covers what DTF printing actually is, how it stacks up against screen printing and sublimation, why so many businesses and shops are switching to it, and how to order custom DTF transfers from D Custom Print.
What Is DTF Printing?
DTF stands for direct-to-film. Instead of printing straight onto a garment, the design is printed onto a special PET film using water-based pigment inks, then coated with a hot-melt adhesive powder.
The process runs in four steps:
- Print — the artwork is printed onto film using a dedicated DTF printer (D Custom Print runs a Mimaki TxF150-75 for this).
- Powder — adhesive powder is applied to the wet ink and the excess is shaken off.
- Cure — the film passes through a heat press or curing oven, melting the powder into a bonded transfer.
- Press — the finished transfer is heat-pressed onto the garment, where the design releases from the film and bonds permanently to the fabric.
The result is a transfer that can be pressed onto cotton, polyester, blends, nylon, and even dark or stretchy fabrics that give other methods trouble.
DTF vs. Screen Printing vs. Sublimation
Each method has its place. Here’s how they compare on the factors that matter most when you’re choosing one for a job:
| Factor | DTF | Screen Printing | Sublimation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum order | 1 piece | Typically 12–24+ | 1 piece |
| Fabric compatibility | Cotton, poly, blends, nylon, dark colors | Mostly cotton/blends | Poly or poly-coated only |
| Color detail | Full-color, photo-realistic | Best for 1–6 solid colors | Full-color, photo-realistic |
| Setup cost | Low (no screens) | Higher (a screen per color) | Low |
| Feel on garment | Slight texture, soft after a few washes | Varies by ink type | No texture, dyes into fabric |
| Turnaround on small runs | Fast | Slower (screen setup time) | Fast |
For small orders, dark garments, or designs with lots of color and detail, DTF usually wins. Screen printing still makes sense for large bulk runs where the per-piece cost matters most. Sublimation is the better choice when the design needs to be completely texture-free, but it only works on polyester or poly-coated items.
Why Businesses Love DTF
- No minimums. Order one shirt or one thousand — the price per piece barely changes with quantity, which makes DTF ideal for one-off gifts, small teams, and testing new designs before committing to bulk.
- Works on almost any fabric. Cotton, polyester, blends, nylon jackets, even some leather and canvas goods — DTF doesn’t care what you’re pressing it onto the way screen printing and sublimation do.
- Full, vibrant color with no limit on detail. Gradients, photos, and complex logos print exactly as designed — no color separations, no per-color screen charges.
- Durable. A properly cured and pressed DTF transfer holds up through dozens of washes without cracking or fading when cared for correctly.
- Fast turnaround. Without screens to burn or films to separate by color, small and rush orders move through production quickly.
How to Order Custom DTF Transfers from D Custom Print
D Custom Print runs a dedicated Mimaki TxF150-75 DTF printer in-house, alongside UV, sublimation, and vehicle-graphics equipment — so your order is produced on site, not outsourced.
Ordering is simple:
- Upload your artwork (or have our design team help you create one) at dcustomprint.com.
- Choose your sizes and quantities — no minimum order required.
- We print, powder, and cure your transfers (or press them directly onto garments you supply or we source).
- Pick up your order at our Niagara Falls shop or have it shipped.
Whether it’s a single custom shirt, team apparel, or a full product line, D Custom Print can turn it around fast with full-color, durable DTF transfers.
Get Started
DTF has become the fastest, most flexible way to put full-color, durable designs on just about any fabric — with no minimums and no setup fees holding small orders back. If you’ve got a design ready or just an idea, D Custom Print can take it from file to finished transfer, printed and pressed in-house.
Start your custom DTF order at dcustomprint.com or call (716) 327-0889.
