DTF Printing

DTF stands for Direct to Film. Your artwork is printed in full color onto a transfer film, coated with adhesive powder, cured, and heat-pressed onto the garment. It is the newest of the three methods and it removes most of the constraints that make screen printing awkward on smaller runs.

Minimum 10 units · 10-15 business days production · Unlimited colors

Why choose DTF

Color is free

A two-color logo and a full-color photograph cost exactly the same. Price depends only on the size of the print, so there is no reason to simplify your artwork or count colors before ordering.

No setup fees

There are no screens to burn and no file to digitize, so nothing is charged before production starts. That also makes it the cheapest way to test a design before committing to a bulk screen print run.

Low minimum

From 10 units, against 50 for screen printing. If your quantity is modest, this is almost always the answer.

Detail other methods cannot reach

Photographs, smooth gradients, drop shadows and fine linework all reproduce cleanly. Anything you can supply at high resolution, DTF can print.

Dark garments are no harder

Unlike screen printing, DTF does not need a separate underbase step for dark fabrics. The white ink layer is built into the transfer, so light and dark garments print identically at the same price.

Broad fabric compatibility

Cotton, polyester, blends and nylon all take DTF transfers, and the finished print stays soft and flexible rather than cracking as the fabric moves.

Limitations to plan for

  • Price scales with print size. A small chest logo is inexpensive. A full-front or full-back print costs considerably more, and on large designs at volume the numbers get uncomfortable.
  • Screen printing wins on volume. Once you are comfortably past 50 units with a design of a few solid colors, screen printing is cheaper per unit.
  • DTF prints in CMYK. This is the biggest constraint, and it is worth understanding before you commit. CMYK has a narrower gamut than mixed spot inks, which means bright neon and fluorescent colors are out of gamut, some Pantone spot colors cannot be reproduced accurately, metallic and special effects are impossible, and colors may look slightly different from what you see on screen. If exact brand color accuracy is critical, screen printing or embroidery is the better choice.
  • It sits on the surface. DTF is a thin, flexible film bonded to the fabric. Modern transfers are soft, but they do not achieve the printed-into-the-cloth hand of discharge or water-based screen printing.
  • Texture reduces adhesion. Heavily brushed fleece, high-pile fabrics and ribbed surfaces are less reliable than smooth jersey.
  • No tactile effects. Puff, metallic, glitter and glow finishes belong to screen printing and embroidery. DTF is flat.
  • Follow the wash instructions. Turn garments inside out, wash cold and avoid ironing directly on the print.

Artwork requirements

Vector or high-resolution raster both work. AI, EPS and PDF are ideal; PNG and JPG are fine at 300 dpi or higher at final print size. Full-color designs are welcome - there is no penalty for complexity.

PNG with a transparent background is the easiest raster format for us to work from.

Convert fonts to outlines in any vector file before sending. In Illustrator that's Type → Create Outlines; in CorelDRAW, Arrange → Convert to Curves; in Inkscape, Path → Object to Path.

Because there are no color separations, almost any file that looks right on screen will print - just make sure the resolution is genuinely there. Upscaling a small image will show.

Not sure your files are ready? Send them and we'll review them before quoting, at no charge.

Ready to print?

Email your artwork, quantity, garment choice and placement to info@organicblank.com. Weighing the options? Compare screen printing and embroidery, or see all our printing services.