Do you want to add vibrant, long-lasting prints to your lineup? You’ve come to the correct spot if the response is yes.
Direct-to-film (DTF) printing is now one of the most flexible methods used in the printing business.
Cotton and cotton-blended textiles are among the fabrics that can only be used with most print techniques. You can use more durable fabric types, such as polyester, fleece, nylon, and, of course, traditional cotton, when printing on DTF.
Continue reading to learn more about the DTF printing process and how it differs from other printing techniques.
What is DTF printing?
Water-based inks and a unique adhesive powder are used in DTF printing to transfer a design onto a piece of PET film, a type of film with a coating that facilitates pattern transfer. A heat press machine is then used to transfer the design from the PET film to the fabric. The graphics are vivid and detailed, and this printing technique is long-lasting.
How does DTF printing work?
When compared to other printing techniques, DTF printing is reasonably fast. It’s also a fantastic option for printing intricate patterns on large outdoor clothing.
Curious about how it operates? Let’s examine the DTF printing procedure in more detail.
Step 1: Preparing the film
To print the full design in colour, a PET film must first be created and put into the DTF printer.
Once the first layer has been created, the machine prints a white layer over the entire image, completely covering the first layer. If you’re wondering what DTF print designs look like when printed on PET film, take a look at the picture below.
After that, the wet ink is evenly covered with an adhesive powder. The film is heated to prepare for the fabric transfer after the powder has been applied evenly and any surplus has been removed. A curing oven or a heat press machine is used for adhesive heating.
Step 2: Pre-pressing fabric and using a heat press
The fabric that will be printed is dehumidified and pre-flattened using a heat press after the PET film has been prepared.
The printed film is laid out on the pre-pressed fabric after it has been initially flattened. After that, a heat press is used to transfer the design from the film onto the garment for 15 to 20 seconds at an average temperature of 165°C.
Step 3: Peeling the film and post-pressing the fabric
The second-to-last procedure is to carefully hot remove the film once the design has been transferred onto the fabric. In contrast to cold peel transfers, Printful (and the majority of other DTF printing companies) peels the transfer while the film is still hot.
To increase the longevity of the design, the created cloth is flattened in the heat press a second time after the film is removed. The garment is prepared for packaging and client shipping following post-pressing.
DTF printing pros
Because of its adaptability and excellent output, direct-to-film is a favourite among custom clothing companies. This approach provides several benefits that are unique in the printing sector, regardless of the size of your company or the scope of your projects:
Wide fabric compatibility
DTF printing is compatible with a wide range of materials, including blends, polyester, cotton, and nylon, in contrast to DTG printing, which is best suited for cotton fabrics. Businesses can expand their product offerings and meet the needs of a wider range of customers because of this flexibility.
Vibrant colours and sharp details
Even on dark textiles, DTF prints are guaranteed to have clear details and vibrant, vibrant colours thanks to the specialised inks. This is especially beneficial for companies that value polished outcomes and striking designs.
No pre-treatment required
DTF printing saves time and labour by avoiding the pre-treatment step, in contrast to other methods. For companies with short turnaround times, this makes it a quicker and more effective choice.
Durability
DTF transfers have a stellar reputation for longevity. The design is guaranteed to adhere firmly to the fabric thanks to the adhesive powder used during the procedure. As a result, even after several washings, the print will not fade, peel, or crack.
Cost-effective for small designs
Compared to other techniques like screen printing, which may require significant setup expenses, DTF printing provides a more affordable option for tiny graphics or logos.
Because of these advantages, DTF printing is a strong option for companies wishing to provide a wide variety of customised products, quick turnaround times, and high-quality designs.
DTF printing cons
Even though DTF printing has numerous benefits, you should weigh its drawbacks before choosing.
Specialised equipment and materials
Investing in specialised equipment, such as DTF printers, PET films, and adhesive powders, is necessary to implement DTF printing. When compared to alternative approaches, this specialised setup may result in greater initial expenditures. However, on-demand fulfilment can help you reduce these costs. Later, more on that.
Maintenance and technical expertise
DTF printer operation requires a certain level of technical expertise and routine maintenance. Problems like print head clogging or uneven print quality could occur without regular maintenance, which could have an impact on customer satisfaction and production efficiency.
Print texture and feel
Compared to other techniques like DTG printing, DTF prints may have a somewhat tougher texture since they apply a coating of sticky powder. Particularly for clothing products like loungewear or sleepwear, where a softer touch is desirable, this texture difference may have an impact on customer happiness.
Environmental considerations
Because PET films and adhesive powders are used in the DTF process, there may be environmental issues because of material waste and the usage of non-biodegradable materials. Companies that want to be environmentally conscious should consider these aspects while selecting on-demand suppliers or printing techniques.
You can more accurately determine whether DTF printing fits with your operational and financial capacities as well as your sustainability objectives by being aware of these possible disadvantages.
DTF Printing Compared to other Print Methods
With so many print techniques available, you must choose the one that best fits your long-term objectives. We’ve created a quick comparison of DTF printing with other widely used print methods to make things easier.
Be mindful of the kinds of patterns and materials that are most effective for screen printing, sublimation, DTF, and DTG printing. In this manner, you may decide which strategies to employ while keeping in mind the range of products offered by your organisation.
Direct-to-film vs. screen printing
One of the most widely used techniques in the printing sector is screen printing. Using a mesh stencil or woven screen, ink is pushed onto the fabric layer by layer in this printing technique.
At the end of the printing process, ink lies on top of the cloth rather than soaking into it, and each colour and design feature requires a woven screen. Additionally, screen-printed designs may feel different based on the level of detail in the source artwork. More ink layers are needed for more intricate artwork, giving the garment a heavier texture.
In terms of DTF printing, the transferred design feels more consistent and doesn’t get thicker as additional colours or design components are added.
Shapes, geometric patterns, and other solid designs devoid of minute details are ideal for screen printing. As an alternative, DTF printing handles details well since it eliminates the need for distinct layers for colours or design elements. Additionally, DTF printing only requires a printer, transfer film, printing powder, and a heat press—not a separately constructed mesh screen for every design.
DTF printing is more suited for one-off prints due to its versatility about design features and colour count. This comes in useful when:
- You only wish to test one product.
- Your potential demand is unknown to you.
- You need things as soon as possible, and there is no time for bulk production.
Screen printing is superior to other technologies in mass manufacturing, but it is nearly impossible to print on demand due to its high cost. Compared to DTF printing, screen printing will be more affordable if
- You are aware that the product will be in high demand.
- When sales are slow, you have the resources to keep product inventory on hand.
- You’re preparing goods for a big gathering, such as a conference or performance.e
Direct-to-film vs. direct-to-garment printing
To put it simply, ink is sprayed directly onto fabric in direct-to-garment (DTG) printing. However, the fabric must be treated with a pre-treatment solution before any ink can be sprayed. The water-based inks are sprayed onto the garment by the DTG printer after the solution has been added. To improve print quality, the pattern is cured after the ink has soaked into the fabric’s fibres.
DTG printing is most effective on cotton blends and works best on materials made entirely of cotton. This is, therefore, perfect if you want to offer clothing that is primarily made of cotton.
Consider utilising the DTF printing method if you want to provide items in your catalogue that are composed of many fabric kinds, such as active clothing.
Direct-to-film vs. sublimation printing
The use of sublimation printing has grown significantly in recent decades. It’s one of the most widely used printing techniques and lets you use your artwork all over the garment.
However, it takes a long time. Printing drawings onto specialised sublimation paper and then using a heat press to transfer them to cloth is known as sublimation.
This method works well for printing on a variety of polyester materials, including blends of polyester and polymer-coated fabric. Products like mouse pads, mugs, and blankets are also printed using this method.
Sublimation printing will be better than DTF printing if the majority of the pieces in your collection are made of synthetic fabrics, such as swimwear or leggings.
Take into account DTF printing in addition to sublimation if you intend to provide a variety of fabric mixes in your catalogue. You don’t have to limit yourself to polyester blends when using DTF printing.
Direct-to-Film Printing at Drapize
At Drapize, we’re committed to delivering next-level custom apparel with precision, durability, and vibrant results. That’s why we’ve introduced Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing—a versatile decoration method that expands what’s possible for your brand, team, or store.
Unlike traditional DTG, DTF printing allows us to produce sharp, full-colour designs on fabrics and materials that are usually harder to print on, giving you more flexibility for your merch collections. Our process is fine-tuned to ensure every piece meets the highest quality standards, whether it’s for a small batch or large-scale production.
Here are some of the products you can currently customise with DTF printing at Drapize:
- Trendy Trucker Caps
- Classic Polo Shirts
- Premium Cotton T-Shirts
- Oversized & Streetwear Hoodies
- Performance Sports Jerseys
- Custom Workwear & Team Apparel
As DTF technology continues to evolve, our product lineup will keep expanding—so you can always offer your customers something fresh, durable, and on-trend.
How to prepare a print file for direct-to-film printing
To ensure your DTF print turns out well, check our suggestions below.
File type and graphics resolution
Using a PDF file with a translucent background is ideal. To produce a lovely, clear finished design, we advise using a resolution of at least 300 DPI.
Semi-transparencies
Since semi-transparencies don’t yield high-quality prints for DTF printing, we highly advise against using them. Because a design’s edge is more noticeable on the finished print, the halftone effect appears spotty and fuzzy, which leads to quality problems. Transparencies essentially provide a blurred look.
Here’s an illustration of how a halftone looks to the human eye on a design.
Colours and the colour gamut
The colour gamut we use for printing is CYMK PSO V3. In terms of print performance, CMYK colours seem more saturated on the finished product.
Please be aware that neon colours may seem somewhat different on DTF printers. The printer will choose the nearest colour if you send in a file with h neon or strong colour profile.
The most recent sRGB colour profile is what we advise using. Our recommended profile is sRGB IEC61966-2.1. Why? Due to their size, CYMK files require sophisticated graphics software, which might be challenging to use. In contrast, sRGB colour profiles are among the most often used colour profiles in the custom printing sector and are simpler to operate.
Now you know everything about direct-to-film printing
DTF printing is a flexible print technique that produces vivid and durable graphics on a variety of textiles, particularly those with complex features and many components.
You should think about utilising DTF printing technology if you’re looking for a printing method that will enable you to increase the range of products you provide. Register to receive updates on new goods that can be designed using this method.
Frequently asked questions
Your designs and the fabrics you wish to print on will determine whether you choose sublimation or DTF printing.
Cotton, polyester, silk, and mixes are just a few of the materials that DTF printing can be used on. DTF prints are vibrant and long-lasting, making them perfect for heavy-duty or outdoor clothing as well as often-washed goods.
Polyester and spandex are examples of synthetic materials that can be sublimation-printed on. If you require long-lasting patterns with vibrant hues that cover the entire garment, this is ideal.
Think about the fabric and design while choosing between DTF and DTG printing. DTF printing is perfect for heavy-duty sportswear, outerwear, backpacks, and caps because it creates vibrant, detailed designs on a variety of materials. On the other hand, DTG printing works well with cotton and other natural textiles since it offers durability and breathability, especially for larger motifs.
With the right maintenance, DTF prints usually survive a long period. Your patterns will remain clear for a long time because of these prints’ resilience and ability to resist frequent washings without fading, peeling, or breaking.
Due to its lack of breathability, DTF printing isn’t ideal for huge designs. Wearing DTF-printed clothing for extended periods of time, especially in warmer areas or when exercising, may cause discomfort.
