DTF printing is what we run on most orders, and it is the reason we can print a single shirt without charging you like a bulk job.
What DTF printing is
DTF stands for direct-to-film. Your artwork is printed onto a film, bonded with adhesive powder, and heat pressed into the garment. No screens, no colour separations, no setup per colour.
That one difference changes everything about small orders. Screen printing needs a screen made for every colour in the design, so a four-colour logo means four screens whether you order 20 shirts or 2,000. DTF has none of that.
When DTF is the right choice
- Small orders - one piece minimum, no bulk requirement
- Full-colour artwork, gradients and photographs
- Designs with fine detail or small text
- Orders where each garment carries a different name or number
- Anything you need quickly - most DTF orders are ready within 72 hours
How it looks and wears
A DTF print sits on the surface of the fabric with a slight sheen and a soft hand. Colours come out bright and opaque, so white and light artwork stays true on a black garment instead of going dull.
It bonds to cotton, polyester, blends and performance fabric, so you are not restricted to 100% cotton the way some methods are.
What it costs
Printing starts at $10 per piece with the garment included, and the rate per piece drops as the quantity rises. Build your design in the design studio to see your price as you go, or call 647-739-9487 for a quote.
Beyond standard DTF
A flat print is not the only option. We also run raised 3D puff, glow in the dark, soft silicone, heavyweight thick fashion and metallic gold finishes - the prints people notice and ask about.
These need a minimum of 10 pieces and are quoted per job, because the artwork decides whether a finish will work at all. See the specialty finishes.
DTF, screen printing or embroidery?
DTF suits small runs and complex artwork. Screen printing becomes cheaper per piece on large runs of one or two colours. Embroidery gives a stitched, premium finish on polos, caps and jackets.
Not sure which fits your job? Read the full comparison: DTF vs screen printing vs embroidery. Or just call - that is a two-minute conversation and getting it right saves a reprint.
Ordering
You see your design before you pay for it. The design studio puts your artwork on the actual garment, in the colour and size you picked, and what you approve on that screen is exactly what we print - so check the spelling and placement carefully before you order.
Not a designer? Send us whatever you have and we will build it for you and send you an image to approve before anything goes to production. See how ordering works.