DTF (direct to film) printing puts a full-color design and a white base onto a clear film, adds an adhesive powder, cures it, and then heat-presses it onto fabric. It works on cotton, polyester and blends, light or dark, with no screens and no minimum order.
What DTF means
DTF stands for direct to film. Instead of printing on the shirt (that's DTG) or pushing ink through screens (screen printing), the design is printed on a film first. That finished film is a DTF transfer, and you apply it with a heat press.
How DTF printing works
- Print. A DTF printer prints the design mirrored onto PET film in color, then a layer of white ink on top. The white makes colors pop on dark shirts.
- Powder. While the ink is wet, a hot-melt adhesive powder is applied. It's what bonds the print to the fabric.
- Cure. The film is heated to melt the powder into a smooth layer. Now it's a finished transfer that can be stored and shipped.
- Press. The transfer goes on the garment, design side down, under a heat press.
- Peel. The film comes off, hot or cold depending on the film, leaving the print on the shirt.
Our transfers press at 300°F for 10 seconds with high pressure, peel hot, then get a 5-second post-press. Full steps are in the pressing instructions.
The print is made once, on film. That's why one sheet can hold dozens of designs and sizes.
What DTF prints on
DTF bonds to cotton, polyester, blends and many other fabrics, light or dark, with no pretreatment. That's its biggest advantage over DTG and sublimation. It's popular for:
- T-shirts and hoodies
- Polyester and athletic wear, including team jerseys
- Hats, totes and other accessories
Files, DPI and halftones
DTF prints every pixel that isn't fully transparent. Three things make or break a print:
- Resolution. Aim for 300 DPI at the print size. A 3,000-pixel-wide file prints sharp at 10 in wide.
- Transparent background. Export a PNG with the background removed, or the white box prints too.
- No soft edges. Glows, shadows and fades are semi-transparent and print as speckles. Turn them into halftone dots.
Our free tools handle all three: the print-ready checker finds the problems, and the halftone generator fixes fades. More in our artwork requirements.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Works on almost any fabric and color | A thin layer you can feel on large solid areas |
| Full color with no per-color cost | Needs a heat press to apply |
| No minimums; mix designs on one sheet | Soft glows need halftoning first |
| Transfers store well before pressing | Big runs of simple art can be cheaper screen printed |
How to start with DTF
You don't need a DTF printer. Most brands and shops buy finished transfers and press them. All you need is a heat press, your artwork and a gang sheet to fit your designs on. Compare it with other methods in DTF vs screen printing and DTF vs sublimation.
Ready to try it? Fit every design on one sheet.
Build a gang sheetDTF printing questions
What does DTF stand for?
DTF stands for direct to film. The design is printed onto a film first, then transferred to the garment with heat.
What is DTF printing on shirts?
It's a heat transfer method: a full-color design with a white base is printed on film, coated with adhesive powder, cured, and heat-pressed onto the shirt.
What DPI is best for DTF printing?
Aim for 300 DPI at the size you'll print. Our free print-ready checker shows your file's real DPI at any print size.
What is a halftone in DTF printing?
A halftone turns soft, semi-transparent areas into solid dots of different sizes, so fades and shadows print cleanly instead of as speckles.