Garment Printing
Direct To Film*
What is Direct to Film (DTF)?
Direct to Film (DTF) printing works by printing your full-colour design onto a special film, applying an adhesive powder, and then heat-pressing the film into the garment. The result is a vibrant, durable print that bonds to the surface of the fabric rather than soaking into it.
Because the ink sits on the surface in a thin, flexible layer, DTF works on any fabric colour - light or dark - and on virtually any material, including polyester, cotton-poly blends and performance fabrics that DTG cannot handle.
The transferred film stretches with the garment and resists cracking, peeling and wash after wash. For complex, multicolour artwork on garments that would rule out DTG, DTF is the most versatile digital option available.
Where It Works
Where Direct to Film (DTF) works best*
DTF shines when the fabric, the colour or the artwork would rule out other digital methods.
- Full colour on any fabric colour
- Performance and technical fabrics
- Polyester and cotton-poly blends
- Detailed multicolour artwork
- Stretch-friendly durability
- Dark or light garments
- No minimum order
Why Choose It
Why choose Direct to Film (DTF)*
DTF solves the problems that the other digital methods cannot.
Any Fabric Colour
The design is printed with its own white layer, so a full-colour print on a black hoodie looks just as vivid as on a white tee.
Any Fabric Type
Polyester, cotton blends and performance fabrics all take the transfer - DTF goes where DTG physically cannot.
Detailed Multicolour
Fine text, gradients and complex colour combinations reproduce cleanly in a single pass, with no per-colour setup.
Stretch-Friendly
The transferred layer flexes with the fabric, so prints survive stretching, washing and everyday wear without cracking.
Outstanding Washability
Properly applied DTF transfers hold up to repeated washing far better than older transfer methods.
No Minimums
Like DTG, there are no screens to make, so a single garment is perfectly viable.
Things to Consider
Things to consider*
The DTF transfer sits on the surface of the fabric as a thin layer, so the hand feel is slightly heavier than a DTG print that has soaked into cotton. On lightweight garments, a large solid print area will feel noticeably firmer. For projects where the softest possible hand is the priority - premium fashion tees in cotton - DTG remains the better choice.
DTF is a digital process with no per-colour setup, which makes it excellent for short to medium runs. As with DTG, very large runs of the same design become more economical with screen printing, where the setup cost is spread across hundreds of garments.
The adhesive powder needs to be applied and cured correctly for the transfer to bond permanently. This is standard production practice, but it is one of the reasons DTF is best left to a properly equipped studio rather than attempted as a DIY shortcut.
Artwork & Design
Artwork & design*
DTF handles the full range of artwork types - photographic, illustrated, gradient-heavy and solid-colour designs all reproduce well. Supply artwork as a high-resolution PNG with transparency at 300 DPI at the intended print size.
Because the white layer is printed as part of the process, there is no need to separate colours or create individual screens. What you see in your design file is what transfers onto the garment.
Very fine lines and extremely small text can be tricky for any transfer-based method - if your design relies on hairline detail, we will review it and advise whether DTG might capture it more faithfully.
Garment Choice
Choosing the right garment*
The single biggest advantage of DTF is its fabric compatibility. Where DTG needs cotton-rich fabric to absorb the ink, DTF bonds to the surface - so polyester sportswear, cotton-poly blends, nylon outerwear and performance fabrics are all in play.
On dark garments, the built-in white layer means full-colour designs sit brightly without any pre-treatment step. The same design can be transferred onto a white tee, a black hoodie and a navy polo without any change to the artwork.
For very heavyweight or deeply textured fabrics - chunky knit sweaters, heavily fleeced garments - we will test the transfer to make sure the adhesive bonds cleanly into the surface texture.
MDR's Approach
Our approach*
We will usually recommend DTF when a customer arrives with full-colour artwork and a garment that DTG cannot handle - a polyester sportswear top, a dark cotton-poly hoodie, a performance tee. It bridges the gap between the softness of DTG and the durability of screen printing.
One thing we look for is the expected feel. If the garment is a premium cotton tee and the priority is the softest possible hand, we will flag that DTG might be the better route. DTF is versatile, but the transfer layer is always slightly more present than absorbed ink.
When we are preparing artwork for DTF, we pay attention to the opacity of the white layer and the edge quality of the design - these two factors determine how crisp the final transfer looks once it is pressed and the carrier film is peeled away.
Choosing Between Processes
Is this the right process for your project?
DTF is the most fabric-versatile of our digital methods, but it is not the only option. The right choice depends on the garment, the artwork and the quantity.
For premium cotton tees where soft hand feel matters most, DTG absorbs into the fabric for a finish that feels like part of the garment. For names, numbers and simple solid-colour graphics, heat transfer vinyl gives a crisp, confident edge. And for larger runs of the same design, screen printing is more economical per piece.
Our Process
From brief to finished garment*
Consultation
We discuss the artwork, garment fabric, colours and quantity.
Artwork Preparation
We prepare the file with the correct colour profile and white underbase layer.
Film Printing
The design is printed onto film with adhesive powder applied and cured.
Heat Transfer
The film is pressed into the garment and the carrier is peeled away.
Curing & QC
The transfer is fully cured for washability and inspected before finishing.
Why Choose MDR
Why choose MDR for direct to film (dtf)*
Versatile by Default
DTF is our go-to when the fabric or colour rules out other digital methods - we will tell you when it is the right call.
Artwork Expertise
We prepare and check every file to ensure the white layer and colour output are correct before pressing.
No Minimum Order
From one garment to a full team run, DTF scales with no setup penalty.
One Partner
Design, garment sourcing, printing and finishing from one accountable studio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct to Film (DTF) questions*
Yes. Unlike DTG, which needs cotton to absorb the ink, DTF bonds to the surface and works on polyester, blends and performance fabrics.
Let's talk your garment project*
Not sure whether direct to film (dtf) is the right method for your garments? That is exactly the conversation we are here for.
Tell us about your artwork, your garments and your quantities, and we will recommend the decoration method that gives you the best result - not the one that is easiest to sell.
LET'S PARTNER*
Ready to create something extraordinary? Tell us about your project and we'll craft the perfect solution. Email is the fastest way to reach us - your message lands straight with the studio team.
