DTF printing for detail that thread cannot reproduce

Your design is printed in full colour onto a special film, with a white layer behind the colours so they stay vivid on dark fabric. An adhesive powder is applied and cured, and the transfer is then heat-pressed onto the garment. Peel away the film and the print is bonded to the fabric.

Because there are no screens or colour separations, the setup is quick, and a design with twenty colours takes no longer to prepare than a design with one. That makes DTF a strong choice for short runs, mixed designs and urgent jobs on our same-day T-shirt service.

Neither is better everywhere. We often suggest both on one garment. Our embroidery vs DTF vs screen printing guide goes deeper.

• T-shirts and vests in cotton, polyester and blends
• Hoodies and sweatshirts, front, back and sleeves
• Tote bags and drawstring bags with flat print areas
• Sportswear with player names and numbers
• Caps where a full-colour front design suits better than stitching; confirm on quote

Highly textured, waterproof-coated or heat-sensitive fabrics may not take a heat transfer well, so tell us the fabric content and we will advise. Hoodies are a favourite for combining methods; see hoodie embroidery.

Supply a transparent PNG at the final print size and high resolution, or a vector file. Anything that should not print, including white backgrounds, must be removed, otherwise it prints as a white box. Very thin isolated lines and tiny dots can lift over time, so keep fine strokes reasonably thick. You approve a mock-up showing size and position before we press.

DTF is one of our quicker processes, but timing still depends on garments being on hand, approved artwork, payment, quantity and capacity, all confirmed on the quote. For longer life, wash inside out in cool to warm water, avoid tumble drying on high heat and never iron directly on the print. Orders are collected from Rivonia, with delivery quoted per job.