Direct to Film Printing (DTF)
Digital apparel printing onto a transfer film, heat-pressed into the garment. No minimum orders, no set-up fees, unlimited colours, and it works on cotton, polyester and blends alike.
- Minimums
- None
- Set-up fees
- None
- Colours
- Vibrant and unlimited
- Works on
- Cotton, poly, blends
Digital direct to film printing
No minimums, no set-up fees
Because the process is digital there are no screens to make, so a single piece is as workable as a run of them.
Vibrant and unlimited colours
Any image you can see on a screen goes straight onto the garment, with greater detail than process screen printing can hold.
No screens, no waste
Because the process is digital there are no screens to burn and no emulsion to wash out, so nothing is wasted on a short run.
Cotton, polyester or blends
A transfer bonds to cotton, polyester and blends alike, on light and dark garments, which is the practical difference from direct-to-garment printing.
Smooth faces press best
For the cleanest finish we recommend a smooth-faced garment such as the Gildan Softstyle 64000.
Bigger run, flat item?
Most things that can be laid flat can be screen printed instead.
What is direct to film printing?
Direct to film printing, or DTF, prints your artwork onto a transfer film, bonds it with a heat-activated adhesive, and presses it into the garment. This is, essentially, digital apparel printing.
Because the process is digital there are no screens to burn and no emulsion to wash out, so a single piece is a real order rather than a setup cost to amortise.
DTF works on cotton, polyester and blends, on light and dark garments alike, which is what sets it apart from direct-to-garment printing. For the cleanest finish we recommend a smooth-faced garment such as the Gildan Softstyle 64000.
Contact our Corporate Sales Manager at sales@marksaldergrove.com or 604-856-3774.
Common questions
Is there a minimum order?
No. There are no minimum orders on direct to film printing.
Are there set-up fees?
No set-up fees. Because the process is digital there are no screens to prepare.
Which garments are best suited?
Cotton, polyester and blends all take a transfer, on light and dark garments alike. For the cleanest finish we recommend a smooth-faced garment such as the Gildan Softstyle 64000.
How does it compare to screen printing?
DTF holds greater detail than process screen printing and gives you unlimited colours, which is what makes it suit photographic and high-colour artwork.
Is it environmentally friendly?
Because the process is digital there are no screens to burn and no emulsion to wash out, so nothing is wasted on a short run.
Tell us what the crew needs
Send the artwork, the garment and the count. We will confirm which process suits it and what the turnaround looks like.