DTF Printing
Detailed, full-colour printing across a wide range of garments.
DTF printing gives us the freedom to reproduce detailed logos, illustrations, gradients, photographs and full-colour artwork across T-shirts, hoodies, workwear, sportswear and more.
This guide covers how DTF works, what you can create with it, how your artwork affects the finished print and what to expect when ordering.
What is DTF printing?
DTF stands for direct to film.
Your artwork is digitally printed onto a specialised transfer film. An adhesive is applied to the printed design before it is transferred onto the garment using controlled heat and pressure.
The result is a detailed, full-colour print applied to the surface of the fabric.
Artwork
Printed film
Heat applied
Finished garment
Because the artwork is printed digitally, DTF gives us a lot of freedom in the colours, detail and types of designs we can reproduce.
What can you print with DTF?
From simple logos to detailed artwork
DTF can reproduce a huge range of artwork.
Full-colour artwork
Multiple colours can be reproduced within the same design.
Detailed logos
Fine elements and more complex brand artwork can be retained.
Illustrations
Digital illustrations and detailed graphic artwork translate particularly well.
Gradients
Smooth transitions between colours can be reproduced directly from the artwork.
Photographs
High-quality photographic artwork can be printed with its colour and detail intact.
Fine graphic detail
Textures, small elements and intricate artwork can be reproduced where the source artwork provides enough detail.
Can DTF print on dark garments?
Yes, that's where white ink comes in
DTF uses colour inks alongside white ink.
When artwork is printed onto a black or coloured garment, white can be printed behind the colour to create a base underneath the design. This prevents the garment colour from showing through and changing the appearance of the artwork.
White can also be used as a visible colour within the artwork itself.
This allows full-colour designs to remain bright and defined across light, dark and coloured garments.
What garments can be DTF printed?
One method across a wide range of apparel
DTF works across a broad range of commonly used garment fabrics, including cotton, polyester and blends.
T-shirts
From small chest logos through to large front and back designs.
Hoodies & crews
Great for logos, illustrations and larger full-colour artwork.
Polo Shirts
Detailed and multi-colour branding can be applied while retaining the original artwork.
Workwear
Suitable across many work shirts, T-shirts, hoodies and other workwear garments.
Sports & performance wear
Full-colour designs can be applied across many polyester and performance garments.
Bags & accessories
DTF can also be used across a range of suitable fabric bags and accessories.
The garment is part of the print
Different garments have different weights, textures, stretch and construction. Those characteristics are considered when preparing and applying the DTF transfer.
A lightweight performance shirt behaves differently from a heavyweight cotton hoodie, so the production setup is matched to the garment being printed.
Artwork, garment and print position are considered together.
If you're selecting garments through us, we can help work through the options for your order.
How will the print feel?
It depends on the artwork
DTF sits on the surface of the garment, so the amount of printed area influences how noticeable the finished design feels.
Open design
More garment showing through. Lighter feel.
Solid design
More printed area. More substantial feel.
A large design with plenty of open space leaves more of the original fabric exposed. A solid design at exactly the same dimensions contains more printed area and creates a more substantial surface.
Two prints can be exactly the same size and still feel completely different.
This is why we consider the artwork itself as well as its overall dimensions.
What artwork should I send?
Send us the best version you have
Good artwork gives us more information to work with when preparing the print.
AI / EPS / SVG / Vector PDF
Ideal for logos, text and graphic artwork. These files can be resized while keeping their edges sharp.
PNG
Great for detailed artwork, illustrations and images that require a transparent background.
JPEG
Can also produce excellent results when supplied at sufficient size and quality.
Don't have one of these files?
Send us the best version you have and we'll take a look.
Why does image quality matter?
Print size starts with the original artwork
PNG and JPEG images are made from pixels.
The more an image is enlarged, the more those original pixels have to cover the increased area. That's why a small image that looks sharp on a phone screen can look different when enlarged to a full front print.
The larger the finished print, the more image information we want in the original artwork.
We'll check the artwork at its intended print size as part of preparing the order.
What about the background?
What you see in the file matters
If a logo is intended to sit directly on the garment, we generally want the artwork without an unwanted background behind it.
White background
Transparent background
PNG files can contain transparent backgrounds, while JPEG files cannot.
If you're unsure what your artwork contains, we'll check the supplied file.
How is DTF produced?
From your artwork to the garment
- STEP 01
Artwork
Your artwork is prepared at its intended print size.
- STEP 02
Print
The design is digitally printed onto specialised transfer film using colour and white ink.
- STEP 03
Adhesive
An adhesive is applied to the printed design and prepared for transfer.
- STEP 04
Position
The transfer is aligned in its approved position on the garment.
- STEP 05
Heat
Controlled heat and pressure transfer the design onto the fabric.
- STEP 06
Finish
The transfer film is removed and the finished print is checked.
What happens when I place an order?
From artwork to approval
- STEP 01
Send us your design
Send through your artwork along with the garments, quantity and print positions you're considering.
- STEP 02
Artwork check
We check the supplied file and prepare it at the intended print size.
- STEP 03
Proof
You'll receive a proof showing the design on the garment.
- STEP 04
Approval
Confirm the artwork, print size, position, garment and garment colour.
- STEP 05
Production
Once approved, the order moves into DTF production.
Understanding your proof
Check the dimensions as well as the mockup
Your proof confirms the:
- Artwork
- Print dimensions
- Position
- Garment
- Garment colour
The mockup gives you a visual representation of the finished placement. The dimensions tell you the actual size the artwork will be printed.
A mockup is visual placement. Dimensions are the actual print size.
Nothing moves into production until the artwork has been approved.
DTF at Capital Prints
Produced in-house in Canberra
Our DTF printing and garment application are handled in-house at our Canberra facility.
From preparing the artwork and producing the transfers through to positioning, pressing and checking the finished garment, the process stays within our production team.
This also allows us to work across everything from individual print positions to complete garment ranges while maintaining the same production process.
Looking after your DTF print
DTF is designed to flex and move with the garment. Looking after the garment correctly helps keep the print looking its best over time.
Wash inside out
Helps protect the printed surface during washing.
Use a cold or gentle wash
Reduces unnecessary heat and stress on the garment and decoration.
Avoid bleach
Harsh chemicals can affect both the garment and print.
Don't iron directly over the print
If ironing is required, avoid placing the iron directly onto the decorated area.
Avoid excessive drying heat
High temperatures place additional stress on printed garments.
Always follow the care instructions supplied with the garment itself.
DTF FAQs
What does DTF stand for?
DTF stands for direct to film. The artwork is digitally printed onto specialised film and transferred onto the garment using heat and pressure.
Can DTF print full colour?
Yes. DTF can reproduce full-colour artwork including detailed illustrations, gradients and designs containing many different colours.
Can DTF print photographs?
Yes. High-quality photographic artwork can be reproduced when the source image contains enough detail for the intended print size.
Can DTF print on black garments?
Yes. White ink creates a base underneath the colour, allowing the artwork to remain bright and defined on black and coloured garments.
What artwork should I send?
AI, EPS, SVG and vector PDF files are ideal for logos and graphic artwork. High-resolution PNG files are also excellent for detailed and image-based artwork. If you're unsure, send us the best file you have.
Does my artwork need a transparent background?
If you want the garment to show around the design, the unwanted background needs to be removed. PNG files can support transparency, while JPEG files cannot.
Why does my image look blurry when enlarged?
PNG and JPEG images contain a fixed number of pixels. When a small image is enlarged significantly, those pixels have to cover a larger area, which can reduce the apparent sharpness.
Will a large DTF print feel heavy?
The feel depends on how much printed area is within the design. A large open design can feel relatively light because more garment remains exposed, while a solid design of the same dimensions creates a more substantial printed surface.
What garments can DTF be used on?
DTF works across a broad range of cotton, polyester and blended garments, including T-shirts, hoodies, crews, polos, workwear, sportswear and suitable fabric accessories.
Can I use DTF for a small chest logo?
Yes. DTF works across both small branding positions and larger front and back designs.
Can DTF reproduce gradients?
Yes. Smooth colour transitions can be reproduced directly from suitable digital artwork.
How durable is DTF?
DTF produces a flexible decoration designed to move with the garment. Following the recommended garment care helps maintain the appearance of the print over its lifetime.
Ready to print your garments?
Send us your artwork, choose your garments or tell us what you're looking to create.
We'll work through the artwork, print size, position and garment before it moves into production.