If you have shopped for custom shirts lately you have probably seen the letters DTF. It stands for direct-to-film, and it is how we print every one of our custom logo bundles. Here is what it actually is, without the jargon.
How DTF printing works
- Your design is printed in full color onto a clear film, with a layer of white ink behind it so the colors stay bright on dark shirts.
- While the ink is wet, a fine adhesive powder is added and melted onto the back of the print.
- The finished transfer is pressed onto the shirt, hat or bag with a heat press. Heat and pressure bond it into the fabric, and the film peels away.
What is left is your design, in every color it has, sitting smooth on the garment.
What DTF is good at
- Every color, no extra charge. A logo with gradients, shading or ten colors prints in one pass, so it costs the same as a one-color logo.
- Small orders. There are no screens to make, so printing four shirts makes as much sense as printing forty.
- Lots of fabrics. Cotton, polyester and blends, which is why the same logo can go on a tee, a polo, a hoodie, a hat and a canvas tote in one order.
- Fine detail. Thin lines and small text hold up better than they do in vinyl.
DTF compared with the other ways to put a logo on a shirt
- Screen printing is great value for big runs of a simple design, but every color is a separate screen and a separate setup fee, and most shops want a large minimum.
- Heat-transfer vinyl is cut from sheets of solid color, so it suits simple one- or two-color names. Multi-color logos get thick and stiff because the layers stack.
- Embroidery is real thread stitched into the fabric. It has a raised, premium look and suits names and simple logos, which is why we embroider our salon capes and aprons. Very detailed or photographic logos are where DTF wins. We wrote up how to choose between the two.
How to wash a DTF shirt so it lasts
- Wait a day before the first wash.
- Turn it inside out and wash cold or warm with similar colors.
- Skip the bleach and fabric softener.
- Tumble dry low or hang to dry.
- Do not iron directly on the print. If it needs ironing, iron it inside out.
Seeing it before it is printed
Whatever you order from us, you get a free mockup by email within 12 hours showing your design on the actual garments, and nothing is printed until you approve it. If you are not sure your logo file is good enough, upload it anyway or text it to us at (469) 368-5805, and we will tell you straight away.
Ready to see your own logo on a shirt? Start with the bundle designer, or read what custom logo shirts cost for a small business team.