Apparel printing
DTF printing: what it is and when it works
DTF (Direct to Film) is a technique where the artwork is printed on transfer film, covered with adhesive powder, cured and transferred to fabric with a heat press. It works well for short runs, many colours and different materials.
- Materials
- Cotton, polyester, blends, dark and light
- Colours
- Full colour, with a white underbase
- Run
- From 1 piece, no screens or plates
- File
- PNG with transparency, 300 DPI at print size
Pros and limitations
- Pros: works on many fabrics, including dark and synthetic ones; no screens to prepare; reproduces fine details and gradients well.
- Limitations: large solid areas feel like a layer on the fabric and breathe less than screen printing; for very large runs screen printing is often cheaper.
Durability depends on the film, powder, pressing and washing. Manufacturers recommend washing inside out at a lower temperature.
Which file for DTF
A PNG with a transparent background, at print size, at 300 DPI. A white background in the file will be printed as a white rectangle, so it has to be removed. Very thin lines (below about 0.5 mm) may not transfer. The kreatorproduktow.pl designer saves only the print as a 300 DPI PNG with transparency (Premium plan), and the customer removes a photo background in one click.
Frequently asked questions
How does DTF differ from DTG?
In DTG the printer prints directly on the fabric, best on cotton. In DTF the print goes on film and is transferred with a press, so it works on more materials. A comparison of techniques is in a separate article.
Is DTF suitable for dark T-shirts?
Yes, the print has a white underbase, so colours show even on black fabric.
What file size for an A4 print?
Exactly the print size, e.g. 210 × 297 mm, at 300 DPI that is 2480 × 3508 px, with a transparent background.
See also
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