Digital Printing (DTG/DTF)
DTG vs DTF: How They Work and What to Choose
Answer: Go with DTG for a soft-print, breathable ink on cotton-based garments. Go with DTF for vibrant ink on polyester fabrics, poly-blends, and most mixed fabrics following a compatibility test. Go with screen printing for bulk with spot colors in simple artwork or tight Pantone match requirements.
Recently, a buyer requested a small batch of an intricate gradient design printed on the back of a jacket. Digital printing allows for sampling artwork in its full detail without having to create a separate physical screen for each spot color used. The biggest benefit of digital printing is that setup time isn't dependent on the number of colors, although size, amount of white ink, type of fabric, and total amount of ink may affect the per-piece price.
"Digital printing" in our shop is an umbrella term that covers two types of manufacturing processes: DTG (direct-to-garment) and DTF (direct-to-film). These two processes require different equipment, work on different fabrics, and have different longevity properties. Customers often visit us already knowing that they want "digital," yet not realizing which one of the two processes they need. This choice often results in higher prices than necessary or a poor-performing print in relation to the fabric it was printed on. This article goes into the mechanics of each process, discusses the limitations involved, and the factors dictating the ink and cure selection process.
How DTG printing operates
Direct-to-garmentUnlike the conventional printing method, which uses plates and screens to transfer the design to garments, DTG technology involves laying down CMYK pigments and a white underbase with the printhead in a single stroke. To begin the DTG printing process, the garment is placed on the pallet and pre-treated with a solution to ensure the pigments adhere to the cotton and prevent them from diffusing into the weave. The garment is pressed briefly to flatten the fibers and allow the pretreatment to dry before laying the pigments.
Since coloration depends on ink droplets and not physical screens, a photographic gradient can be printed in one pass. DTG printing does not necessarily cost the same as screen printing for small flat designs since factors such as ink coverage, print size, and white underbase application play a part. For our standard line of printers, DTG printing is the preferred choice when working with 80–100% cotton garments. However, some fabric blends might work depending on the tests. Polyester content in the fabric may reduce the vibrancy of the design and cause the ink to migrate. Temperature and dwell during curing depend on the ink type, pretreatment method, equipment type, and fabrics, so there is no universal recommendation.
Print time for an A3-sized graphic takes roughly 60–90 seconds through the printhead, not counting the pretreatment and curing time. The DTG printing process is quick enough to allow for small samples without the preparation of screens required in screen printing. Even larger orders could achieve production efficiencies from DTG printing, so the unit cost will be determined by the artwork, garment, and quantity. The DTG printing process uses water-based pigment inks. The pigment adheres to and around the fabric fibers. The feel will depend on the underbase, ink coverage, and the fabric. The ink system used meets the standards outlined in the supporting supplier documentation and the OEKO-TEX standard if it is specified. The component certificate does not automatically certify all finished products.
Printing with the DTF method
Direct-to-filmDTF doesn't print anything on the garment; the artwork is printed in reverse order on PET film, with white ink used as an underbase beneath CMYK layers to ensure the color looks correct when transferred onto dark materials. While the ink is still wet, hot melt powder is sprinkled over the film, and then excess is shaken off. After that, the film is moved into a special curing chamber where heat activates and cures printed layers while activating the adhesive in accordance with the ink, powder, and film properties.
The transfer is pressed onto the garment at a certain temperature, pressure, and dwell time defined by the transfer system. After that, the carrier is peeled following the manufacturer's instructions regarding the selected film. DTF process doesn't require any pretreatment of the garment and can be used on a wider variety of fibers than standard DTG, including cotton, polyester, and their blends. This process may not work with some materials without testing: coated nylon, water-repellent finish, high-dye polyester, stretch fabric, and heat-sensitive textiles may create issues with adhesion, press marks, and dye migration. Also, there will be a thicker film on the top of the printed garment.
One very important benefit of the DTF process, not often mentioned by manufacturers but explained by FESPA in their technical guide about the technology: since the film is printed and cured independently of the pressing process, you can print a lot of transfers beforehand and keep them in storage until you have the garments for printing. The ability to print film separately and then use it whenever you need is the reason why DTF became the default technology for mixed small-batch orders - 15 pieces of one design and 40 of another design can use the same press schedule without waiting for pretreatment.
DTG, DTF and screen printing, side by side
Same design, three methodsNone of the three is "better" across the board — each wins on a different job. This is the version we walk buyers through when they're deciding between them.
| Factor | DTG | DTF | Screen print |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fabric requirement | Best on cotton-rich garments; test blends | Cotton, polyester and many blends; test coated or heat-sensitive fabrics | Many fabrics with the correct ink system |
| Setup cost | None | None | Per-screen, per color |
| Best MOQ fit | 1 piece and up | 1 piece and up | Usually better value at higher quantities; quote by design |
| Color / gradient capability | Full-color photographic detail | Full-color photographic detail | More setup as spot-color count increases |
| Hand feel | Usually soft; pigment bonds to garment fibers | Slightly thicker transfer layer | Soft to thick, ink-dependent |
| Wash durability | Depends on pretreatment, ink, cure and care | Depends on adhesive, press settings, fabric and care | Depends on ink system, cure, fabric and care |
Ink safety and durability testing
Not just a claim on a spec sheetAlthough printing will not automatically modify the classification of flammability of an item, the item itself, along with the surface coating as well as the market destination, still must be evaluated in accordance with the CPSC's Standard for the Flammability of Clothing Textiles, 16 CFR Part 1610. The determination made for the blank fabric does not mean that it can be assumed to be true for all printed constructions. This is particularly applicable to items with coated surfaces or children's clothing/sleepwear. The applicable test and certification route should be confirmed for the finished product.
Durability claims are verified using the same process as the industry uses to verify durability claims; this is not done visually. The wash-fade test is conducted using the same accelerated laundering protocol as used in all the AATCC colorfastness tests: a sample of the print is subjected to an established protocol and evaluated for color change, staining, and surface changes. TM61 is an accelerated protocol and should not be called X washes in the household washing machine unless it has been demonstrated that the selected protocol equates to X washes. We need to know the fabric, ink system, parameters, detergent, drying, cycles, and results before claiming durability.
The procedure, step-by-step
File to finished garment-
1File preparation and underbase
RIP artwork is verified at close to 300 PPI at the finished product size. Underbase needs for white are determined by the artwork, the color of the garment, fabric used, and printing technique chosen.
Same day -
2Print
DTG prints onto pretreated garments. DTF prints onto film, which is then covered with hot-melt adhesive powder while the ink is still wet.
Depends on design -
3Curing, pressing, and Quality Control
DTG is cured, and DTF is pressed according to the correct machine settings. Positioning, color, adhesion, and wash test are verified.
Settings recorded
When digital printing is the right call
And when it isn'tDigital earns its place on orders where the design has more colors or gradient detail than a screen print budget can justify, or where the run is small enough that screen setup cost would dominate the unit price. It's also the practical choice for sample runs and pre-production proofs, since a design can be tested at a single piece with zero setup waste. Where screen printing still wins: large flat-color runs at volume, where the ink cost per piece drops well below digital once screens are already burned, and jobs that need an exact spot-color Pantone match rather than a CMYK approximation.
In practice, most of the brands we work with end up using both methods across a single seasonal drop rather than picking one. A hero graphic with a photographic print or gradient goes digital; a repeated flat-color chest logo across the whole run goes screen, once the piece count justifies burning a screen. Mixed-fiber pieces — such as poly-cotton fleece or a nylon-paneled jacket — are often sampled with DTF first, but coated, heat-sensitive and high-dye materials still need compatibility testing. When a buyer is deciding between two or three design directions before committing to a full run, we'll often quote the whole capsule as DTG or DTF samples first, since there's no setup cost to walk away from if a design doesn't test well.
If you already know you want a digital print run, send your fabric composition, artwork dimensions, garment color and quantity through the printing and embellishment hub so the production team can recommend the correct method.
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Frequently asked questions
DTG & DTFWhat's the actual difference between DTG and DTF printing?
Does DTG or DTF last longer in the wash?
Can digital printing handle photographic detail and gradients?
Is there a minimum order for digital printing?
Which fabrics work with DTG vs DTF?
Can you match Pantone colors with digital printing?
Are the inks safe, and does printing affect flammability compliance?
Ready when you are
Have a design in mind? Let's check the file.
Send the artwork and we'll tell you within 2 business days whether it's a DTG, DTF or screen print job — and what it costs at your quantity.
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