DTF transfers
Direct to film: artwork printed onto film with white ink and adhesive, then heat pressed onto a garment of any color.
DTF stands for direct to film. The design is printed in reverse onto a clear film, colors first and white on top, then dusted with a powdered glue and cured. The finished transfer goes into a heat press against the shirt, and the film peels away leaving the print on the fabric.
Why it is popular
- Works on cotton, polyester and blends, light or dark.
- Full color and fine detail with no screens to set up, so small runs make sense.
- Stretches with the fabric and washes well when cared for (inside out, cool water, low dryer heat).
The trade
You can feel it: it is a thin flexible layer on top of the fabric. Big solid blocks of color feel heavier than open, airy designs. Not every bag or textured fabric takes a transfer well.
Put it to work
Related
EmbroideryA design stitched into the garment with thread. Durable and textured, best for logos on polos, hats and jackets.Dye sublimationHeat turns special ink into a gas that bonds into polyester or a polymer coating, so the color becomes part of the item.Vector vs rasterVector art is built from shapes and stays sharp at any size. Raster art is built from pixels and has a size limit.Try it
