The DTF (Direct-to-Film) process differs from the DTG (Direct-to-Garment) printing in how the image is applied, what fabrics can be decorated, and how the finished garment feels to the wearer.
The DTG process delivers ink directly to the garment. The DTF process transfers graphics printed on a thin film to the garment.
DTF is typically faster and less expensive across multiple garment types. But DTG can print photographic images without affecting the comfortable softness of a premium cotton T-shirt.
A DTG printer applies water-based textile inks to the surface of the garment fabric. Most DTG garments are pre-treated to improve the garment’s washfastness and rub-resistance and to keep ink droplets from spreading in highdetail graphics.
After the pre-treatment dries, the garment is loaded onto the printing device. Some jobs may require the printer operator to load different sizes and shapes of platens to shift from printing T-shirts to printing hats, sleeves, socks, infant onesies, children’s clothing, or sweatshirts.
The image is then printed and dried with a heat press or conveyor dryer.
DTG printers currently work with cotton, cotton/poly blends, and some pretreated polyester fabrics.
White inks must be applied to create a base layer for printing bold brand colors or photos on dark or colored fabrics. This adds to the time and cost of some DTG print jobs.
DTF printing process starts by applying DTF inks to polyester (PET) film engineered with multiple specialty coatings.
The printed film is then run through a shaker/dryer system. The shaker applies a white adhesive powder which is melted and applied to the imaged area of the print. After the excess powder is shaken off and the DTF film cools, the image is ready to be heat-pressed onto the surface of the garment. Batches of printed transfers can be stored and applied as needed to the type and size of garment that has been ordered.
When the transfer film is peeled away from the DTF-printed garment, only the inked image remains. Unlike heat vinyl transfers, no post-press "weeding" is required to remove extra bits of vinyl trapped in the nooks and crannies of a finely detailed design.
DTF printing systems can apply logos and designs to untreated cotton, polyester, silk, denim, fleece, leather, spandex, and 50/50 blends.
The DTF production speed can be faster because multiple smaller transfers can be gang-printed across the width of a wide-format print roll. Some wideformat roll-to-roll printers can operate unattended, even overnight.
Both DTG and DTF were disruptive technologies when they were introduced.
When DTG printing systems hit the market about 20 years ago, they enabled screen-printing companies to add 4-color photos and images to short runs of cotton and cotton/poly T-shirts and other garments.
This eliminated the time and expense of making screens for each color or using heat-transfer vinyl to decorate one-offs or short runs of garments.
The DTF printing systems introduced over the past 3-5 years have disrupted the markets for DTG printers.
DTF not only expands the range of garment fabrics and garment sizes that can be decorated, it also reduces the need to pre-treat garments and apply white inks to the garment. For some DTF jobs, the white base layer needed to make surface colors pop can come from the white powder adhesive on the DTF transfer film.
Apparel decorators have learned from experience that choosing the lowestpriced print method may not be the best way to earn repeat business from loyal customers.
Customers really care about how a garment feels when they wear it. A large DTF-printed graphic on the chest of a T-shirt feels stiff and plasticky—like a suit of armor.
When the same large graphic is output on a DTG printer, the T-shirt feels soft and comfortable – like a pajama top.
Consumers are also unhappy when the graphics quickly fade or crack in the wash.
Although garment printing technologies are evolving to address these issues, the largest apparel decorators may have to use their own judgment on when to use DTF and when to use DTG.
Some choose to use DTF systems to add smaller logos to the chest areas or sleeves of uniforms, T-shirts, and hoodies. They save DTG for jobs that involve artistic fashion-focused decorations on premium cotton.
A variety of printer manufacturers offer entry-level devices for creative start-ups who want to learn more about each process. Some offer hybrid devices that offer DTG and DTF printing on a single device.
But most of the demand for DTG and DTF printing will come from large-scale commercial apparel decorators who supply printed garments to national retailers. They want to use automated DTG and DTF printing systems alongside the automated screen printing and embroidery systems they already have.
Equipment manufacturers such as Kornit, Brown Manufacturing, and M&R are responding to the demand for high-production DTG and DTF system that don’t require as many people to operate.
The Kornit Max PLUS industrial DTG printer allows commercial apparel decorators to switch between 6-color DTG printing and Kornit DTF printers. The software enables them to get matched colors from both processes.
The automated Kornit Apollo industrial DTG printer can produce up to 700,000 garments a year with a single press operator. The system uses AI to scan the type and size of each loaded garment, then sends the correct instructions to the printer, ink-fixing system, and drying system.
Kornit’s XDi software enables apparel decorators to transform 2D designs into 3D effects that mimic the look of embroidery or some or the dimensional effects of screen-printed transfers.
Brown Manufacturing has developed the Stomper Yet-Tee automated DTF system for making ready to ship DTF-decorated garments with a single operator.
M&R, a long-time producer of automated screen-printing presses, has developed the Polaris S4 Industrial DTG platform with an inline pretreating unit and multiple heat presses and a quartz flash unit to evaporate the water from the pretreatment and ink.
As the markets for custom-decorated apparel grows, DTG and DTF printing are likely to both play a role, along with screen printing and embroidery.
Ordant’s print management and estimating software can help you track and compare actual costs of using each type of apparel decorating process in their shop.
But estimating orders will be tricky. In addition to knowing the actual costs of using each process, you must understand the customer’s expectations for quality.
For customers seeking the lowest possible price, your estimate might require using a combination of screen printing for one-color chest graphics and DTF transfers for decorations on the back or sleeve.
Designers who seek to differentiate themselves may ask for a quote on mixed-media garment design that requiresa combination of DTF, DTG, and digital embroidery to produce.
This creation of multi-process designs might command premium prices – above and beyond the cost of materials, inks, and labor.
Fortunately, the estimating module in Ordant’s print management software gives you the flexibility to include extra costs in your estimates, such as problem-solving time and test runs for complex multi-process jobs.
You can never be sure what types or combinations of printed materials a customer might request. A buyer of branded apparel may also ask you to quote that includes banners, backdrops, and booth graphics for a trade show or pop-up store. Ordant can create estimates for those products too.
To schedule a demonstration, visit: Ordant.com