Maybe your customers want soft, full-color tees. Maybe they also want the same logo on polyester team shirts, caps and canvas sneakers. That's usually where the DTF vs DTG question starts.
Both methods print full-color designs, but they get the image onto the item in different ways, and that changes which orders you can say yes to. This guide covers the difference between DTF and DTG, how direct to garment vs direct to film works step by step, and how to pick the one that fits your shop.
DTF vs DTG Printing at a Glance
DTG prints on the garment, and DTF prints on film that you then transfer to the garment. DTG wins on softness on cotton. DTF skips garment pretreatment and works on more fabrics and shapes.
| DTG (direct to garment) | DTF (direct to film) | |
|---|---|---|
| How it prints | Water-based ink goes straight onto the garment and sinks into the fibers | The design prints onto coated PET film, which you heat press onto the item |
| Pretreatment | Needed whenever you print white ink, which means dark garments. Not needed on white or light garments printed without white | None. Don't apply pretreatment to the film or the garment |
| White ink | Only for black or dark garments | Every print, because the powder won't stick without it |
| Extra materials | Pretreatment solution | Transfer film and hot-melt adhesive powder |
| After printing | The print is heat cured | Powder, cure, press, peel |
| Best fit | Cotton apparel: tees, hoodies, onesies | Cotton, polyester, nylon, denim and blends, plus hats, canvas shoes and socks |
| Polyester | Possible with a polyester pretreatment, with limits (see below) | Yes |
| How it feels | Soft and breathable, with no stiff layer | Sits on top of the fabric, durable and flexible |
| Durability | Less likely to crack or peel over time; prints on polyester and blends don't wash as well as on 100% cotton | Stretch and wash resistant |
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What Is DTG Printing?
DTG printing is inkjet printing straight onto the garment. The water-based ink sinks into the fibers, so the print feels soft and breathable instead of sitting on top as a layer.
Cotton is where DTG shines: tees, hoodies and onesies, plus denim and untreated canvas.
When does DTG need pretreatment?
Any time you print white ink, so on black and dark garments, you pretreat first. On white and light garments printed without white ink, pretreatment isn't required, though it can still make color-only prints more vibrant.
Pretreatment is one more step to get right. It can scorch or bleach some garments, and if that happens, try a weaker mix.
Can DTG print on polyester?
Yes, with a polyester pretreatment, but it takes more care than cotton. You can print 100% polyester and poly/cotton blends once a polyester pretreatment is applied.
Keep these limits in mind:
- Plan on color only for 100% polyester, with no white ink.
- Blends need at least 50% cotton for white ink. 50/50 and tri-blends need specific pretreat and curing techniques and may not turn out as well.
- Dye can bleed into the print. On fabric with more than 15% polyester, leftover dye can gas out when the print is cured and stain the ink, and red fabrics are the worst for it. Test a couple of garments before you print a customer order.
What Is DTF Printing?
DTF printing puts your design on film first, then moves it onto the item with a heat press. You print color and white onto coated PET transfer film, cover the wet print with hot-melt adhesive powder, cure it, then press it onto the garment and peel the film away.
Because the ink goes onto film, the garment itself needs no pretreatment. White ink is always part of the print, because the powder will not stick without it.
How the DTF process works, step by step
- Print your design in color and white onto the printable side of the DTF film.
- Powder the print while the ink is still wet, then shake off the extra so it doesn't melt outside the image.
- Cure the powder with heat, in an oven, a heat press or a heated shaker.
- Press the film onto the garment with a heat press. An oven can't do this step.
- Peel the film the way your film's instructions say. Some films need to cool first, and a short second press after peeling helps fix the ink.
Cure and press settings change with your film, powder, equipment and how much ink is on the print, so use the settings from the makers of the film and powder you buy.
What can you print DTF on?
More than cotton. DTF transfers go onto cotton, polyester, nylon, denim, silk, leather and blends, plus hats, canvas shoes and socks, and they work on white and dark items alike.
DTF suits short runs, one-offs and varied designs, which is a good match for shops that take a lot of small custom orders.
DTF vs DTG: Which Should You Choose?
Choose DTG if most of your orders are cotton apparel and your customers care about a soft print. Choose DTF if your orders reach polyester, nylon, blends, hats or shoes, or you'd rather not pretreat garments.
| If your orders look like this | Start with |
|---|---|
| Cotton tees and hoodies, where a soft feel matters | DTG |
| A mix of cotton, polyester, nylon and blends | DTF |
| Caps, canvas shoes and socks | DTF |
| Lots of dark garments, and you'd rather skip pretreating | DTF |
| Polyester team wear with white in the design | DTF, since DTG on 100% polyester is color only |
| A bit of everything | A hybrid printer that does both |
Running cost depends on the ink, film, powder and pretreatment you use and on your designs, so there's no blanket winner. If you want to compare both for the orders you actually take, talk to a print expert.
Can One Printer Do Both DTG and DTF?
Yes. The Epson SureColor F2270 is a hybrid printer that prints both DTG and DTF. It has DTG and DTFilm print capability for a wide range of materials and uniquely shaped products, and it runs UltraChrome DG2 ink.
That means you can print soft DTG on your cotton orders and press DTF transfers on the polyester, caps and shoes, without a second machine. With a hybrid, you don't have to choose.
DTG and DTF Printers to Compare
If you already know which way you're leaning, here's where to look.
For DTG, the Epson SureColor F3070 Max is Epson's industrial direct to garment printer, for shops where cotton apparel is the main line. Compare it with the rest in our DTG printer collection.
For DTF, the DTF Station Prestige printers we carry include the Prestige A4, the Prestige R2 Pro and the Prestige XL4. See them all in our DTF printer collection, and read the complete guide to DTF printing for more on the process.
Comparing DTG with screen printing too? Our post on DTG vs screen printing covers that comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find the Right Method for Your Shop
If your work is mostly cotton and feel matters, DTG is the natural fit. If your customers want the same design on polyester, nylon, caps and shoes, DTF gets you there without pretreating garments, and the Epson F2270 lets you offer both.
All American Print Supply has been in business since 1986, with US-based tech support, and multiple financing options, including Affirm and Synchrony, are available on equipment. Talk to a print expert about the orders you take today, or browse our DTF printers and DTG printers.
