Similarities and differences between DTG and DTF textile printing

In this post, we Dallas Shirt Printing, will try to describe as accurately as possible what are the similarities and differences between the two printing technologies – DTG and DTF, aiming to guide you and help you choose which type of printing to choose, since in our Print On Demand platform , You decide what kind of stamp to apply to each individual item. With this, we aim to allow you to participate and control the process of fulfilling your orders as much as possible. 

What is DTG /direct printing on textiles/

Direct to garment printing on textiles or better known as DTF printing is a printing method in which, using a digital printer loaded with textile inks, we print the desired image directly on the textile. The technology uses special certified textile inks, which, although resistant to washing, are 100% harmless. This type of printing is extremely flexible and allows printing both single pieces and printing in runs. And not only … with this type of printing, the number of colors in the image, as well as the color of the textile on which we will print, are not important. These qualities and characteristics have placed it at the forefront of textile printing techniques worldwide. Thanks to this type of printing, we can also offer the Print On Demand service.

What are the pros and cons of DTG versus DTF we will describe now:

 Pros:

– Softer to the touch image on dark fabrics when a white backing (white ink) is required and no feel when printing on light/white fabrics – this is probably the biggest plus of DTG over DTF which in large and solid designs/images is of utmost importance. Little or no draft allows the body to ventilate, which in turn contributes to maximum comfort especially during the warmer months of the year

– Extremely accurate transfer of images from the fabric to the print. While with DTF printing, this is impossible, since the technology itself requires a uniform white substrate (white ink) to be laid everywhere. 

Cons:

– Best results can only be achieved on cotton fabrics (if possible 100% cotton) – in general, direct printing on textiles (dtg) is an extremely capricious technology from to the composition of the textile and to the textile in general.

– In the event that the textile forms pilling (pills), it is quite likely that the seal will begin to crumble along with the pilling in question.

– Washing at low temperatures (20 – 40 degrees) is required and in no case tumble dry.

– Not particularly suitable for printing on dense fabrics, as they usually have a “deeper” rip. In this case, the white ink cannot cover the rip in question well, and the image does not stand up particularly densely. By thicker fabrics, we mean the majority of winter items, such as sweatshirts and quilted blouses. 

What is DTF /textile transfer printing/

DTF is a textile printing technology that has recently entered the mass market, where instead of printing the image/design directly onto the textile, again using a digital machine, we print an image which, after certain processes, is transferred onto the textile. Please note that although the print is a transfer, it has nothing to do with the widely known transfer prints, which, in addition to being devoid of aesthetics, and their washing durability is unacceptable (let’s put it bluntly, equal to zero). DTF printing on textiles is characterized by extremely high resistance to washing, as well as excellent elasticity. It is suitable for printing, if not on any fabric, then on almost any (polyester, cotton, lycra, non-woven fabrics, coated coats, leather and many others). The printing technology is as follows: Using a digital printer loaded again with textile inks (CMYK+W), we print the desired image on a special DTF film, after which the machine applies a special powder, which is subsequently baked/melted. After all this process we get a transfer ready design.

And here are the pros and cons of DTF versus DTG:

 Pros:

– Can be applied to all fabrics, colors and densities of textiles, looking equally good and being equally durable

– Significantly more saturated colors

– More resistant to washing, allowing washing at higher temperatures (of course not recommended )

Cons:

– Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of DTF printing is the greater density of the print, which can best be described as a rubbery effect. This does not make it particularly suitable for printing large and dense images, as it can cause steaming (this is especially true for summer items such as t-shirts, tank tops and others). When printing on dense clothing, hats, bottoms and the like, this disadvantage of DTF printing is not noticeable.

– Uniform transitions from the textile to the print cannot be made

How do I specify which type of stamp I want?

When you enter the design studio, in the options on the left menu you will find a field “Print type” . From this field, three options open up to you:

– At the contractor’s discretion : with this choice, we will judge for you what type of seal to apply for each individual order, item and for each individual design.

– DTG (Direct To Garment) : with this option, you indicate that you want us to print your item by direct printing on textile.

– DTF (Direct To Film) : with this option, you indicate that you want us to print your item using DTF /transfer/ printing on textile.

By default at this stage we have adopted DTG as the printing method, i.e. if you skip the step of choosing a printing method, your order will be printed by DTG printing if the type of textile allows it. If the textile does not allow DTG printing, then the order will be fulfilled by DTF printing.

The purpose of this publication is to be able to describe in as much detail as possible what the two types of printing are, what are their pros and cons, thus helping you in choosing which type of printing to choose when completing your orders.